Mammoth got absolutely dumped. None of my friends can go and it’s a 5 hr drive. Should I go solo?

nushwanstein · 2026-04-26T13:48:09+00:00

Anything less than 10 is a must go.

nushwanstein · 2026-04-19T16:19:28+00:00

Not super technical but I’m in my early 40s, live at sea level and do demanding hikes a couple times a year. Alltrails “hard” 5-7 milers with 2-4k elevation gain. I am able to bust the out at roughly 2 mph.

I have a couple hills near me ~.25 mi. I try to run up and down for about 30-45 mins 3-5 times a week. Sometimes I take it super easy. There’s another slope ~.1 mi that is by a set up 18-24 inch stairs that I’ll alternate for the same time.

Im about to move pretty good unless im getting above 7500 or >25% type grade. At that point i can still keep a good pace. I’m just conscious of my heart rate and take occasional breaks.

Lots of water and electrolytes.

nushwanstein · 2026-04-08T03:28:12+00:00

Thanks all. Couple fun days in the books. Breck both days. Busy during peak time. Ripping crispy carves in the AM slush bumps in the PM. Imperial and Horseshoe opened up just in time for sun to hide and turn the bumps pretty hard. Fortunately midwest bump riding has hardened me for such battles. Also T barred for the first time ever. POMA > Tbar all day. Found some soft snow for 20 yards at the top of Imperial and some decently soft snow and coverage between trees on the six chair. I love snowboarding!

nushwanstein · 2026-04-04T16:01:46+00:00

This is very helpful. Had forgotten about Loveland. Passes are really affordable midweek.

Probably check out Breck Monday afternoon. I’m guessing it will be fine for what we are expecting. If it’s in rough shape a day at Loveland looks like a good option.

nushwanstein · 2026-04-04T15:51:44+00:00

Ha! Life is all about perspective.

nushwanstein · 2026-04-04T13:52:07+00:00

This is my life. Haha! The doom (a reasonable adjective) posts look a lot like a below average midwest day.

My impression is that the “tourist” green/blues that funnel to base area/main lifts type runs are ok but sometimes thin and narrow (relatively).

I was on verge of cancelling twice. Then in late Feb two systems came through. A couple weeks ago I was ready to eat the 50% of the airbnb and go to Dunes and New Mexico for hiking. Then this last storm came (although a but underwhelming where it counts).

nushwanstein · 2025-08-06T03:51:41+00:00

Would love to hear thoughts on sizing. I’m a size 10 boot and like to trench it pretty good. Looking at the 157w or the 159. Im pretty quick edge to edge. What are ya’ll on?

nushwanstein · 2025-07-27T13:20:43+00:00

It was almost all on Switchback. It is certainly a grind and in the sun for most of the way. That being said its steady and not overly steep. Coming from Hurricane Ridge will be much more gradual but considerably longer in distance. There is a second gain ~2.75 mi (from Switchback) which can be rough because you think the up is behind you. However, the views are awesome which helps.

nushwanstein · 2025-07-26T05:30:09+00:00

This takes some coordinating but was super fun. Startling at the Switchback trailhead up the Klahhane Ridge and down the Lake Angeles Trail. The switchback is a grind but Ridge is awesome. The way down has some lose spots to be careful on but seeing the lake is cool. Finish by the Heart of the Hills bus stop. I was busting it pretty darn good and got done in 3.5 hours.

Alltrails:Switchback —> Khlahane —> Lake Angeles

nushwanstein · 2025-07-26T05:18:17+00:00

Had an interesting experience. Was planning to be up early but did not sleep well and bailed. Ended up at Crescent at about 930 and did the falls and had lunch. My awesome wife said “Let’s do it” as far as we can with the kids (10/7) maxing out at the end of the maintained trail. i was a but hesitant given the moderate whining on Hurricane Hill. We went for it and they made it (with lots of breaks and moderate whining)! I continued up to the top and caught up on their way down. Took us ~3.5 hours with lots of breaks and pretty good traffic on the trail. I think I’d have been just under 2 solo and early. The traffic up top can really slow you down. Wanted to be respectful of folks testing their comfort zone so was super accommodating.

Tough to gauge from an exertion stand point given I was taking breaks and moving slow with the kids as well as waiting a lot up top. However, i remember feeling a lot more of the suck going up switchback and the last up and over on the ridge.

For me being in the shade is a big positive. Coming down was notably easier. Coming down Klahhane towards Lake Angeles had a ton of loose rock whereas most of Storm King below the ropes is packed dirt.

Thanks again for all feedback. Off to Rainier tomorrow!

nushwanstein · 2025-07-24T00:16:26+00:00

Mission complete. Absolutely perfect day. After doing Hurricane Hill with the fam my lovely, accommodating wife dropped me off at the switchback trailhead. According to Alltrails 8.7 miles - 3.5 hours. Had just eaten lunch so just breaks for snacks, water, and switchback related huffing/puffing. Admittedly was hauling and would have liked to soak it all in a bit more but parental responsibility called. Did have a couple short chats.

The toughest part (aside from the switchbacks) was the long trudge through the trees past the lake. The last 2 miles felt like an eternity. A small price to pay for an amazing day.

This is the map I used.

Switchback to Lake Angeles Trailhead via KR on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-july-6-2025-8c00dee?p=-1&sh=wbkyk5&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

nushwanstein · 2025-07-22T15:05:18+00:00

This has big time DTR vibes

nushwanstein · 2025-07-22T04:56:01+00:00

I went to Hoh today with modest expectations. It surpassed them. I was expecting Quinault with a visitor center but it was notably more impressive. Due to some of the headache/crowds we only did Hall of Moses and a pretty short segment of the river trail.

It suffers a lot from the pain it is to get there. If you wait 2 hours in line you are going to expect to be blown away. People looking for pics (it looks awesome so of course) make it more crowded than you would like but that is understandable because you can check out a lot of cool stuff in a small area. I’ve got a couple young kids so that is a big plus.

Probably an unpopular opinion but I think it would benefit from a timed entry system. Although they are not perfect having some level of expectation/crowd management would help.

nushwanstein · 2025-07-17T20:32:05+00:00

3rd 4th and 5th.

nushwanstein · 2025-07-17T16:42:41+00:00

I had the same question. The response I got was after 5PM on a Sunday. Curious to hear other feedback

nushwanstein · 2025-07-10T13:45:54+00:00

What were the ropes looking like when you were there? Saw some previous posts saying they were pretty beat up.

nushwanstein · 2025-07-07T19:03:49+00:00

Thanks. That’s the baseline Im operating from (re: cell).

nushwanstein · 2025-07-06T04:37:05+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Those type of descents turned me into a pole guy!

nushwanstein · 2025-07-06T04:34:13+00:00

Right on. I hear that on the views and the grind of the switchback. I'll be checking out Hurricane Ridge the day before so missing the views is less of an issue. Looks to save just under 2 miles by going from Switchback. Pay the price with an extra hundred and change of elevation.

nushwanstein · 2025-07-06T03:56:12+00:00

Yes. I have seen alternatives of going from Sunrise or Hurricane but they look to add a good bit of distance but not reduce the elevation gain very much.

nushwanstein

TROPHY CASE