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Seattle Snowshoe Winter Camping Field Trip - Smith Brook Area

Extreme avalanche conditions. Roads OK, when not closed for avalanche control. High wind and heavy snow forecast, so we camped in a low and protected area about half way to Grace Lakes. Nice snow camping trip. Everyone had fun and learned a lot.

Tim Lawson Tim Lawson
February 22, 2021
  • Snow and ice on road

  • Wind and snow all weekend.  Extreme avalanche conditions.   Wet snow Saturday night and Sunday. We went towards Grace Lakes area to camp.  Roads too bad to go to Smith Brooke.  Good decision, as Sunday weather and road conditions were bad. 

Parking at Lot "D" worked fine.  All six cars  found a spot in or near overnight parking area. (Between the black poles).  About a foot of new snow Friday night.  I tent camped on PCT Friday night, very nice.  

Group arrived around 8am.  About 9am we backpacked though the Stevens Pass ski area and off twards Grace lakes.  Group decision to choose camp site. Considerations: forecast was for high wind and heavy snow all weekend. So,we stayed lower than Grace lakes.  Much less wind there.

Everyone did a great job winter  camping.  Good gear, or "I'll get a new tent before another winter camping trip" (John)  Very good group dynamics.  We all had a good time.

Sunday we got up and packed up to get going.  Knowing there was more heavy snow coming, we just headed for home.   As always some folks were ready an hour before others.  We plan to get everyone on the same departure time in the future.  

Tim's VW had broken-down, so Chris gave me a ride home.  Double masked and windows open.

All had fun and learned lots.