Trip Report
Basic Snowshoe Instructor Clinic Field Trip - Grace Lakes
7 of us, 2 leads, and 5 new basic snowshoe instructors ventured up the Grace Lakes route from the upper parking lot, only partway to the Grace Lakes Basin.
Jimmy Klansnic
- Sat, Dec 7, 2019
- Basic Snowshoe Instructor Clinic Field Trip - Grace Lakes
- Grace Lakes
- Snowshoeing
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Low snow at the pass. We found about 8" of unconsolidated snow, and hiked up with snowshoes strapped to our packs through the small trees, and bushes that grow in the cat track. This is not a service road for summer use, and is only filled, and packed during avalanche season when the snow cat's are running to bomb the Summit Lake basin.
Snowshoes not required today. The morning hike through young trees (4-8') and brush went pleasantly enough, as everyone had a great attitude. It helped that the temperature hovered round 32 degrees, and what precip happened was snow-and not wet rain.
Traveled about 1.2 miles up the route (2.4 miles RT) and my GPS showed ascent of 469 ft.
We started with a meeting in the parking lot, to discuss how the Basic FT begins, the stopped often to discuss curriculum points, keeping a watchful eye on the group as an assistant - while the lead regales the group - for cold / heat / how they are holding up, and contributing to the day's topics from their experiences. Out goal for everyone to enjoy the day- have some fun, and learn skills. We closed with covering gathering together, travelling down as a group, and closes with all gathered near the Steven's lodge.