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Post by rogler on Mar 31, 2016 6:29:31 GMT -8
We are looking to get into the mountains in late June and would rather not deal with snow. Any recommendations on what area would have less snow? We are looking anywhere out west and want to be in the mountains. I'll be posting this in the other western regions also.
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Post by paula53 on Mar 31, 2016 10:56:39 GMT -8
That is too vague. Out west, in Washington, Oregon? Or Colorado? I would like to help you, but I need a little more information. Where are you going, how many days do you plan to be out backpacking, what altitude? Do you have the proper gear?
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June trip
Mar 31, 2016 11:47:23 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 31, 2016 11:47:23 GMT -8
The various edges of Yosemite will be snow free by then or earlier. Coastal mountains also.
This is looking like a relatively old style "normal" snowpack year for the Sierra so higher elevations will still be holding pack.
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speacock
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Post by speacock on Mar 31, 2016 19:47:52 GMT -8
On a normal year, there is snow at the 11,000' level from the east side of Sierra around mid June. Family used Father's Day as traditional start of the back packing season. Kids were from 8+ then. Cottonwood Lakes, Southern end of Sierra, were snow free usually at first lakes and Muir Lake. Lot of postholing going toward either of the Army passes. But the cornice off of the buttress was a deep aqua blue. From Bishop this would get you to Long Lake from South Lake. That is my fav early summer day hike, as is the Shepherd Pass trail up to Anvil Camp. Beautiful weather lots of snow melt hanging waterfalls from high ridges.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Apr 1, 2016 4:43:42 GMT -8
The choices in CA are limitless. Some June I want to hike from the Kern River on the south side of Golden Trout Wilderness, or maybe into southern Sequoia NP from Mountain Home State Forest or South Fork Kaweah. This June I'm hoping to meet my pal hiking the PCT somewhere around Tehachapi or Walker Pass.
I can't believe Shepherd Pass is anybody's favorite hike.
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June trip
Apr 1, 2016 17:40:42 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 1, 2016 17:40:42 GMT -8
Shepherd? It's the shortest route into some world class empty Sierra. That will have its fans.
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speacock
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Post by speacock on Apr 2, 2016 20:11:57 GMT -8
*Ahem* half day dayhike! Only the good parts like crossing a full Symmes creek 4 times, that long hot slog to the ridge followed by a 500' dip toward what looks like a crazy roaring creek (but turns uphill scant feet away) then uphill to gain the lost altitude to finally first water.
After all that you have an amazing display of water spilling off from high cliffs to your left (I said early season) and two 14,000' summits slowly doing a strip tease as you trudge on. First water gives you a waterfall bonus behind you while you snack. Then up to Mahogany 'Flats' and another waterfall for a shower if you are want to brave 33F water. Up against where the head of a long forgotten glacier left a head wall with another booming waterfall that you watch move below you on a long single switchback. Then crawl into Anvil Camp if you haven't hit snow yet. Then sit back and fantasize what that unencumbered hike would be with a full pack on and feel glad you don't have it on. You still have another head wall to get past before a false summit of a pass appears - then another. BUT you have Tyndall in front of you and on the left the 2nd highest mountain in California - Mt Williamson with a terrible traverse (on a good day) to the start of the climb. But you can knock of Tyndall in a few hours up the ridge if you don't mind the drop off that gets more impressive as you while away your time going up it. And as HSF sez you are now treated with some of the best scenery in the world. The High Sierra and its plateau. You can spend a week there at 11,500' (summer time) exploring so many things that few ever take the time to look. All the JMT hikers are within a day of having a hamburger and may not even stop to look.
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Post by hikerchick395 on Apr 4, 2016 7:15:18 GMT -8
Precip and snowpack report, heard on the radio this morning...Bishop is at 28% of normal and Rock Creek is at 48%. Seem that I live near the lowest reporting areas but even Mammoth Pass is just under normal at 98%. Other reporting areas are in the 50-60 percentages.
So you should have a choice if you are visiting the east side.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Apr 4, 2016 10:51:01 GMT -8
I hated Shepherd's Pass so much the first time I had to do it again - hated it even worse. Worst altitude issues ever, had a tent trashed by marmots. Why doesn't anybody talk about the 99 switchbacks on that trail? Couple of the best trips of my life. Surviving Shepherd's Pass makes me want to try Taboose Pass. :D
I think the hikes out of Horseshoe Meadow have more to offer in June than Shepherd's Pass, which is likely to require ice ax & crampons at the top.
