Florence Peak (winter)

Sweet/ Florence 3/5/17

7:30 am    Left Carbon River TH

10:28 am  Summit of Sweet  

12:55 pm  False summit of Florence             

 4:30 pm    Return to vehicle 

    An amazing winter, 13-16” of snow last week. Changed destination from Satulick due to expected conditions.  

Good visibility on drive in, dusting of snow on road, icy. Small patches of blue sky, not at all what we expected from forecast. Snow depth increased as we hiked up the switchbacks.. Put on snow shoes at 3400’. Great snow conditions 6-10” light dry powder on top of a firm base. Barley breaking thru the crust below the powder, so we decided to do Sweet on our way to Florence. Wind started picking up as we approached the Saddle. Quick trip up to the summit of Sweet, adding to 100 pks for 1 of the party members.

Continued South on ridge out to Florence, wind gusts 10-18 mph. Put on layers stayed on ridge or just to the west, windward side of the ridge to avoid cornices. Worked our way up to the false summit of Florence, wind exposed rock on part of the final accent. Magnificent views for such a lousy forecast. Rainier visible clearer sky’s to east, clouds moving in from the west.

Returned North west on Alki Crest and the approximate route of the Boudary trail. Eventually rejoining our morning snow shoes tracks. 2/3rds of trip done off trail, great snowshoeing.

Stoped for some fantastic pizza at the new Carlson Block in an old historic 2 story brick building in Wilkeson. Check it out support a new business in a small town