Bear Creek Spire Conditions

Has anyone been near Bear Creek Spire or surrounding areas and have snow pack/trail conditions?

This is was taken from the top of mount Morgan (s) on 6/14. Still plenty of snow out that way.

headed up next weekend, bringing skis for lols. will report back.

as viewed from patricia bowl descent this last saturday (6/15/19).  there is a ton of snow out that way.

Snow is melting fast, but there is still a lot of it.

Guide tennies and you’ll be fine 

continuous snow line around long lake, 10600 or so. mostly dry rock with only a bit of snow and ice on shadowy ledges. no mosquitoes yet at the trailhead as of 6/22 with overnight temps below freezing, that was nice...

livinontheledge wrote: skis 'required' for the approach? 

nope.  quite firm until 9-10am.  an early start and some traction and you're good! 

Amazing how much is still up there.  I'm used to seeing snow stick around at higher elevations well into July but this is wild.  I have a wilderness permit to go out over the July 4th weekend with my two boys, the youngest of whom will be going on his his first overnight.  That looks a bit too full value for an 8 yr. old hiking in tennies. 

Has anyone been up there in the last week?  I'm especially curious about the top of the route - can one climb to the west of the true ridge near the summit?

brian burke wrote: continuous snow line around long lake, 10600 or so. mostly dry rock with only a bit of snow and ice on shadowy ledges. no mosquitoes yet at the trailhead as of 6/22 with overnight temps below freezing, that was nice...

Did snow on the route up top force you to harder (5+) climbing?

RJNakata wrote:

Did snow on the route up top force you to harder (5+) climbing?

snow didn't cause any route alterations.  the top of bcs is ~5.5 though, snow or no. 

I was in the area today. All the snow up there is pretty deeply sun cupped, so get psyched for that.

Planning on climbing this on 7/20 with microspikes and hiking poles for the approach/descent.  To anyone who's been up there recently, do you think that's sufficient?  Planning a car to car ascent expected to start at 3am and try to be down and out of the snow by lunchtime. 

Mike Womack wrote: Planning on climbing this on 7/20 with microspikes and hiking poles for the approach/descent.  To anyone who's been up there recently, do you think that's sufficient?  

seems like a good idea 

There was still plenty snow at the base yesterday, but the trail along the valley was clear.

Got there Saturday 7-13-19.  
Trail all clear with stream crossings doable without wading.  Serious sun-cuppage above Gem Lakes.  ST approach recommendation to Dade Lake through Gem Lakes definitely better than Treasure Lakes approach like I did in '97.  Snow firm mornings until 10-ish and evenings after 6 which made for more efficient travel.  Mid-day a slog..but a beautiful slog.  Temps hot some days even at 11500'....lots of sun (and mosquitoes below Gem Lakes). Saw 4 others going home when pulling into Dade Lake 7-12-19, not much else.  We also got permit checked at Gem Lakes.

No snow on ridge and arete routes and none on talus descent from summit to upper-most snowfield.  We hiked up NW on ridge per ST decent recommendations to avoid steeper snow descent - for us worth it for safety.  

Gear we took for NE Ridge: microspikes (critical for morning/evening conditions IMO), rock shoes, poles, 30M rope (a 60M would have been more convenient (safe?) for rappels), minimal rack.  Beautiful conditions, definitely a wowser!

Awesome!! Thanks for the updates everyone!

Climbed this on 07/20. 15 hours car to car.  A little slower than anticipated but it was still a great day!  Snow started just after Gem lakes and was SLUSHY all day long!  Even before the sunrise, my shoes were sinking in a few inches making spikes mostly useless.  It made the descent a bit faster though.  

Mike Womack wrote: Climbed this on 07/20. 15 hours car to car.  A little slower than anticipated but it was still a great day!  

We were a little slower also: 15 hours tent to tent (from Dade Lake)!

Anyone climb Bear Creek Spire recently?