See the Full Report.
Tidbits: I’d done Skookumchuck in Fall (after Thanksgiving) and in spring with lots of postholing (circa 2008). This time was very fun, with snowshoes needed to break trail above 2500′ elevation. I made it to the last leg before hitting Garfield Ridge in just over 3 hours and finally reached the summit at 4.5 hours, after bushwhacking to reach Garfield Ridge. Stupendously clear above treeline; windy but not too cold. The trail gets really closed in on the the upper parts, and I lost it a couple times. Breaking out at treeline, I headed up rather than diagonally to Garfield Ridge Trail. (Well, I didn’t actually see the trail at that point, but the objective was clear.) The summit views, with white peaks against blue sky, were tremendous.
Summary: 10.2 miles over 7.75 hours up and down Skookumchuck Trail to Mt Lafayette, 3927′ elevation gain (felt it!), a wonderful day
–Fred (aka tarpman)
