Hager Mountain Fire Lookout

I did Hager Mtn Jan 6-8, 2019. We prepared for the worst weather possible, debated on whether to use skis or snowshoes, whether bringing a sled or just multi-day packs, extra wood or water...

We encountered the worst weather possible, 60+mph winds, and whiteout conditions above treeline.

I'll start with snow gear: we chose snowshoes over skis and I'm glad we did due to many downed trees that would've required circumventing along the trail. Snowshoeing, while slow and steady, proved best for traction and control in potentially dangerous conditions.

We decided against the sled which proved to be another good choice as once above treeline, the incline is ridiculous in fresh pow. I had a 20 min lead on my team and upon leaving treeline, breaking trail on the incline allowed for them to catch up to me; a sled would've made things worse.

Do not bring wood unless there is a government shutdown; there is a well-stocked woodshed. In the winter, melt snow to make cooking/ drinking water with the large pot. The wood burning stove is a morale booster and works very well.

Single bed and a bunk make it comfortable for three but a forth could sleep on a sleeping pad on the floor or long desk.

We each had 35-40lb packs; while that's not too heavy, breaking trail in 2+ feet of fresh blowing snow can prove difficult. I wish I had brought extra baskets for my poles; a downed tree branch took it below treeline and the sinking trekking pole was annoying.

Overall the hike wasn't bad. However, before you go, especially in the winter, download a map/ trail route to your phone or watch to reference on the trail. Due to the whiteout conditions, we didn't see the lookout until we were about 200 feet away from it. The blue diamonds that mark the trail aren't always visible. This will save you a lot of heartaches when it comes to being exposed and beaten up by the wind and snow.

Bottom line, even given the same austere weather conditions, I'd go back in a heartbeat. The second day, the clouds broke and we were able to enjoy the sunrise and grgeous views from the top.