Did a crack of dawn lap on Cascade today. I have seen parties on it on just about every drive-by I have done this winter so I guess I expected lots of picked out ice and deep trails. Wrong again.

There is a donkey track to the base but above that the steps are intermittent and the snow goes from cramponing on crust to wallowing up to your knees in places.

The climbing was surprisingly "au natural". Lots of ice to clear, not much signs of traffic and basically no hooking old holes. Fragile feet in a lot of places. Still Grade 3 but Old School Grade 3:)

LOTS of snow in the bowls above and on the route so there may be an impressive wet cycle out of there if and when it ever really warms up!

Larry Stanier
ACMG Mountain Guide