Clear Creek Approach Ski Tour

Skied up to around 9k on lower Wintun Ridge to scope route conditions and road access for Clear Creek..

Road still 3.7 to 4.0 miles out - depending on if you cut switchbacks on the road. Still mostly 1-4' on road, with some bare patches on S-facing sections. If it stays warm might get another mile+ closer in the next week or two.  While the trailhead won't be reachable for a while, the ability to consistently ski (on snow!) from parking to the trailhead will probably be gone within days. Expect a lot of walking and on and off skinning/skiing.

Aside from the ever present (this time of year) "Clear Creek Cornice" which sits in the old roadbed along the edge of Mud Creek Canyon, probably 1-4' of coverage in general along the approach to typical Clear Creek camp.  The cornice formed as always and that long and unique snow deposition feature is still 8-12' deep in places.  Snow coverage diminishes above treeline and with wind exposure.  

Clear Creek route looks like it did in the previous reports, but with the 0.5-1.5' of new the mountain received sitting on top - basically as expected.  The ice patches  recently observed on the Wintun Gl. look covered for now, but are still lurking no doubt.