High Sierra Topix

The plan is to head out of Lodgepole om the 11th of Dec and get to the top of Silliman. Was wondering if anyone has been in that direction recently and might have a conditions report.Don't have to be back to the cars until early Monday, so have plenty of time. We have all the equipment and the experience to use them, so we will have a great time no matter what. Thanks.

Snow and ice, snow and ice, snow and ice. If by all equipment you mean snow gear, crampons, etc., you should be good to go - it is a heck of a hike without winter, I hope you are avalanche aware -- that is steep, steep going.

You might want to check road conditions - the road between the parks closes with snow. It's snowing again quite soon. When enough accumulates, it closes the road for the winter.

Well ice and snow in December are a given expectation. Was up in the area last February but hope to hit the top this time. Have snowshoes,ax, crampons and such and know how in using them. Have done Rainier, Hood, Shasta, Whitney, mostly under winter or snow conditions. Was looking more for a " a foot of snow up to where you leave the trail and head up to the meadow, with a foot and a half at the slabs but wind has blown everything away above the lake to the summit" kind of report. One can wish, I guess.

P.S. As far as the road conditions go, will be coming in from 3 Rivers with a 4 wheel drive so getting there and back hopefully is not an issue.

The road to Lodgepole virtually never closes so you'll be fine, especially with 4x4. I haven't been up to Silliman recently but have been in the area and the snow, although melting fast and sometimes patchy, looked to still be covering everything up high, especially once you pass the first couple miles where it's facing south and pretty low.

You probably already know but it should be snowing while you're there so it's yet to be determined how well the new snow will bond, but it's usually not very steep so it shouldn't be a big issue unless it becomes really unstable.