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Post by rogler on Apr 5, 2016 10:55:03 GMT -8
thanks for all of the input. This is a new area for us so I'm still trying to figure out the itinerary. We will be flying in June 26th for a week. We are looking at the CottonWood Lakes, thru Army Pass to Crabtree lakes and back on the PCT. Do you think we will encounter too much snow on this route? Are any special permits needed?
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June trip
Apr 5, 2016 11:04:22 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 5, 2016 11:04:22 GMT -8
thanks for all of the input. This is a new area for us so I'm still trying to figure out the itinerary. We will be flying in June 26th for a week. We are looking at the CottonWood Lakes, thru Army Pass to Crabtree lakes and back on the PCT. Do you think we will encounter too much snow on this route? Are any special permits needed? Wilderness Permits, available off recreation.gov Iirc that's an Inyo NF trailhead. This is a decent snow year and the Southern Sierra is high (with passes such as New Army over 12,000 feet) so I'd expect snow on the passes and north facing slopes in June. "Too much"? I don't know what that means. I've hiked on ten foot snowpacks where my only concern was sunburn in some VERY unexpected places while a mere foot caused trouble on another trip... Too much how? You're aware Army isn't maintained? To quote Secor: The High Sierra: Peaks~Passes~Trails: "The northeastern aspect of the Army Pass Trail leaves it packed with snow all summer long after heavy winters, and rockfall is a continuous hazard." The one somewhat special consideration are the bear resistant food storage regulations of the parks. Which have to be followed even when entering from another agency. www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htmCanisters are available for rent at the office south of Lone Pine where you'll pick up your permit if your route goes into those zones or you don't want to bother with food hangs. www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20698Inyo does a nice trip planning guide that's worth a look. www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev3_003592.pdfInyo's wilderness permit pickup locations are listed here: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5144746
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speacock
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Post by speacock on Apr 5, 2016 12:06:15 GMT -8
Last time I got a permit it was out of Independence, east side of US-395 just north of 'down town'. Might check first before committing to a round trip. OLD Army Pass (from Cottonwood Lake 4/5) isn't maintained. It caused the construction of 12,000' NEW Army Pass from Long Lake. Old is still routinely used by those who have been up it once with somebody who knows or is good at spotting the trail It is the horse packer's optimum route as it cuts off probably 300' elevation and a mile. It maintains a snow cornice longer than NEW AP. I'd guess there would be substantial snow on either pass until later July. One can follow others foot steps and figure on working out a way up/down it that would include some steep snow - probably no ice. You only need to worry about the east side. But, then again, there might be few minor problems following snow prints of those before you. End of July in 1995, wife and I ended up going a direct route on snow to the top for about 100'. Unfortunately it was with a 10 day supply for the High Sierra Trail, still three days away. That was an unexpected ugh! The good side of that was that we would NOT have gone the same route straight up across late season no snow bare granite rock. You could go via Cottonwood Pass (bottom of map) which is much lower. It might be worth a day hike (making base camp at the walk-in public campground -10,300' or so - just shy of the trail head and near car) up to Long Lake to check it out. Leaving day break, you would be at Long Lake before lunch. For an adventure, staying on trails to the lake to avoid boulder scramble, you can exit down taking an unmarked trail from South Fork Lake staying on the north of the outlet. It picks up a trail within a 1/4 mile through a meadow. Just remember to turn right when you get to the trail to car. Or, heck, even check with the rangers when you pick up your permit. These are the most southern passes in the eastern Sierra - but not the lowest. mapper.acme.com/?ll=36.47793,-118.20920&z=14&t=T There is a nice 5 day hike from Army Pass via Forester Pass via Kearsarge You have a car shuttle problem tho. This year it would be better end of July. PCT hikers will be having those problems and more going over 13,200' Forester at north end of the Bighorn Plateau. I met some PCT hikers coming down from Kearsarge Pass with the intent of buying ice axes (in Independence or Bishop) after having just a few hours earlier been over the pass. I tried to convince them that the remaining passes were nothing at all like Forester.
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Post by rogler on Apr 6, 2016 2:46:02 GMT -8
Any other suggestions for a 5 to 6 day trip with less chance of snow and easy enough to get permits. I don't want to do too much driving after we arrive from the airport (TBD) to get the permits before we even get started. How about entering the mountains from the west side?
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Apr 6, 2016 11:24:58 GMT -8
Loo at a map that shows the trails out of Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite. Nice loops around the 6k to 8 k level.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Apr 6, 2016 16:06:12 GMT -8
Old Army Pass & Crabtree Pass could be really sketchy in June (but amazing in August). Look into the Golden Trout Wilderness, Domeland Wilderness and southern Sequoia NP. You could have a great trip out of Mineral King with the option of higher passes if they are clear, or staying lower if they are not.
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