Hike Log

Postholing nightmare at Ontario Peak

Trailhead:

Ice House Canyon Trailhead

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Minor obstacles posing few problems

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

Bugs were not too bad

Snow:

Snowfields to cross – could be difficult

Got to icehouse canyon trailhead at 7am. The parking lot was already packed so we laced up and heading on our way. There was still remnants of snow in icehouse canyon but was manageable without microspikes up until the bottom of the switchbacks heading up. We had a quick snack break at icehouse saddle taking rest from the wind behind a tree. After the saddle, there was still plenty of deep snow but it was a beautiful day and the sun was starting to peak through bringing warm air. We reached the peak and had lunch under the famous tree and were greeted with 3 bees that kept swarming my pack from the sweet scents of food. We packed up and started heading back when the sun was hitting right above and it felt like a warm 75 degrees out. The hard snow pack had melted down to knee deep slush and we were caught postholing down the mountain for a few miles. It was exhausting. In some parts of the trail you could tell we were not on actual trail, as the snow was starting to melt we were walking right on top of bushes and fallen trees. I had clumsily made a wrong step falling into a crevice next to a tree and rolled to catch myself and my thigh got stabbed by a tree branch sticking out of the snow. Walked away with only a big bruise! We reached the icehouse saddle and took a break and felt so thankful to be on solid ground again!

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