As expected a long day with major trailbreaking after the Cloudburst Pass turnoff. Luckily, there were a large number of very strong trailbreakers on this trip.

We were off around 8:30 am from the Evan Thomas PL. The first part was packed, as it is part of the Wedge Pond trail loop. After the Wedge Pond junction, there was a packed track from hikers and animals until the viewpoint at the first downhill. Beyond this to the bottom of the second longer hill there was evidence of recent animal use. At the bottom of the second hill, we were able to see an extremely old ski track, likely Dave's from his Cloudburst Pass trip. This made trailbreaking fairly easy and we were at the Cloudburst junction by sometime around 11:00am. Here we stopped for our first lunch.

Evan-Thomas Creek

A quick check of the snow beyond the junction indicated major trailbreaking. And this was the way it would be all the way up to the pass with occasional easier sections when animals had be on the trail or meadows sections where the sun had consolidated the snow somewhat. The worst section was near the top where there was a crust which often necesitated kicking the ski tip out when it sunk down. It was interesting because Janet and Jeannine seemed to travel more on the surface while the heavier you were the more you sunk down. Just below the pass Arnold put a track up one of the steeper sections, requiring zigzagging even with skins on due to the poor snow conditions. See photo below. Somehow Alicja managed to get up these sections with only half-skins.


Final aproach/Arnold/

Evan-Thomas/Alicja,Dennis/

We arrived at the pass at 3:10pm. for our second lunch.


Evan -Thomas Pass

At least the skiout was going to be a nice downhill cruise most of the way out except for one steep uphill. Some kept skins on for the first section down from the pass as it was a little steeper. After this it was pretty much easier downhill cruising until a short section of steep uphill. We skinned up for that and then de-skinned somewhat thereafter, different people at different locations. Then it was back to cruising to the creek that is open year round.


Creek crossing/Janet,John,Alicja,Arnold

Here some skinned up because of the uphill which climbs out of the creek valley. After that it was another downhill cruise to another short uphill and then again downhill cruising to the PL. It really started to snow over the last 5km. and goggles would have been helpful. On the whole a very nice return after all the work to get it. The last of us were back to the cars around 7:00pm.

Thanks to Greg, Dennis, Ivan, Alicja, Janet, John, Arnold and Jeannine for joining me for this extended physical workout. Thanks in particular to those who did a lion's share of the trailbreaking and to Ivan for pictures. In checking the Ramblers database, it appears that this trip has not been completed successfully since the website was put up.

Bob - Coordinator and Scribe