We have gone to the top of Sunset Mountain (3800 feet) from the Uplands area quite a few times and it is now part of our winter schedule to go along the track towards Juniper, then turn up the old double track heading south in the gully (Zilch Gulch).   The whole route up and back is about 9.5 km and has an elevation gain of 1800 feet, a steady steep route.

• previous article for more information – Sunset Hill in Winter
• trailhead – end of Uplands Drive in Barnhartvale (N50 39.614 W120 11.732)
• proceed west for 1.1 km
• turn left (south) in the clearing (N50 39.587 W120 12.632) at 489m elevation
• follow the track south for 2.4 km to 950m elevation
• continue on the track as it climbs and veers east
• once on the south side of the hill, pick a point to climb the hill 0.2 km and 100m in elevation
• return by the same route or go off the west side of the hilltop for more snow on a steep downhill

When we did this in mid-February, mild weather had turned the lower trails to ice.   As we climbed higher up the gully,  the ice turned to hard-packed, then to snow.   Some of the south-facing slopes at angles perpendicular to the low winter sun were actually bare at 3700 feet even in February.

This is a harder route best suited to fit hikers/snowshoers wanting a local summit in winter.