Mt. Parnassus

Route: NW Slopes via Watrous Gulch
Posted On: 6/19/2017, By: xcrunner365
Info: The route from Herman Gulch TH via Watrous Gulch is 90% snow free. With only a few small lingering snow fields along the trail. Mainly from the Bard creek/ Watrous Gulch trail junction to treeline. I brought gaiters and microspikes and used neither. The water level at the stream crossing in Watrous Gulch is high and care must be taken to find the best way across. 

Route: Watrus Gulch
Posted On: 6/11/2017, By: SteveT
Info: About half way up Watrous Gulch, the trail is covered by snow. And snow continues intermittently as you head up to the saddle between Woods and Parnassus. Parnassus is mostly clear of snow. Overall, the snow was not too deep (never post-holed past knee). With gaiters and waterproof boots it was a very enjoyable hike. Definitely don't need snowshoes. Microspikes were useful but not really mandatory. 

Route: NW Ridge
Posted On: 6/4/2017, By: JeffR
Info: Snow-free until entering Watrous Gulch proper. Then random snow patches until treeline, where snow is continuous for remainder of route. Aside from the random posthole, snow was fairly firm until about halfway back down the descent (10AM?) - things started getting pretty greasy then. Snow was nearly-bulletproof in many places on the ridge and W. slope... spikes kept the pucker factor down on the steeper areas. 

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Posted On: 1/1/2017, By: rijaca
Info: Trail into Watrous Gulch is hard packed. Once into Watrous Gulch the track/trail becomes braided and snowshoes were helpful until timberline. Grassy tundra with minor amounts of snow above that (no snowshoes needed). A Richard Derkase sighting also. 

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Posted On: 11/6/2016, By: lkk8815
Info: Continuous snow above ~12,500', only a few inches deep. Spikes were nice to have but not necessary. 

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Posted On: 10/31/2016, By: highcountryhiker
Info: Ascended via Watrous Gulch and Bard Creek Trail to SE ridge. Descended via standard NW ridge route back to Watrous Gulch. Nice loop. Minor snow on leeward faces of ridges, otherwise ridges dry with no snow on the routes. Essentially summer conditions, except for a constant chilly wind. 

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Posted On: 6/11/2016, By: Ericds84
Info: Climbed Parnassus from Watrous Gulch. The trail had some pretty serious drifts over it just before tree line. Postholed quite a bit, but the snow was too intermittent to bother with snow shoes. Muddy and wet--gaiters are a big help. Above tree line, the snow can be avoided almost entirely. NW Ridge is practically bare. 

Route: NW Ridge Standard Route + Traverse to Bard Peak
Posted On: 5/30/2016, By: jasayrevt
Info: Good, prime conditions for this route and reaching the top of the peak. Variable, definitely still a lot of snow around. There are many high-quality mountaineering lines that are in. Watrous Gulch was fine way to go. Make a trip up and enjoy the great outdoors / summits. We saw a wolverine on the slopes ascending Mt. Parnassus, which was pretty surreal. Such a rarity. Ridge over to Bard is absolutely excellent. Dropping down at saddle is viable. Pictures included for beta 

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Posted On: 5/23/2016, By: emgordon
Info: Hiked then skinned into Watrous Gulch under the full moon. Snow well frozen all the way from trailhead. Continuous snow encountered within half a mile of summer Bard-Watrous trail intersection. Watrous Bowl looks good to ski for now. 

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Posted On: 5/20/2016, By: JeffR
Info: Continuous snow starts at ~1 mile. I got on 'er early so was able to boot it all the way to the summit with only random postholing. Spikes would've been nice on the ridge (had to kick-step a lot). Snowshoes on the descent made it a breeze, otherwise it would've blown donkey. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 4/26/2016, By: AndyJB444
Info: Climb and ski of Parnassus via the NW face and couloir this morning. Lots of snowshoe tracks through the first bit starting at the road, but those end at treeline. Mostly found nice, soft, boot-top powder starting on the apron, up through the couloir, and then most of the way up to the summit ridge. Only a few wind scoured sections, and plenty of coverage. There is a cornice along the NW ridge to keep an eye on. We stayed climbers left on the face, and felt safe. Unable to ski straight from the summit with the amount of rocks poking through along the ridge, but once we dropped into the face it was all good. Enjoy! 

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Posted On: 3/7/2016, By: ajlavigne
Info: Winter conditions from Herman Gulch TH, up Watrous Gulch, to just below the saddle with Woods (other than a few dry patches at lower elevations near TH). Used microspikes on the frozen snow early from the TH, switched to snowshoes in Watrous Gulch once the sun came out; used snowshoes from just below the saddle on the descent. NW Ridge from the saddle and summit were dry. 

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Posted On: 3/1/2016, By: jasayrevt
Info: The Standard Route from Herman Gulch TH is in great condition, good to go! There is a very nice, distinct trail. Some flotation is helpful until about 12,000', and then it's wind-swept slopes all the way to the top. Enjoy those summits Happy Mountaineers! 

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Posted On: 12/6/2015, By: Unknown
Info: First couple miles is packed snow where snowshoes were not needed. From the trail junction to the saddle between Woods Mountain, snowshoes will be helpful in spots, particularly in the soft afternoon snow. From the saddle to the summit, it‘s completely wind blown. 

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Posted On: 7/5/2015, By: Trotter
Info: The sign for the trail turnoff from Herman Gulch is no longer there. Beautiful wildflowers all along route. Creek is high but still very easy to cross with help of a log. There is still some snow hiding in spots, but entire route can be walked snow free.