Mount Jackson

Trail: Webster-Jackson Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular

“One woman struck by melting snow block from above, there are still plenty of gallon size or more. Never heard of helmets for snowshoeing but might not be a bad idea. Trail was 99% packed snow. Met 3 groups coming down who only climbed Jackson wearing microspikes. Later met guy wearing real crampons who said microspikes didn't give enough traction. Then met two groups wearing snowshoes who had come from Webster and Pierce and said snowshoes were necessary on ridge.”

Trail: Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail

Conditions: Ice - Blue, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Drifts

“From 302 to the split is a packed winter sidewalk that is easily spiked. I was going CCW so I switched to snowshoes at the split and headed up the Webster branch. A few duck and crawl unders and leaners on the Webster branch from the split to the summit of Webster. Between Webster and Jackson the Webster Cliff trail was an adventure! I headed up that way today to check out the conditions since "Hikes with Maddie" and myself are the co-adopter maintainers for this section. We will certainly have our work cut out for us in the spring! Thankfully a few folks in snowshoes had been through there and the track was pretty true to the actual trail. There are heaps of drifts, leaners and crawl unders so conditions ranged from a nice packed powder cruise, thigh deep drifts to spruce trap extrications and army crawls. The approach to the summit from the top of the chute is pretty much a straight shot over the drifted over scrub. Switched back to spikes for the descent down Jackson branch which was a total cruise. I nominate this section for "the trail most improved by winter conditions." Overall, a great day that earned a summit Pop-Tart!”

Trail: Webster-Jackson Trail

Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder

“This was a last minute pivot this morning. I was the first on the trail today and first to summit. It was 1 degree at the parking lot so I started in spikes since the trail was hard packed and frozen. At about the 1.5 mile mark I switched to snowshoes. The base is solid but still felt a little soft to me and snowshoes seemed more efficient. I wore them the rest of the morning. Snowshoes worked perfectly on the slabs which were snow covered but seemed really grippy. I just walked right up and down them. I saw folks out today mostly in snowshoes but some in spikes and one in full crampons. It's dealer's choice on traction, really. No one seemed unhappy with their choices but with the warmer temps softening the snow, I think snowshoes are going to be the best tool.”