Advice: PCT, cross-country Bigelow-Snow, Leavitt-Latopie Lak
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:22 am
Hi,
We're a small group of Level 2-3 hikers, lots of trail backpacking and some cross-country experience but none that requires tricky route finding, Class 3 climbing, or snow/crampon/ice ax work.
We're planning a trip out of Leavitt Meadows starting August 13, returning the 22nd. We'd like to do a couple of short cross-country sections from Snow to Bigelow Lakes, just south of Emigrant Pass, and then return along the PCT from Emigrant Pass, over Big Sam, drop down to Leavitt Lake, continue cross-country to Latopie Lake and back up to the PCT before a final descent to finish at Sonora Pass.
The terrain doesn't look too difficult from the topos, but I read that the slopes north of Latopie Lake are avalanche prone in heavy snow years, and also that (as of end of July) there is still a fair amount of snow above 10.000 feet that makes the PCT section from Emigrant Pass north to Sonora Pass involve some snow-sliding and alternate route-finding.
Any current trail conditions, or suggestions from historical experience, would be much appreciated!
We're a small group of Level 2-3 hikers, lots of trail backpacking and some cross-country experience but none that requires tricky route finding, Class 3 climbing, or snow/crampon/ice ax work.
We're planning a trip out of Leavitt Meadows starting August 13, returning the 22nd. We'd like to do a couple of short cross-country sections from Snow to Bigelow Lakes, just south of Emigrant Pass, and then return along the PCT from Emigrant Pass, over Big Sam, drop down to Leavitt Lake, continue cross-country to Latopie Lake and back up to the PCT before a final descent to finish at Sonora Pass.
The terrain doesn't look too difficult from the topos, but I read that the slopes north of Latopie Lake are avalanche prone in heavy snow years, and also that (as of end of July) there is still a fair amount of snow above 10.000 feet that makes the PCT section from Emigrant Pass north to Sonora Pass involve some snow-sliding and alternate route-finding.
Any current trail conditions, or suggestions from historical experience, would be much appreciated!