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| Hiking | 6.50 Miles |
3,930 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.50 Miles | | | |
| 3,930 ft AEG | | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | I haven't been up Fremont since 2017 and with the snow I knew Humphrey was totally out of the question. Ordinarily, I wouldn't hike anything here until Memorial Day or after due to the snow and winds this time of year. Still, I was able to hike this with the deep snow over 11,000' and the wind wasn't too bad.
I started at a parking area at 8,040' on Freidlein Prairie Rd just east of Snowbowl Rd. The hike was 100% off trail up slope to the NE and through grassy meadows and parks, and finally bristlecone forest. I headed for the SW ridge coming off of peak 11673. Around 11,000' I began to encounter snow, and at some point I was back in January of 2010 with deep snow and drifts all around. It definitely felt like old times. From heat to deep snow, the last few weeks have been a roller coaster.
I was happy to finally see some blue sky above me as I neared the ridge and had done really well in my navigating, coming on to the ridge right on to 11673. From there I followed the ridge to Fremont's summit. It was pretty cold and windy on Fremont, so I didn't stay more than 10 minutes.
I never found the old register from 18 years ago, but there is a filled up new one. I found @DixieFlyer 's June 2020 entry. It was rather cold and the wind here was making it harder, so I started down pretty quick. I was going to descend the southeast ridge, but not knowing how that was and with so much snow, I opted to descend more or less my ascent route. I did cut off some of the ridge by starting down slope early on while crossing the ridge.
About half way down through the snow I thought I found my tracks but it ended up being animal tracks and I think it was bear tracks, possibly a mother and cubs. If not several bears, a bear and some other animal like a mountain lion.
Down was much faster than up, and I was back to my car in 2 & 1/2 hours. I had planned to hike Deception Peak in New Mexico in a few days, but unless I change my mind I won't. I don't think I want to deal with more snow, and having never done anything over in the Santa Fe Baldy ski area, I don't plan to hike in snow there for the first time. Plus, there is a high wind forecast with red flag warnings the next few days. So, I got close to 12,000' this year, but not over. I'm pleased. |
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