We drove out to the Pipe Creek SnoPark near Blewett Pass to snowshoe the Swuak Meadows Loop. According to the trail map this should be a 3.8 mile loop, but as the blue diamonds on the trees weren't always to be seen and this was our first time here, we did get off the route a few time. Once in Tronsen Medows and then out on the Swauk Discovery Trail. We always new where we were with our gps, but didn't always know where this route was. Overall we did 5.8 miles with 1,000 ft of overall elevation gain. Beautiful snowshoe in the forest with lots of fresh snow.
View of the Pipe Creek SnoPark, before the snowplow came this morning. The trail is at the east end. We would have some occasional snow flurries, but we stayed out of the rain that was covering most of Western and Central Washington today.
Along the first half of the loop, we could ski tracks from before last night's snowfall. We stayed off to the side out of the ski tracks and broke trail for most of our route. Looking back at our tracks.
There colors were beautiful! Most of our snowshoe was so serene and peaceful. We only saw other people when we were within 1/2 mile of Blewett Pass SnoPark and within 1/4 mile on our way back to to Pipe Creek SnoPark.
A few times the sun broke through the clouds.
From Pipe Creek, the route goes 0.7 miles, before the Swauk Meadows Loop, here we choose to go left: counterclockwise.
We saw several larch trees, which have all shed their needles for the winter. I liked these two small ones.
Several places along the loop, we could Diamond Head to the southeast.
It was reassuring when we spotted the blue diamonds on the trees as we continued our snowshoe.
After a mile going counterclockwise on the loop, the route crosses FR9716 (snowmobile route), before turning north and recrosses the same road on the way towards Blewett Pass. However, there are several routes through Tronsen Meadows. We followed a sign and some blue diamonds towards the Pass, but found ourselves going up a small hill. One the way we had this nice view of Diamond Head.
On top of the hill is a bench, with great views. Here looking east towards Tronsen Ridge.
Clouds were covering Mount Stuart to the northwest.
To the south: Diamond Head, as beautiful as this spot was, it was too windy and cold for a lunch break. Fortunately, while we were enjoy the views, we spotted fresh snowshoe tracks below us to the east. We went back down and around the hill on the east side, where we met some snowshoers who had started at Blewett Pass. We followed their tracks back towards Blewett Pass.
We found a nice spot off trail, out of the wind to take a lunch break. As we were getting ready to continue snowshoeing, up between the trees, for a brief moment, we saw Mount Stuart between the clouds. (zoom)
It was nice to have a trail that was already broken to follow through this beautiful forest.
We kept our eyes open for blue diamonds, checked our gps and enjoyed this snowy day. After recrossing FS9716, the route joined the Swauk Discovery Loop Trail for a ways. We went further along the loop, missing the trail down to Blewett SnoPark (some sledders were at this junction). We only went about 1/2 mile further along the loop before we realized it was not the way of our Swauk Meadow Loop. From here it was too steep to head down hill. We retraced our steps, found the trail junction and continued until almost into the Blewett SnoPark.
We were so happy to see the signs showing 2 miles back to the Pine Creek SnoPark. Here we would easily see the route of skiers from before last night's snowfall. This route parallels the highway.
There were several downed trees along this section, but we were able to climb over, go under or go around them.
Fun day in fresh snow. We now have a track of our route can decide to follow it or choice other options the next time we are out here snowshoeing.
We drove out to the Pipe Creek SnoPark near Blewett Pass to snowshoe the Swuak Meadows Loop. According to the trail map this should be a 3.8 mile loop, but as the blue diamonds on the trees weren't always to be seen and this was our first time here, we did get off the route a few time. Once in Tronsen Medows and then out on the Swauk Discovery Trail. We always new where we were with our gps, but didn't always know where this route was. Overall we did 5.8 miles with 1,000 ft of overall elevation gain. Beautiful snowshoe in the forest with lots of fresh snow.
View of the Pipe Creek SnoPark, before the snowplow came this morning. The trail is at the east end. We would have some occasional snow flurries, but we stayed out of the rain that was covering most of Western and Central Washington today.
Along the first half of the loop, we could ski tracks from before last night's snowfall. We stayed off to the side out of the ski tracks and broke trail for most of our route. Looking back at our tracks.
There colors were beautiful! Most of our snowshoe was so serene and peaceful. We only saw other people when we were within 1/2 mile of Blewett Pass SnoPark and within 1/4 mile on our way back to to Pipe Creek SnoPark.
A few times the sun broke through the clouds.
From Pipe Creek, the route goes 0.7 miles, before the Swauk Meadows Loop, here we choose to go left: counterclockwise.
We saw several larch trees, which have all shed their needles for the winter. I liked these two small ones.
Several places along the loop, we could Diamond Head to the southeast.
It was reassuring when we spotted the blue diamonds on the trees as we continued our snowshoe.
After a mile going counterclockwise on the loop, the route crosses FR9716 (snowmobile route), before turning north and recrosses the same road on the way towards Blewett Pass. However, there are several routes through Tronsen Meadows. We followed a sign and some blue diamonds towards the Pass, but found ourselves going up a small hill. One the way we had this nice view of Diamond Head.
On top of the hill is a bench, with great views. Here looking east towards Tronsen Ridge.
Clouds were covering Mount Stuart to the northwest.
To the south: Diamond Head, as beautiful as this spot was, it was too windy and cold for a lunch break. Fortunately, while we were enjoy the views, we spotted fresh snowshoe tracks below us to the east. We went back down and around the hill on the east side, where we met some snowshoers who had started at Blewett Pass. We followed their tracks back towards Blewett Pass.
We found a nice spot off trail, out of the wind to take a lunch break. As we were getting ready to continue snowshoeing, up between the trees, for a brief moment, we saw Mount Stuart between the clouds. (zoom)
It was nice to have a trail that was already broken to follow through this beautiful forest.
We kept our eyes open for blue diamonds, checked our gps and enjoyed this snowy day. After recrossing FS9716, the route joined the Swauk Discovery Loop Trail for a ways. We went further along the loop, missing the trail down to Blewett SnoPark (some sledders were at this junction). We only went about 1/2 mile further along the loop before we realized it was not the way of our Swauk Meadow Loop. From here it was too steep to head down hill. We retraced our steps, found the trail junction and continued until almost into the Blewett SnoPark.
We were so happy to see the signs showing 2 miles back to the Pine Creek SnoPark. Here we would easily see the route of skiers from before last night's snowfall. This route parallels the highway.
There were several downed trees along this section, but we were able to climb over, go under or go around them.
Fun day in fresh snow. We now have a track of our route can decide to follow it or choice other options the next time we are out here snowshoeing.
