The final section of the north approach to Pharaoh Mountain features slanted rock slabs that become dangerously slippery when wet, covered with leaves and slime. The slippery terrain has led hikers to create social trails to avoid the main route.

A solo winter hiker completed a 22.8-mile Bonds-Zealand traverse over two days, starting from Lincoln Woods on Wednesday. Conditions included icy trails, deep spruce traps requiring snowshoes, difficult off-trail navigation, and glare ice on the road descent, ultimately requiring an unplanned hitch ride to reach town.

Hiker completed an off-trail winter ascent of a 3,363-foot peak east of Loch Bonnie and Moose Mountain, navigating blowdown, coniferous snow, stream crossings, and partial water submersion. Conditions included blowing snow, fluff-covered obstacles, drifted snow, slush ice, and wintry weather with poor visibility.

A two-day backpacking trip to Mount Colden following a severe thunderstorm and flash flooding. The trail from Avalanche Lake was extremely wet with knee-deep water, mud, and cascading water over rock slabs; a ranger warned of recent rescues from slippery conditions and a serious incident on the trap dike.

Long rugged route to Lower Wolfjaw via Rooster Comb featuring a difficult rock scramble section at 4000 feet with wet rock and cliff exposure; passes through quiet forest with peekaboo views and steep terrain.