Hiking – Watrous Gulch Cirque: Parnassus to Woods to Machebeuf

Watrous Gulch cirque

Lollypop route.  From Herman Gulch trailhead, we'll take the Watrous Gulch trail. Shortly before the log bridge creek crossing at 11,150’, we'll bushwack down to cross the creek and ascend Mt. Parnassus’ steep northeast face up to the ridge (.9 miles at a consistent 30 degrees).  Please be candid with yourself about your fitness for this segment of the hike.

Turn left and on to Mt. Parnassus’ summit.

Then we'll head down to the Parnassus-Woods Mountain saddle and up to Woods Mountain’s summit.

Continue across the long ridge to Mt. Machebeuf’s (Peak 12,805’) summit.

Descend Machebeuf’s SE ridge, then drop down to the Watrous Gulch trail and out to the trailhead.

Cumulative elevation gain: 4,200’

Starting elevation: 10,300’

Maximum elevation: Mt. Parnassus 13,574’

Total mileage: 8.3 miles

Link for topo map:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JqUU0tK0u69aNpow0u6jXRfnzb4w3YlM/view?usp=sharing

I-70 Morrison Park and Ride, Woolly Mammoth (BB), ready to leave at 06:00 am.

For those meeting at the trailhead, we'll meet at the I-70 exit 218, Herman Gulch trailhead, at 6:45 am