TRIP REPORT: Mt Sterling Snow Loop
Date: February 24, 2024
Mileage: 19mi
Elevation Gain: 4590′
Trail: Baxter Creek, Mt Sterling Ridge, Swallow Fork, Low Gap, Big Creek
Weather: Light rain changing over to sleet and snow, heavy at times near the summit of Mt Sterling. It was below freezing most of the day.
Notes: The hike was beautiful, snow started after just the first few miles. I could see the wall of snow coming across the valley and then was wrapped in it soon after. I saw bobcat and bobkitten tracks along the way following the trail for about a half mile. I made coffee in the cabin of the Mt Sterling fire tower, and stopped by the Walnut Bottoms Cemetery on the Low Gap trail on the way back down. It was not clearly marked.
I took a break under the bridge at the end of the Big Creek trail, it was a good place to get out of the weather. Both Mouse Creek Falls and Midnight Hole had a good flow.
