Suggestions for 3 day trip in Sonora Pass area
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:23 pm
Hello everyone,
I've been following this forum for a while and have really appreciated the trip reports and helpful trip and route suggestions. Now this is my first post and I'm wondering if you all could help me with a bit of quick trip planning.
I'm looking for a shorter 3 day, 2 night trip trip to take a few beginner backpackers, around the beginning of August. I guess I'm a "level 4" hiker and my wife and friends are about "level 2." They are comfortable with terrain up to class 2. Interested in lakes, meadows, and big mountain scenery. I'm thinking I would like to do something in the 20 mile range over the 3 days. Also, it would be good to keep the elevation changes mild or moderate.. not severe.
I've driven across Sonora Pass a few times but have never been backpacking around there yet. Emigrant Wilderness looks especially nice. I'm thinking about a loop starting at Crabtree trailhead, out to Deer Lake via Piute Meadow, up to Salt Lick Meadow, down to Y Meadow Reservoir, to Bear Lake, and back. Here http://www.hillmap.com/m/ag1zfmhpbGxtYX ... cBiskI8BDA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a link to the loop. About 21 miles?
A few questions: I believe the section between Y Meadow Reservoir and Bear Lake is cross country. From the topo map looks like it's not too steep and doable, mostly through open granite. Anybody have experience with this section to confirm or deny? Any other thoughts about this loop?
I'm also open to other suggestions for similar loops in the area. If anything, I would especially like something of similar distance but at higher elevation. Sonora Pass is especially convenient because we're from the bay area so it's only a few hours, and it's all national forest land so we can take our dog (great hiker!).
Thanks in advance for the suggestions!
Walter
I've been following this forum for a while and have really appreciated the trip reports and helpful trip and route suggestions. Now this is my first post and I'm wondering if you all could help me with a bit of quick trip planning.
I'm looking for a shorter 3 day, 2 night trip trip to take a few beginner backpackers, around the beginning of August. I guess I'm a "level 4" hiker and my wife and friends are about "level 2." They are comfortable with terrain up to class 2. Interested in lakes, meadows, and big mountain scenery. I'm thinking I would like to do something in the 20 mile range over the 3 days. Also, it would be good to keep the elevation changes mild or moderate.. not severe.
I've driven across Sonora Pass a few times but have never been backpacking around there yet. Emigrant Wilderness looks especially nice. I'm thinking about a loop starting at Crabtree trailhead, out to Deer Lake via Piute Meadow, up to Salt Lick Meadow, down to Y Meadow Reservoir, to Bear Lake, and back. Here http://www.hillmap.com/m/ag1zfmhpbGxtYX ... cBiskI8BDA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a link to the loop. About 21 miles?
A few questions: I believe the section between Y Meadow Reservoir and Bear Lake is cross country. From the topo map looks like it's not too steep and doable, mostly through open granite. Anybody have experience with this section to confirm or deny? Any other thoughts about this loop?
I'm also open to other suggestions for similar loops in the area. If anything, I would especially like something of similar distance but at higher elevation. Sonora Pass is especially convenient because we're from the bay area so it's only a few hours, and it's all national forest land so we can take our dog (great hiker!).
Thanks in advance for the suggestions!
Walter