February 19, 2011, Bedal Peak
2/19/11
2533
3
Bedal Peak (southeast of Darrington, WA) was a great ski last Saturday. No avalanche activity seen or concerns. Some snow on the forest service road but it was easy to drive the entire way to the trail head (Nells Lake fisherman's trail just after the switchback at 2100'). The trail had 2-6 inches of snow the entire way. It is easy to follow the trail, including where the summit route goes uphill from the Nells Lake trail. We crossed the wide gully (about 5000', a little bit below where there is a steep rocky prow on the north side of the gully) a little bit higher than mentioned in previous trip reports (4600-4800'). No avalanche concerns for our day. We skied intermittent powder and breakable crust from the summit to about 4000'.
Could you drive up the Mt Loop further than Bedal??? I know the recent lowland snow will halt most action for a couple weeks...curious about blowdown from the last big wind event two weeks ago. Thanks
What a cool place, worth dealing with the blowdowns over the "trail". Did you get any good pix?
author=mick_scott link=topic=19828.msg83974#msg83974 date=1298517806]
Could you drive up the Mt Loop further than Bedal??? I know the recent lowland snow will halt most action for a couple weeks...curious about blowdown from the last big wind event two weeks ago. Thanks
To points of fact: From Darrington you can drive or sled all the way to Barlow Pass before you hit a gate that closes you off to further access. I don't know current snow depths on the road but the road is plowed pretty close to Bedal. Past that it's whatever your vehicle can handle.
From the Granite Falls side it's virtually closed from 'Red Bridge' basically meaning you can't get anywhere...
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