Is the Leavitt Meadows trail really that bad?
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:06 pm
Hey HST,
I hope everyone's summer plans are going well. Mine are in jeopardy due to the Willow Fire, so I'm currently researching alternatives in case my planned trip won't work. I was planning on doing 7 days over Duck Pass starting next Monday, but that area has been getting smoked out so now it all depends on how the fire plays out. Unfortunately, that "area" comprises the majority of wilderness where a trip of that length is feasible with a dog. So, I'm looking a bit outside of my normal zone. I'm considering Golden Trout... I have some fun ideas for Emigrant but I don't want to do the western part of it if there will be a heatwave going on. I'd rather avoid it at the very least if I can, which leads me towards Hoover Wilderness.
I have scoped out the maps and looked over some trip reports, and it looks like I could piece together a great trip out there. The only problem is how to get into the backcountry. I don't think my Subaru could make it to Leavitt Lake, but if anyone would like to try to talk me into it, I'll consider. Leavitt Meadows seems like the most logical choice after that, but I read a trip report from Wandering Daisy which read "I will never take this trail again. The combination of natural sandy soil and heavy horse use have made this route miles upon miles of working hard for every step – like walking on soft beach sands", which is strongly worded enough to leave me wondering just how bad it is. Anyone else care to give a review? Are there alternatives I might be missing?
I hope everyone's summer plans are going well. Mine are in jeopardy due to the Willow Fire, so I'm currently researching alternatives in case my planned trip won't work. I was planning on doing 7 days over Duck Pass starting next Monday, but that area has been getting smoked out so now it all depends on how the fire plays out. Unfortunately, that "area" comprises the majority of wilderness where a trip of that length is feasible with a dog. So, I'm looking a bit outside of my normal zone. I'm considering Golden Trout... I have some fun ideas for Emigrant but I don't want to do the western part of it if there will be a heatwave going on. I'd rather avoid it at the very least if I can, which leads me towards Hoover Wilderness.
I have scoped out the maps and looked over some trip reports, and it looks like I could piece together a great trip out there. The only problem is how to get into the backcountry. I don't think my Subaru could make it to Leavitt Lake, but if anyone would like to try to talk me into it, I'll consider. Leavitt Meadows seems like the most logical choice after that, but I read a trip report from Wandering Daisy which read "I will never take this trail again. The combination of natural sandy soil and heavy horse use have made this route miles upon miles of working hard for every step – like walking on soft beach sands", which is strongly worded enough to leave me wondering just how bad it is. Anyone else care to give a review? Are there alternatives I might be missing?