Had a sweet trip up avalanche gulch last week on Shasta. We're looking to keep to good vibes flowing, so we're taking on Split next week. A few questions for the pros:
We'll be parking at the end of the 2WD drive (McMury Meadow). What is the walk (road) like to the actual Red Lake Trailhead? Besides for the additional round trip mileage there appears to be much altitude loss & gain just to get to the Red Lake trailhead. Thoughs from fellwow 2WDer's.
Let's assume that the snow will be soggy in the gully up to the lower lake (below Red Lake) but I don't want to pack snowshoes. If anyone has mid to late May condition on that lower section (7K-10K) I would love to know what that trail is like. I hope it is already melted out with that southern exposure.
Lastly, I hope it is good snow up the north ridge from the east. Snow bridge crossings lower down are a concern & cornices higher up towards the ridge are all things I'm wondering about. Again, if anyone has additional info on this route this time of year I would be greatly thankful.
Bummer about the avalanche in the east couloir in late April =(
Thanks in advance. - Aaron

Two individuals perished a couple of weeks ago up there. Talk around town and the local SAR folks is that one of the many cornices that prevail in all the small adjoining couloirs gave way and took tons of rock and snow debris with it. Unfortunately the two that were killed were in the wrong place at the very wrong time.

As of four days ago there were still many of those cornices still in place. As in many of the other eastside high peaks due the to record heavy snow fall we had this winter. Be careful if you choose to head up there in the next couple of weeks. Until all those cornices drop off, the dangerous conditions that probably killed those two Tahoe folks, still exists.

Remember, that hill aint going anywhere anytime soon. Getting it done aint worth anyone getting nailed by another event as the one that happened a couple of weeks ago.

too bad you are not going this coming weekend. i could have given you a lift to the Red Lake TH. i'm heading up Birch Creek and can give you snow conditions when i get back. having driven the road a couple times, i remember it being a relative long way from McMurray to Red Lake TH. i don't know the exact milage. also having done the north ridge from the east a couple of times in the summer and spring, i don't remember snow bridge crossing (if any) and cornices (if any) being a concern. it would be if you were planning to do the St. Jean Couloir or the East Couloir in which the two skiiers perished in.

Chief - I appreciate that information. The plan was to hug the right of the left arcing gully to the north ridge from Red Lake. This way to be above the debris zone of the couloirs you mentioned. However not having been there, my scale of the place could be way off.

Kevin - I would appreciate snow conditions report when you do get back. I'll try to get in touch with you on Monday.

- Aaron

Wazzup Aaron!!!

Any Beta on Split Mountain from anyone? Kevin what's the word?

I plan on doing it Wed (day after tomorrow, aka the 1st of May) and I'd also love to hear any Beta,
Thanks,
-Russ

flyer4food wrote:Wazzup Aaron!!!

Any Beta on Split Mountain from anyone? Kevin what's the word?

I plan on doing it Wed (day after tomorrow, aka the 1st of May) and I'd also love to hear any Beta,
Thanks,
-Russ

Just a few days ago there was a dust on crust day. That may have al slid by now but you can check out Jed's video.

OK,

Well if anyone is interested I just came back from Split Mountain yesterday (June 2nd, 2011) and it was pretty awesome... I have a few observations that I think people will appreciate.

1. The road IS NOT 2WD, I took a Chevy Metro all the way to Red Lake TH but that was a very poor decision. I got stuck twice on the return trip and honestly was surprised I made it back. The dirt road to the National Park land IS 2WD, and even for about 1 mile past that point (you'll see it's the green area on your GPS when you drive, just wait till you hit that green area, then go 1 mile further.. max) After N.P. land the road is unmaintained and barely accessible. The worst part is the sketchy areas are downhill on the way in but of course uphill on the return, so while gravity will let you roll your Metro over just about anything, going uphill over 18" rocks and drainage pipes and 2 foot deep trenches, it oddly doesn't help on the way back. All in all it doesn't help anyway, since you have to go so slow when the road deteriorates, you might as well just walk, or even better pack a mountain bike.

2. The trail is poorly maintained, but navigable. The terrain leading to Red Lake is so obvious it's hard to get lost, but that doesn't mean you can't lose the trail every half hour and spend hours bushwacking through brush and gravel (and nasty branches with nastier thorns)

3. The hike to the summit is very easy, except for 1 point, where it's very not easy. After red lake you go north for about a half mile until you get to a big bowl, then straight west until another big bowl, then a final push to the last ridgeline before the summit, THAT was quite challenging, at least for me. At the final bowl, just before the ridgeline at 13,000', you have a choice, either go to the left side of the bowl, the steeper side, but not exposed, or the right side, the "shallower" side where it is very exposed. I went right, towards a divet that looks like where most people go. You must traverse up a steep slope (60 degrees perhaps?) for 50 feet while directly below you is a cliff and certain death if you slip. Others may well find this "fun" or even easy, but I found it frightening. Keep in mind I'm moderate skills at best and the snow conditions were very much average (6 inches of powder with a very thin film of ice on top of them overlaying old hard snow) Anyway, I made the summit but I wouldn't do it again, wife and kid and all don't seem to care if I bag all the 14ers or not, just that daddy comes home.

So in short, you do not need snow-shoes at all, it's only snow above 10,000', bring a good ice-axe/crampons. It was very cold (15 degrees I'd guess but I didn't have a thermometer) and all-in-all a pleasant hike if not for the snow conditions and the steep section at the ridgeline combined with the exposure.

Hope this helps,
-Russ 559-903-8091

p.s. no pics I dropped my camera on the first day

hey Russ, sorry i couldn't get to this. i was still out. didn't the beta on the Split mountain page mention that the drive in requires at least high clearance?

Andy over at Sierradescents.com skied Split last week (Monday 5/30). Not a bad little video at his website.

Russ: Thanks for the conditions update.

I guess the road to Red Lake is low-clearance 2WD because you got a Chevy Metro down it.

Last year is was pretty easy to drive down in a 2WD with High Clearance, but I can't imagine taking a low slung vehicle like a Chevy Metro down it.

The conditions on those dirt roads into the backcountry change from year-to-year.

Ya I've been trying to destroy this Metro for years, I need an excuse for a real car.. still no luck though, maybe the next trip.

Also, I have some pics of the second ascent, the section I thought was so bad, and actually, I think it wasn't as hairy as I had originally thought. After I saw the pics the area I thought was a cliff was actually a narrow rock band below me with snow under it, and the slope of the ascent was probably more like 50 degrees instead of the 60 I thought.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback. Next trip will be White Mt. with hopefully Middle Pallisades at the same time.

Take care,
-Russ

Hey Russ, thanks for the update/conditions and TR. Are both lakes still frozen? I would suspect so after this weekend storm.

As of last week lower Red Lake wasn't frozen over, but Red Lake proper was... I imagine they might be now though ya. In any event there was plenty of liquid H2O on the way up to Red Lake since you're following that river the whole way.
-Russ