Florence Peak, MRNP

It was odd to start a snowshoe without actually wearing them straight out of the car. Snow level was around 3000' with no significant snow until ~4000'. Snowshoes needed from 4000' up, ~4" of fresh snow above that level, already beginning to melt and slough off by lunchtime. We skipped the snowy class 3 scramble to the true Florence summit. A full Alki Crest ridge trip to Tolmie would be a nice spring trip when the schedule warrants. ~8.5m, 4000' gain.

Fisher-sized tracks

Easy creek crossing (at the moment); Ben's photo

Waterfall above the creek crossing

Nice basin at 4000'; time for snowshoes

Midway up Alki Crest; Ben's photo

Soft rime ice crystals on Alki Crest

Soft rime ice on Alki Crest

Last little step to Florence's false summit (upper left); Ben's photo

Nearing the top of the step at Florence false summit; Ben's photo

Florence false summit; Ben's photo

Not a total whiteout! 

Alki Crest, Howard Peak. Tolmie Peak lookout

Lurking Rainier

Jolly Mountain v3, Teanaway

Having previously been to Jolly a couple of times (November 2015, June 2016) missing the views wasn't as bad as how far off the forecast was to reality. Ben and I continue to rack up view-less summits together...

Snow above 4500' was good, below 4500 was OK in the morning and melting mashed potatoes in the afternoon.

Decent enough weather in the morning

Good snow and some sun, ~4600'

Snowing and visibility decreasing, Jolly at right

Jolly Mountain summit ridge; blah

Usual Ben and Luke conditions...snowing and low visibility

Cool! But notice all the snowmobile tracks going past it...and all the way up to 6000' actually.