Go to Know - Mint Country

Oulie and I skied up into the Mint country May Day 2017. Thinnest snowpack I've observed there in three trips spaced out over many years, the last one in 2011.

Beaver ponds were starting to break up

A lot of open water

 

We had planned to ski up to the Pennyroyal Glacier via Backdoor Gap and down it to the Bomber, and then back to Hatcher Pass Road via Reed Lakes and Archangel Road. But, concerned about rotten or no snow at Backdoor Gap and around Reed Lakes we decided to backtrack the 7 miles, and save the Bomber Traverse for better conditions. The 14 miles on pretty flat terrain was a slog in alpine touring boots!