Trip Report
Basic Snowshoe - Pipe Creek Trail
Powder several feet deep! Fluffy and untracked! Wow. Glad this destination has been added to the Mountaineers repertoire, just 1.5 hr from North Bend (where we consolidated vehicles).
Roseanne Lorenzana
- Sat, Jan 20, 2024
- Basic Snowshoe - Pipe Creek Trail
- Pipe Creek Trail
- Snowshoeing
- Successful
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- Snow and ice on road
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Route follows FS road 9700 and it's branches. It's on low aspect angle terrain through the forest. No avalanche terrain exposure on this route. Route is marked with blue diamonds because also is XC ski route but roads are wide enough for both activities. Very easy to route-find. Snow depth varied from 1'-3' (ankle deep to hip deep). No one else out today. Ungroomed sno-park permit required. Portapotty in the sno-park (but no TP today). Room for a dozen or more vehicles. Route takes off from the west end of the sno-park lot.
On the trail by 9:30am. Worked hard due to trailbreaking the entire day in deep, untracked snow which was sometimes hip deep (YouTube video). Great fun. No precipitation despite weather forecasts to the contrary. Arrival temperatures mid-20s and no wind. Clearly the snow genie granted our wishes today. No view at Diamond Head viewpoint due to low clouds. Paused for lunch break on the Diamond Head loop. But the sun and blue sky briefly blossomed about 1pm. We did not make it to the Porky Basin viewpoint given our slow pace and turn around time chosen to get us over Snoqualmie Pass before 4pm (which is the end time for afternoon tickets at The Summit). Made it to the large open junction area of Hurley Creek Rd and FS 9711-112, the later was the route to Porky Basin. But was not meant for today. Always nice to save something for the next trip! Total trip time 4.5 hr and average pace 1.1 mph 😅
