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Mono Creek exploratory trip feedback/Early June

Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 12:44 pm
by murphtron
Looking for some feedback. What do you think of this for an exploratory 4d, 3n trip in early June. Snow is low, but still likely to be plentiful above 10k, especially on northern facing slopes (from this thread http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... t=0#p68886" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Base camp somewhere in Mono Creek. (Might be warmer than camping higher? Although mosquites could be brutal.) Use the days to explore the southern-facing side canyons, e.g. Laurel Creek, Hopkins Creek, Pioneer Basin. Just spend a concentrated amount of time in one area instead of pounding out miles for distance. Does anyone have a favorite camp they like to use in Mono Creek?

Link to map:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... llshade=24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I passed through this area in the mid-90s when I hiked the JMT. I generally stick to the northern Yosemite/Emigrant/Carson-Iceberg areas since I live in Berkeley and it's a bit closer to drive. I do a lot of XC travel in those areas.

Thanks.

Re: Mono Creek exploratory trip feedback/Early June

Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 5:52 am
by balzaccom
We did this trip over 4th of July weekend of 2011.

The biggest challenges to you plan are the creek crossings. If you look around a bit, there are big trees across The first few creeks...and even across Mono Creek towards @nd Recess--but it was such a long log...and the creek was so high...that we chickened out.

But we did get up Laurel Creek--although not all the way to Grinell Lakes. Too much snow, and a huge creek running underneath it somewhere...\

And we got past Laurel Creek for a ways as well. Plenty to see and do there.

Here is a link to our photos,

https://picasaweb.google.com/balzaccom/ ... erness2011#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And here;s the trip on our blog:

https://sites.google.com/site/backpackt ... dmonocreek" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Mono Creek exploratory trip feedback/Early June

Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 10:12 am
by murphtron
Thanks for the insight. 2011 was a huge snow year (I think). I'm impressed you where there in July! As 2013 is a fairly light year, I suspect it will be a bit easier. Although, I do expect the creek crossings will still be rugged.

I would probably have chickened out on the same log crossing!

Cheers

Re: Mono Creek exploratory trip feedback/Early June

Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 11:53 pm
by The hermit
2011 doesn't count! I was hoping to spend some time in the silver pass area. Crossing those creeks was too hairy for my dog and I. Ended up going to Mott lake. On a day hike up to rosy finch(almost completely frozen over) I got some bad weather. Thankfully it was only about a mile back to camp, where I had left my raingear. This was august 1st. Glad I was wearing my filson wool vest!

Re: Mono Creek exploratory trip feedback/Early June

Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 10:25 pm
by Ken M
Something to consider: the ferry from VVR across Edison Lake may not be running.

My old climbing buddy, Jim, who runs VVR, reports it is not yet running. He'll post it on his facebook page, below.

Jim just climbed to the top of Bear Ridge on the PCT May 12, and reported that the snow level was "high"

https://www.facebook.com/vvr.edisonlake ... ion=stream" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lovely climb along Mono Creek. Access to the north valleys should be simple.

Re: Mono Creek exploratory trip feedback/Early June

Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 12:27 pm
by murphtron
Thanks for the VVR Facebook link. I'll follow that. I called VVR on Thursday and spoke to someone (Jim?) who speculated the Ferry would start the first week in June. I'll call weekly to checkin. I was counting on the Ferry to jumpstart the trip. :)