Conditions: Velma and Dick's Lake - Deso Wilderness 5/31

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
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nikhilm
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Conditions: Velma and Dick's Lake - Deso Wilderness 5/31

Post by nikhilm »

What started of as a backpacking trip to Dick's Lake became a long day hike instead.

Went up Eagle falls to Velma lakes. This trail is now almost snow free and in good condition.
Velma Lakes to Dick's Lake along the PCT still has plenty of snow on the trail, but it's not hard to navigate. Fontanilis Lake is half frozen. Dick's Lake is frozen.
Snow is still present on the approach to Dick's Pass and on the north side of Dick's Peak, but a PCT hiker coming in from Aloha was able to make it without problems, so it depends on how much you are willing to posthole through snow. He said the south side of the pass is clear.
The short 1.2 mile stretch from Dick's Lake to the junction with the Bayview trail is pretty much cross country travel due to snow and the trail is in bad shape where it is visible. From there it's clear all the way again to Bayview TH, although the switchbacks down the east side of Maggie's Peaks have a few patches of snow.
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skyehawk
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Re: Conditions: Velma Lakes and Dick's Lake - Desolation Wildern

Post by skyehawk »

Cool! Any photos? Also, when was this?

Thanks.
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TahoeJeff
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Re: Conditions: Velma Lakes and Dick's Lake - Desolation Wildern

Post by TahoeJeff »

Thanks for the report!
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maverick
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Re: Conditions: Velma Lakes and Dick's Lake - Desolation Wildern

Post by maverick »

Please include dates. Thanks
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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nikhilm
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Re: Conditions: Velma Lakes and Dick's Lake - Desolation Wildern

Post by nikhilm »

This was on May 31, 2014.
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