lower elevation ideas

[billy the kid]

hi everybody i have been trying to find a new place to go backpacking for about a week long trip at a lower elevation because i have been worried about the heavy snow this year i am planning on going on this trip in the next couple of weeks. if anyone has some good places preferibly in an alpine setting that there willing to share that would be great thanks.

[mountainLight]

Try the Trinity Alps, assumig that it isn't too far of a drive for you. Did a hike there last year. It is a bit further north so you might still get a bit of snow on some areas but most of the trails should be open. You get the alpine feel with much lower elevations. I dont' think there is much higher than 8,000 feet. Another bonus is permits are free.

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/we ... _trini.htm

[Strider]

A good place from Napa is Hwy 4 to Big Trees. Take the trails (some formal, some animal) all the way up the Stanislaus to Spicer Reservoir. Great terrain, fishing and views. You may have to bust through a little scrub going around gorges this year.

[DoyleWDonehoo]

if anyone has some good places preferibly in an alpine setting that there willing to share that would be great thanks.

The Crescent Meadow High Sierra Trail, or the trail lower in the canyon would be dry enough for hiking. The HST will probably have some snow near Bearpaw. Downside: some tricky stream crossings.
The southern Sierra has has some nice dry trail, dry being the key word here in places. Explore south of Farewell Gap and the Kern Canyon.
You might be able to spend a week exploring the Hetch Hetchy area.
Generally, trails below 8000 feet should be manageable (except some north facing slope trails perhaps).

[Ozark Flip]

Strider just listed an excellent week long hike for ya. We caught some nice fish on the N.F. Stanislaus a week ago. The water is raging though. Just this last week we had to spend an extra night out due to a particular stream crossing. It was impassable during the PM hours but we managed it in the AM. Also, as of yesterday, the road to Spicer is closed due to snow. So you wouldn't be able to leave a shuttle car there now.