Atlantic Peak

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 4/22/2019, By: davebks
Info: We met at the TH at 6:15 and were walking by 6:45. Just a few cars in the lot and we didn't see anyone else on the peak all day. We used snowshoes on the bottom portion of the climb but as soon as we got up and over the first hump we put on crampons. Honestly, I don't think the snowshoes were necessary but we had them so might as well use them. The snow froze nicely overnight and was way more consolidated then it had been in recent weeks. Once we gained the ridge the snow was in great shape the whole way to the top. By 11:30, near the summit the sun came out and started to soften everything though. The were some wind-loaded areas and small cornices so we were careful to avoid those areas and climb above them. Once that noon sun hit things got soft like potatoes, some balling up on the crampons and a bit of sliding around but overall it was holding us up very well. I didn't see any real slide activity in the area. No settling under our feet either. Overall a great day out and perfect conditions. As the sun keep shining though things might melt out quickly. I would keep an eye on the narrowest portion of the ridge. Those sides might slide out if you aren't centered or careful. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 4/13/2019, By: dwoodward13
Info: Pretty tough day on Atlantic today. Excellent trench up to the end of the basin. We followed a trench from there to the ridge and you'll definitely want flotation after leaving the road. Ditched snowshoes around 12,800 and switched to crampons and ice ax. Microspikes will not cut it. There were about 10 inches of unconsolidated snow on top of the ridge which made some sections extremely hairy. Total lost of visibility approaching to summit. After hitting the summit, headed down to the saddle with Pacific and headed back toward the car. Mix of rock hopping and questionable snow back to Mayflower Gulch. Of course by the time we got back to the car it was a bluebird day! 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 3/27/2019, By: Posthole Pete
Info: Started in the dark so we could not find a path but it was easy to make our own all the way to the ridge. Was slightly windy so chances are our trench might be buried by now. Conditions felt solid except for a storm slab right above tree line so we climbed up the exposed rocks. Easy route finding to the summit with the help of some goat tracks. I boarded down the North "face". Was able to ride from the summit with a little bit of threading through some rock sections. (Just over 5 hours and 6.16 miles round-trip per Gaia app) 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 2/26/2019, By: osprey
Info: See report for Pacific Peak. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 12/8/2018, By: Ptglhs
Info: A few feet of powder made this outing beautiful but arduous. There's now a snowshoe trench up to about 12.4. Snow was wind slab in some places but mostly just powder slowly consolidating. On the ridge there's a cornice with deep snow and uneven talus. Watch where you put your feet! 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 11/16/2018, By: WildWanderer
Info: Snow in Mayflower Gulch is 3+ feet deep and sugary. I was post-holing up to my waist in areas (with snowshoes on). I used microspikes from the trailhead and once I reached Boston Mine wore snowshoes the entire route. Crampons would have been nice traversing Atlantic's lower west ridge (12,000-12,300') but I managed wearing snowshoes and getting creative with my ice axe. Lots of early season snow meant if there was a trail I didn't see one, so I did my best to stick to the ridge and make a trench. Snow ranged from consolidated to sugary with no warning in between. The snow made the ridge a class 3 in a couple of areas (and fun while wearing snowshoes). Cornices are forming but not of any concern at this point. I took Mayflower Creek down and don't recommend it: I sank up to my chest a couple of times and it wasn't fun working my way out. I stayed higher on the trek in and while the snow was sugary I only sank a foot or so. Lots of snow on the summit! 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 9/8/2018, By: HikerGuy
Info: West Ridge is completely dry as of Saturday 9/8. Saddle between Atlantic and Pacific also dry. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/17/2018, By: B_2
Info: Flotation is necessary to cross basin to ridge at this time. Ridge was delightful with many cornices to navigate but today we had firm snow in the morning on the ridge. The NW couloir of Atlantic is in from about 100ft below summit and appears to be very popular right now. The east-facing bowl of Pac/Atl is still in with plenty of snow as well. Pacific tarn is frozen. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/13/2018, By: psg188
Info: Beautiful weather, wind was far less than was forecast. We thought the 5.4 mile round trip would get us through quickly enough to avoid needing snowshoes, but the route can easily turn out to be over 7 miles depending on the lines you take, snowshoes are strongly recommended. Snow was varied, punchy on the flats and either firm with some tack or closer to frozen depending on time of day and aspect. Ice ax and spikes also recommended. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 4/30/2018, By: jscully205
Info: Skinned from Mayflower gulch TH to the ridge line. Once on the ridge it was intermittent snow and rock which I ended up walking across with poles and light traction. The summit had snow but I down-climbed 100 ft to ski a NW facing aspect with continuous snow back to the basin below and then back to the parking lot. Snow was great, corn in the gulch around 10am. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 3/10/2018, By: soccern23ny
Info: Start 0745. End 1415. Trailhead is hard packed snow until the old cabins. No traction of flotation to this point needed. Huge open field requires flotation, with snowshoes on I sank about 4-6 inches. Gaining the western ridge after crossing the open field is the hardest part. I took a high line after most of the pine trees. But I was still floundering in the deep snow drifts. Even at 8am I was post holing waist deep WITH SNOWSHOES on in some spots! There were crusty spots once you got higher that made travel smoother. And I eventually ditched the snow shoes and rock hopped through the rock fields to make my way to the top of the false summit. Once there just follow the ridge line. No flotation really required here. Traction optional. Summit was beautiful. Descent was difficult. Snow was even softer now, and snow shoes were required even in the rocky sections. With GPS I was able to find my old line near the bottom(old tracks almost all blown away). Again even more waist deep post holing with snow shoes on. ... Overall great day and generally stunning area with vast vistas. Almost no tracks to follow until the top of the false summit. Saw 2 hikers/skiers behind me at about 300 yards going up following my tracks. But I never saw them again.... I think they turned back due to postholing. Meant to due the coast to coast traverse but had a late start and postholing took out too much energy and time. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 3/3/2018, By: Eli Boardman
Info: The Mayflower Gulch road is hard packed from trailhead / winter closure to the mine buildings at treeline. There is deep, loose snow on the approach to the ridge--flotation is highly recommended unless you like postholing hip deep through a crust. The ridge is fairly dry except for a few mandatory snow-ridge sections; an ice axe is helpful, but not needed, and traction is unneeded. It was a beautiful day up there after the insane wind quit around 10 a.m. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 10/15/2017, By: koeffling
Info: About the same as the previous report, maybe a touch less snow. Brought gaiters, axe, and micro spikes. Only used the last two on the descent because a short cut seemed like a good idea. A bit of postholing to the ridge, ridge snow is mostly avoidable. Road is open to the mine buildings but was icy the majority of the way, both in the morning and afternoon. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 10/12/2017, By: jladderud
Info: Road is somewhat icy. Quite a bit of post holing through the basin and along the slopes of the ridge. All the snow was avoidable once I gained the ridge but traction and gaiters were definitely beneficial until then! 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 9/17/2017, By: cardgenius
Info: Traversed the ridge from Pacific. Ridge is dry from Pacific to Atlantic. Took the west ridge down and it's mostly dry. No spikes needed yet. Not much of a defined route when you leave the gulch to gain the ridge.