Early season Kings Canyon

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gdurkee
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Re: Early season Kings Canyon

Post by gdurkee »

Milestone -- yes, kind of a cool idea I didn't think of. Still, I'd tend towards the Rae Loop. In mid-June, a pretty gnarly adventure (actually, I'm pretty sure anything above 9,000 feet in June this year will be a gnarly adventure...). The creek coming out of 60 Lake Basin can still be a challenge, so caution no matter what... . Strangely, going up Glen Pass from the north is less intimidating than descending.

As another side note. I've seen a few references to 1977 hikes this year from some of us aging boomer-hikers. That was, I think, the 2nd or 3rd lowest snow year on record. Not a great comparison year. Still, I remember crossing Wallace Creek in late June that year, and had to hike upstream to find a collapsing snow bridge.

Have a great trip!

g.
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tim
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Re: Early season Kings Canyon

Post by tim »

On a somewhat related issue - can anyone offer some guidance of what to expect for Memorial Day weekend in Cedar Grove? I assume it will be OK for day hikes up towards the snow level (6000-7000ft by that time? or lower this year?). I saw the campgrounds are first come first serve - are they usually sold out that weekend (if so by Friday afternoon/evening or just Saturday night)? Will it be even busier if there is still snow up at Grant Grove/Lodgepole (or will that all be clear by then)?

It seems like a good alternative to Yosemite (we were there last Memorial Day and it was gridlock) but I don't want to go all that way from the Bay Area if there's a chance we won't have anywhere to stay. Thanks for any help.
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ERIC
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Re: Early season Kings Canyon

Post by ERIC »

walkdawg wrote:Daily regional snowpack plots can be found here:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/PLOT_SWC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can find the current snowpack by watershed here:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/pillowplots/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is a nice link for checking the flows on Sierra rivers:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/rivcond.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Enjoy.
Bulletin 120 is the CCSS monthly report for data listed above, as well as a forecast update.
Another good (fun, at least) source of info (cool snowpack maps) can be found here and here.
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caddis
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Re: Early season Kings Canyon

Post by caddis »

Eric, the stuff above would make a good sticky at the top of the backpacking forum
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ERIC
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Re: Early season Kings Canyon

Post by ERIC »

One already exists; stickied to the top of the Winter Sports forum. :)
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