Northside Access and Conditions

3.05.2020 - Access to the Northgate Trailhead and General Conditions

• 5.5 miles from highway 97 to the beginning of patchy snow
• 7.3 miles to impassable snow (1.7 miles of snow covered road to the trailhead)
• 4wd recommended for last 1.3 miles
• The north side of the mountain has a very thin snowpack. All bergshrunds and some crevasses are exposed. This side of the mountain is the rain shadow and also gets pounded by northwesterly wind. 
• Today was very windy out of the south
• Large icy patches are visible on the Hotlum Glacier
• Climbing conditions on the Hotlum/Bolam route and others might not be too bad in that surfaces are supportable, but would expect increased rock fall hazard along with firm, icy snow surfaces. A slip/fall could host high consequence. 
• Military Pass is closed.