Rae Lakes current conditions
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 4:55 pm
Hi,
A friend and I were planning on doing the Rae Lakes loop clockwise from Cedar Grove leaving Tues. We are also considering heading in from Onion Valley. We are wondering what the snow/ice conditions are from both directions, especially the East side route. The SEKI website has info from 6/20, which says the lakes are frozen and the conditions are hazardous at times between Rae Lakes and Bubbs Creek, but we were hoping for something more up to date. Here is some information about our trip if anyone would be willing to give us some advice:
Two hikers, 25 and 27, each with 5-8 yrs experience in Sierra. We both have many backpacking trips and my partner has done Nols and I did a wilderness course in the Eastern Sierra. Some of the trips we have done include Kaweah Gap to Big Arroyo, Dusy/Pallisade Basin via Bishop and Knapsack Pass, Pioneer Basin via Mono Pass, Thousand Island Lake, The Lakes Basin out of Wolverton, Franklin Pass to Little Claire Lake out of Mineral King. We both have some glacier/ice travel experience, but our glacier/ice experience has always been guided (S. America and E.Sierra). Our main interests are big mountain scenery, photography, and fishing. We are interested in a 5 day trip not including travel, preferably from the West Side, or the southern end of the E. Side (We are located in Visalia). In snow-free conditions we are comfortable with x-country travel and prefer 10 mi. days max. I work in the Sierra doing some snow-surveying and lots of snow travel so I am comfortable with snow travel, but route-finding in the backcountry in heavy snow cover is something I have only done with a guide. I think we are ready to do a trip such as the Rae Lakes loop in the current conditions, but I would appreciate any advice and/or alternate trip ideas based on the info given.
Basically I am wondering if anyone has current conditions on the loop, or advice for alternate trips (not including those already mentioned) if you think the snow conditions would make this route too difficult or hazardous for hikers such as ourselves. Thanks a lot!
A friend and I were planning on doing the Rae Lakes loop clockwise from Cedar Grove leaving Tues. We are also considering heading in from Onion Valley. We are wondering what the snow/ice conditions are from both directions, especially the East side route. The SEKI website has info from 6/20, which says the lakes are frozen and the conditions are hazardous at times between Rae Lakes and Bubbs Creek, but we were hoping for something more up to date. Here is some information about our trip if anyone would be willing to give us some advice:
Two hikers, 25 and 27, each with 5-8 yrs experience in Sierra. We both have many backpacking trips and my partner has done Nols and I did a wilderness course in the Eastern Sierra. Some of the trips we have done include Kaweah Gap to Big Arroyo, Dusy/Pallisade Basin via Bishop and Knapsack Pass, Pioneer Basin via Mono Pass, Thousand Island Lake, The Lakes Basin out of Wolverton, Franklin Pass to Little Claire Lake out of Mineral King. We both have some glacier/ice travel experience, but our glacier/ice experience has always been guided (S. America and E.Sierra). Our main interests are big mountain scenery, photography, and fishing. We are interested in a 5 day trip not including travel, preferably from the West Side, or the southern end of the E. Side (We are located in Visalia). In snow-free conditions we are comfortable with x-country travel and prefer 10 mi. days max. I work in the Sierra doing some snow-surveying and lots of snow travel so I am comfortable with snow travel, but route-finding in the backcountry in heavy snow cover is something I have only done with a guide. I think we are ready to do a trip such as the Rae Lakes loop in the current conditions, but I would appreciate any advice and/or alternate trip ideas based on the info given.
Basically I am wondering if anyone has current conditions on the loop, or advice for alternate trips (not including those already mentioned) if you think the snow conditions would make this route too difficult or hazardous for hikers such as ourselves. Thanks a lot!