Well, after a delicious gut-busting feast, it's a little harder to find the motivation to move around camp. We've topped off at 2" of snow, and despite being teased by patches of blue sky, the peak just can't quite seem to shake the cloud cover. The temperature has stabilized at 21 degrees for much of the day. Places where hikers have packed down the snow are sure to be hazardous. Other places where the snow remains untouched are able to provide better traction at this point. Trekking poles and traction devices are still advised.
Have a great rest of the afternoon.
We went to bed in a spring-like rain and woke up to a pristine winter wonderland on this delightful Sunday before Thanksgiving. Temperatures dropped fast after midnight and the precipitation made the jump from rain to ice to snow. Skies are trying to open up, and the snow has subsided, but not before covering the mountain top with 2" of fresh powder. Rain and snow melt combined for 0.9" making for an icy layer underneath. Traction devices will be crucial for making the climb today, especially as foot steps pack down the accumulation and make it incredibly slick. Yesterday's high temperature came in at 45, and then it dropped all the way to 19 degrees for breakfast. Winds are not as strong as they were on Saturday, but the occasional gust can chill you to the core without the proper layering.