Early season ideas for (potential) low snow year

[East Side Hiker]

Lots of good early season opportunities in the Southern Sierra - South Fk of the Kern, Golden Trout Wilderness... Heck, we haven't even been able to ski yet...

[rlown]

The plan should be the standing plan every year. You put in for permits, thinking a normal year, and then have the backup plans, if the winter is heavy or light..

If you get a bug to get out early, based on the current weather conditions, call the ranger station or show up and get a permit..

the "North Lake to Humphreys Basin (is crossing over and exiting at Pine Creek feasible)" is way easy.. assuming puppet pass, but there are at least 4 ways to get over that.

[KathyW]

I think most of the following 4th of July (or around then) trips were on low to fairly low snow years:

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 5201_2XasR" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 4517_m2933" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 4517_m2933" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 9898_NbrtQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 3699_CYZgY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 7946_iDAof" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;