Summary of conditions
Keebler & Crew route from Butte to Ennis. (Note we were halfway from Whitehall to Ennis this morning).
The route is clear all the way to the last pass where there is snow on the last five hundred feet of vertical ascent. You can bypass the snow by walking in parallel through the forest until the trail & switchback to the pass which is clear.
The report south of Ennis is snow on the pass so I can’t vouch for that part of the route.
The route is rough after the snow.
But after that the trail is better.
Blowdowns have all been cleared for the entire route except one brand new one that can be walked around.
Lots of water.
June 15th
There was no place that was really not near the river. However the wind was towards the river so with the sheltering from the tree we woke up without condensation.
Breakfast and water sorted, we started, crossing the bridge.
Things immediately became steep. Much of the route was very rough.
We got a smattering of snow.
We were basically climbing over three thousand feet in about 3-4 miles.
All the way up we followed the tracks of a 4 wheel drive pickup and a motorcycle. Then the motorcycle tracks ended. Then, about 3-4 feet into a snow drift the pickup had pulled out and turned around.
We had only 400 or so feet to climb but it looked like we would have to turn back.
Then Happy6 picked a line through the forest and we walked around the steep, six foot deep and impassable snow. No snow under the trees.
Of course the trail went from OHV track to scree. It was miserable to climb.
Then it hit the switchback and the motorcycle track returned. Maybe the road went hooked up to connected somewhere below.
Then we were on the other side of the mountain and it was nothing but switchbacks for three thousand feet of decent.
Then we met a Lutheran Pastor who decided he needed to take us to Ennis where we bought him lunch.
Next post, realizations and decisions
A complete new essay as I enjoy my cocoa, shower and laundry in Ennis.
Happy6’s summary.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B18hGUjgv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Recap video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1cdrNFX3XW/?mibextid=wwXIfr.