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Post by rustyshackleford on Jan 22, 2018 18:24:21 GMT -8
I'll be in Visalia, CA in probably mid-late February. It is about an hour southeast of Fresno and very close to Sequoia. I just found this out and know nothing about the area. I'd like to take a 3 day, 2 night trip with the trailhead being with 4-5hr drive from Visalia. My preference would be alpine country and a loop but I don't want temperatures below teens and don't want to hike in snow as I don't have the right gear. I'm not sure if there are any lower elevation possibilities that would allow alpine views without the snow and extreme temps that time of year. But I'm open to anything scenic and looking forward to a change from the Appalachian country that I normally backpack in. I'd also like something simple: easy to find trailhead with parking, easy to follow trails. A quick look on google maps shows many options but many may not be ok due to time of year: Sequoia, Los Padres, Sierra, Death Valley, Yosemite, Inyo, Stanislaus, Eldorado...
Recommendations greatly appreciated! |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jan 22, 2018 18:31:41 GMT -8
There is a possibility of wonderful flowers in Death Valley that time of year, although they are more likely in mid to late March. Car camping in DV is wonderful that time of year, but there are some bp trips doable then. I'll wait to see who else has suggestions that might be closer to what you want, before going into detail about DV.
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whistlepunk
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Post by whistlepunk on Jan 22, 2018 18:45:07 GMT -8
Probably snow at any Alpine locations. Look at the coast range. Pinnacles NP or Ventana Wilderness.
Pinnacles does not have overnight backpacking, but a nice campground and a good varied trail system with several long day hikes possible.
Ventana burned two years ago and much was closed. Don't know what is reopened. The recent Thomas Fire burned much of the Dick Smith and Matilijia Wilderness on Los Padres. Check closures.
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Post by rustyshackleford on Jan 22, 2018 19:08:08 GMT -8
Thanks for the recommendations. I hadn't thought about car camping. I prefer backpacking for the seclusion but I wouldn't rule out some nice day hikes.
Zeke - I had no idea Death Valley had such a beautiful flower bloom! I'd be most interested in a backpacking opportunity there.
whistlepunk - Ventana looks interesting as well as I'm more interested in backpacking.
Thanks
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 22, 2018 19:49:46 GMT -8
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Jan 22, 2018 20:41:15 GMT -8
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Post by rustyshackleford on Jan 23, 2018 18:11:20 GMT -8
thank you all. all these recommendations look good, but i cant stop thinking of real mountains...i dont mind dealing with a few inches of snow and could stay warm at night down to 10 deg f. if i was able to push the trip to early march, what is the liklihood of me being fine in lower elevation alpine country? what about late march? or is the weather that unpredictable? if there is a significant chance that id be ok at low elevation, perhaps i could plan on it, monitor th weather and have a coastal plan b? or am i crazy?
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jan 23, 2018 19:03:31 GMT -8
"March maybe. I don't believe April. Winter is a long time going. Stays long, this high. March is a green,muddy month down below. Some folks like it. Farmers mostly."
Now that I have that out of the way, Snow lingers a long time in the mountains. June, July even. Deep snow. many feet during normal years, or what used to be normal. No one can say for sure, but anything over 4000ft should still be buried in March.
Death Valley has mountains, and March is a good time to visit. You could drive up the the Charcoal Kilns in a decent year, maybe get some hiking done up there.
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Post by rustyshackleford on Jan 23, 2018 19:27:50 GMT -8
lol jeremiah johnson...the reason i thought some lower elevation areas might be ok is because i checked the current weather forecast for cedar grove and johnsondale and both have pretty mild climates for january. theyre both at around 4k feet.
zeke, good point about mud...i dont want to trudge through mud. thanks for all the help as i know nothing of this part of the country other than beautiful pictures. ive camped and hiked quite a bit in the colorado rockies when i was younger but always in summer.
death valley is intriguing too
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 23, 2018 21:54:24 GMT -8
Okay then maybe out from O’Shaunessey Dam. The top is ~ 3,800 feet and there’s possible loops. That’s just north of the NW Yosemite Entrance.
190 miles from Visalia.
The Yosemite Valley floor is about 4,000 so scope out the Yosemite Conservancy webcams for real-time conditions.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Jan 24, 2018 5:37:03 GMT -8
March often gets more snow than January in the big mountains.
From Visalia he shouldn't have to go all the way to north Yosemite. Something on the south side of Sequoia would be much easier. May be able to get to South Fork ranger station on the South Fork Kaweah from Three Rivers. A better bet is probably something out of Mountain Home State Forest - thinking the roads may be more accessible, but I'm not familiar with the trails. Much of Sequoia National Forest would be accessible and have the big mountain feel, with some amazing Sequoia groves. I have no experience there in the winter. May be a question for High Sierra Topix.
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ogg
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Post by ogg on Jan 24, 2018 6:26:51 GMT -8
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Post by rustyshackleford on Jan 24, 2018 9:52:25 GMT -8
I found the Sequoia Giant Forest webcam and there isn't any snow in sight and the current temp is 50 deg! www.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCams/parks/sekicam/sekicam.cfmI have a lot of research and some good plan B options now as well. Thank you all for the help and I'll continue to tune in for any other recommendations. |
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Post by johntpenca on Jan 29, 2018 19:25:39 GMT -8
...i dont mind dealing with a few inches of snow
February-May you are likely talking snow in the 5-20 foot range in the alpine (over 6'000 ft.). Skis or snowshoes are absolutely required unless it is a very, very low snow year. As sais earlier, quite a bit of snow accumulates from mid-February through April -early May.
There may be something reasonable out of Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir, but I have not been there.
Paging davidsensac.... |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 30, 2018 10:19:09 GMT -8
Very had to predict what the snow will do this year. We are currently shaping for a dry winter (so far snow amounts are pathetic), and the more so in the south. So getting in to Sequoia even in Feb may be possible. It's a risk, though. If it does seem possible, watch forecasts carefully, and be prepared to change your mind and stay low.
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