November 17th, 2007 An attempt at Madison in early season snow. I reached my turnaround time of 1pm at around 4,500ft, just short of Madison Spring Hut. Trailbreaking through 2-3 feet of snow above the tent site and leaving my lunch in the van also contributed to the decision. http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6282/237208467_L6tSk-Ti-1.jpg http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/gallery/4072591_GoFRb/ 2007-12-29T04:54:55Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Officially winter starts December 22nd...</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208467_L6tSk" title="Officially winter starts December 22nd..."><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6282/237208467_L6tSk-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Officially winter starts December 22nd..." title="Officially winter starts December 22nd..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:48:40Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6282/237208467_L6tSk-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />A few inches of nice powdery snow down low 2-3 feet above the tent site.</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208464_3MJuU" title="A few inches of nice powdery snow down low 2-3 feet above the tent site."><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6283/237208464_3MJuU-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="A few inches of nice powdery snow down low 2-3 feet above the tent site." title="A few inches of nice powdery snow down low 2-3 feet above the tent site." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:51:49Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6283/237208464_3MJuU-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Lots of water running - unfortunately also a lot on the trail.</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208514_Xv8Le" title="Lots of water running - unfortunately also a lot on the trail."><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6285/237208514_Xv8Le-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Lots of water running - unfortunately also a lot on the trail." title="Lots of water running - unfortunately also a lot on the trail." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:03Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6285/237208514_Xv8Le-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a> </p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208517_3zuH4" title="hikerbob's photo"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6288/237208517_3zuH4-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="hikerbob's photo" title="hikerbob's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:51:14Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6288/237208517_3zuH4-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a> </p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208543_wTEja" title="hikerbob's photo"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6290/237208543_wTEja-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="hikerbob's photo" title="hikerbob's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:51:35Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6290/237208543_wTEja-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a> </p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208546_PuRJX" title="hikerbob's photo"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6292/237208546_PuRJX-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="hikerbob's photo" title="hikerbob's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:04Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6292/237208546_PuRJX-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Stayed grey all day and snowed off and on as well.</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208580_Labjn" title="Stayed grey all day and snowed off and on as well."><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6294/237208580_Labjn-Th-2.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Stayed grey all day and snowed off and on as well." title="Stayed grey all day and snowed off and on as well." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:30Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6294/237208580_Labjn-Th-2.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Overtaken - normal procedure</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208586_hig5s" title="Overtaken - normal procedure"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6295/237208586_hig5s-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Overtaken - normal procedure" title="Overtaken - normal procedure" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:44Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6295/237208586_hig5s-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a> </p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208617_5vNF4" title="hikerbob's photo"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6296/237208617_5vNF4-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="hikerbob's photo" title="hikerbob's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:28Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6296/237208617_5vNF4-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Boreal Chickadee</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208609_NNzpu" title="Boreal Chickadee"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6297/237208609_NNzpu-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Boreal Chickadee" title="Boreal Chickadee" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:46:59Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6297/237208609_NNzpu-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Looking for a snack</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208717_Unc2f" title="Looking for a snack"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6309/237208717_Unc2f-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Looking for a snack" title="Looking for a snack" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:45Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6309/237208717_Unc2f-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a> </p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208663_oGdrb" title="hikerbob's photo"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6310/237208663_oGdrb-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="hikerbob's photo" title="hikerbob's photo" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:50:50Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6310/237208663_oGdrb-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Classic snowflakes :)</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208755_rZr6M" title="Classic snowflakes :)"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6311/237208755_rZr6M-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Classic snowflakes :)" title="Classic snowflakes :)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:46:03Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6311/237208755_rZr6M-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />I was the only one on the trail with snowshoes which I used above the tent site where there was 2-3 feet of post holed snow. Hard going.</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208809_7LYkw" title="I was the only one on the trail with snowshoes which I used above the tent site where there was 2-3 feet of post holed snow. Hard going."><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6312/237208809_7LYkw-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="I was the only one on the trail with snowshoes which I used above the tent site where there was 2-3 feet of post holed snow. Hard going." title="I was the only one on the trail with snowshoes which I used above the tent site where there was 2-3 feet of post holed snow. Hard going." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:48:48Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6312/237208809_7LYkw-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Turned around before the hut.</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208831_NLbYS" title="Turned around before the hut."><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6313/237208831_NLbYS-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Turned around before the hut." title="Turned around before the hut." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:51:35Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6313/237208831_NLbYS-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />Best view of the day. Fresh air and exercise :)</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208872_vWHSK" title="Best view of the day. Fresh air and exercise :)"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6314/237208872_vWHSK-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Best view of the day. Fresh air and exercise :)" title="Best view of the day. Fresh air and exercise :)" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:47:47Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/DSC6314/237208872_vWHSK-Th-1.jpg <p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com">hikerbob</a><br />GPS track</p><p><a href="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/4072591_GoFRb#237208861_cjhj5" title="GPS track"><img src="http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/237208861_cjhj5-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="GPS track" title="GPS track" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-01-22T17:51:22Z hikerbob http://hikerbob.smugmug.com http://hikerbob.smugmug.com/Hiking-Trips/Hikes-2007/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/Valley-Way-to-4500ft/237208861_cjhj5-Th-1.jpg