This year, the snow level was so low, we were able to park right at the start of the scramble. (My last 2 trips here, we had to park 1 mile out). The lower section in the woods is quite steep. Once clear of the trees, only one short section is steep. But the snow is in excellent sticky condition, very stable.
I've been to Hidden Lake Peak in winter twice, but this is my first time to the lookout in winter.
More or less the same all the way to the saddle, which has an excellent view of the lake and the peaks beyond.
We waited for the 2 skiers to catch up for a long time, and gave up on them. No one expect this little snow. They had only ski boots, which is terrible on the steep forest slope.
Got down from the saddle, traverse a semi steep slope (thanks to the thick snow) to the ridge beyond the cornice, so we could go up.
Reached the lookout a little after 12:30pm.
Great view from inside the lookout too. We were surprised to find many provision inside.
The door was jammed open by snow.
Two in my group loved it so much, that they tried to convince the rest of us to stay the night here.
We started cleaning up the snow, so we could close the door.
Filled 3 buckets with snow, and set them by the window to melt in the sun.
It's 64°F inside!
There's a big rock next to the lookout, which marks the highest point here.
Some of us scrambled up to take photos.
Great view looking down all the way to the saddle, where we found 3 more people there.
An hour later, 2 showed up. I happened to have met one of them before.
They prepared to sleep in the lookout, had all the gear for the night, except for tent.
They also informed us that the 2 skiers in my group gave up just above tree line, didn't even make to the saddle.
Soon, another person arrived. He brought a tent, so pitched it under the rock.
There's cell signal at the saddle and at the lookout. We sent message to the 2 skiers in our group, but didn't hear from them. They were probably already below the treeline, no more signal.
I brought a chair out to sit in the sun. We waited for the sunset.
Those who were prepared were melting snow, cooking dinner. We had nothing. Getting hungry.
I ate all my food, except for one bar (for tomorrow). Someone found a bag of trail mix and a bag of cashew in the lookout. I ate quite some salty cashew. My legs were cramping up. Need salt and more drink.
I put some cash in the envelope in the lookout, read the log book for comments, while away the time.
Later 4 young hikers arrived, one on ski. They cowboy-camped to the south of the lookout, only one of them had a bivy.
The sunset was somewhat disappointing: thick clouds to the west blocked the setting sun.
In the lookout, the 6 of us arranged to spend the night.
4 on the bed, lying cross sideways. Can probably fit one more.
There were 3 quilts, 2 sleeping bags.
The mattresses are wet, so we put one quilt above the mattress. 2 share one quilt on the bed.
2 on the floor in sleeping bags.
The 2 of the other group had their own sleeping bags and pads. They stayed on the floor.
We can probably fit one more on the floor, still leaving a path to walk to the door.
By 6pm, it was dark. The 8 of us played a game using the paper from the log book. It was hillarious.
The stars were great. Could see light pollution both to the north and south. No moon. I had trouble sleeping, with all the noise. But I must have slept, because the next morning, I wasn't too sleepy.
3/2
Sunrise was surprisingly pretty. We didn't expect anything, because the forecast called for overcast, if not rain.
The clouds shifted in and around, made it quite mystical.
I filled my water bottle with the melting snow in the pots, ate my one last bar.
We headed down. The snow is firmer. We followed our own steps out, because, at time it was whiteout.
One of us stayed behind with the guy in tent, so he could get a ride back.
The other 5 of us barely could fit in one car with all the gears.
It was straightforward. Took only 2.5 hours to get back to the car. Didn't glissade at all.
At the car, there was a note left by our 2 skiers. They waited for us until 7pm.
Our driver was so hungry, that we stopped at 2 restaurants before landing at Moe's in Darrington.
They were closed this early on Sunday.
Moe's had a very nice backyard, with view of Whitehorse.
By then, the clouds were gone, another seemingly nice day ahead.
Back to the P&R. I was more than 16 hours past due for my bike. At least, the lock was still locked. Fetched my bike without any issue (a small penalty to pay).
Total less than 7 miles for 2 days! About 4000' EG.
