Tonga Ridge Road Snowshoe (Kinda) – Must Hike Must Eat

I’ve had a Tonga Ridge snowshoe on my to-do listing endlessly so with no journey report on the Foss River Highway since November, I figured I’d go verify issues out. I had thought of Shock Lake however with a substantial avalanche forecast, I opted for security.

I feel sometimes to snowshoe on Tonga Ridge, you both must stand up to the trailhead earlier than an excessive amount of snow hits the highway or wait till spring when the highway begins to thaw out. This time of yr, it’s a snowshoe on the highway in direction of the trailhead.

I had a leisurely morning so I didn’t go away residence till about 7:30am. This meant becoming a member of the crowds headed to Stevens Go however I introduced my endurance. After stopping for gasoline in Monroe, I used to be driving up US 2 in direction of the city of Skykomish.

In fact, I finished for a small decaf at Sky River Espresso.

After turning off US 2 onto Foss River Highway, I began the mileage tracker to see how far I’d get. The highway was largely naked for the primary mile previous properties however as quickly as I used to be passing below the trestle the place the county stops plowing, the highway had a number of inches of snow and wholesome ruts. I used to be excited to see how the 4-wheel drive did however I knew my clearance was missing so I used to be not shocked when the undercarriage scraped as I continued up. I used to be just a bit nervous as I’ve gotten caught right here in my earlier 2-wheel drive automobile.

It’s about 3.5 miles from US 2 to the junction with FR 6830 or Tonga Ridge Highway. As a result of it’s an open space, the snow is deeper right here and there was a maze of tracks. I made a decision this was a far as I felt snug driving so I circled and drive again down about .2 miles to a pullout below a tree with extra shallow snow. I knew because the day warmed up, the snow would get sloppy and no cause to get caught unnecessarily. I had a shovel however no want to make use of it.

After packing up, I walked again up the highway and turned up on Tonga Ridge Highway. It was in about the identical situation as what I had simply drove up however I knew it might proceed to get deeper and to show round might imply getting caught.

I used to be handled to a waterfall shortly after mountaineering up the highway, I really like them when they’re lined with snow. It was not chilly sufficient for ice, although, which is much more elegant.

A couple of mile up and across the first switchback, the highway was largely snow and the ruts grew deeper and deeper. Have a look at the blue skies coming my method!

One other waterfall.

As I continued my method up the highway, I used to be secretly hoping the tracks would cease and I’d have an excuse to place my snowshoes on since they had been strapped to my backpack. After I arrived at these downed timber at 2 miles (2.2 from the automobile), I used to be a bit dissatisfied to see they weren’t sufficient to cease whoever had made the tracks.

Because the low degree clouds burned off, close by summits started to peak by means of the timber.

A bigger tree at 3.3 miles was positively a car stopper however it should have fallen after the newest set of ruts as they did, the truth is, keep on.

Proof of avalanche circumstances had been seen on the perimeters of the highway: good-sized rollerballs.

Regardless of my hopes the tracks would cease earlier than I did, I gave up at 4.4 miles and stopped for lunch. The trailhead is 7 miles from Foss River Highway and a 14+ mile journey was by no means in my plan with such a late begin. This spot had some open views so it must do.

Grotto Mountain, Gunnshy Peak, Skyhomelylish Mountain

I had grabbed a thermos to pack some tea after which remembered I had some leftover rooster vegetable soup so I subbed that in. Yum!

I put my snowshoes on at this level and headed again down the highway round midday. I rotated between the broader ruts and the virgin snow on the perimeters. It was fairly the exercise!

After just a few miles I took them again off once more because the ruts elevated and the snow grew to become extra shallow. Across the level of the primary downed timber at 2 miles in, there have been the one individuals I’d see on the “path” at the moment, a bunch of parents in a Jeep who had circled and bought out to play. Undecided the place they had been going to make use of the sled however I hope they’d enjoyable.

Within the final mile earlier than the junction, there was proof that at the least one car had tried to drive up after which opted to show round when the snow bought deeper. By now, every thing was slushy and slick.

Again on Foss River Highway, it was only a fast jaunt alongside the river to my automobile. Not dangerous for a 9 mile hike/snowshoe! In preparation for potential slowdowns on the best way residence, I made positive to “use the amenities” earlier than getting again within the automobile. I did go a caravan of monster vans as I drove again down the forest highway, at the least one did appear like the type that would make it over an affordable dimension tree.

After which it was westbound on US 2. It was really higher than I had anticipated with a lot of the visitors beginning in Gold Bar. I’ve positively been caught in worse!

Door-to-door, it was about an 8 hour day. As a result of Tonga Ridge Highway was not gated, I feel that it may be a greater winter possibility for skis than snowshoes until you need to break path on the perimeters the entire time. I don’t assume I’d have made it close to as far up with out the compact snow of the tire tracks, so I assume there are execs and cons to off highway automobiles having entry. Even snowmobiles can be higher because the tracks can be wider to accommodate snowshoes. No complaints, although. I bought out and that’s all that issues!