High Sierra Topix

This is not a place to post trip reports, but a place for members to post current conditions experienced in the backcountry on recent trips.
This will give other members considering visiting, or traveling through that same location a heads up on difficult sections, so they can plan accordingly.

Please, do not request information about particular sections of interest that you are about to visit, your post will be deleted.

Please include the area you visited and the dates of your trip in the "Subject section" above!



Copy and Paste this outline below and fill out the info.


Route taken:



Difficult section encountered:



Special equipment needed/used:



Possible alternative routes:





Example:

Subject: Roads End>Rae Lakes>East Lake>Longley Pass>Sphinx Lakes 7/4-7/12

Route: Roads End-Upper Paradise Valley-Rae Lakes-Glen Pass-Junction Meadow-Lake Reflection-Longley Pass-Cinder Col-Sphinx Col-Sphinx Lakes-Roads End

Difficult section encountered on this trip:
- Lost of snow on northern side of Glen Pass icy in the morning hours.
- Bubbs Creek crossing very difficult, found the best crossing point 400 yards west of the usual low water crossing section.
- Big cornice encountered on Longley Pass, which was bypass by climbing rocky section north of the pass (class 3).

Special equipment needed/used:
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Trekking Poles

Possible alternative routes:
- When crossing Bubb's, I notice a section about 100 yards further west that looked much easier.
- Should have bypassed the cornice on the southern side, route looked barely class 2.

Posted by Nick Watts on SNCC-TPP:

Current conditions in western John Muir Wilderness:

All trails from the Crown Valley trailhead area are essentially snow-free except for small patches in shady north facing areas. There are still a lot of really muddy areas and all the meadow sections are very wet. The trail to Spanish Lake wasn't in too bad of shape until very near the lake, when it became a little difficult to follow. The trail from Lake 8632 to Wet Meadow is in need of some serious maintenance, as is the trail from Cow Meadow to the spur trail to Chain Lakes. The trail to the uppermost Chain Lake is followable mainly by cairns. Numerous tree falls on the other nearby trails but fairly easy to follow. Climbed Castle Peak (10,659) without having to deal with much snow. Easy hiking to the summit block which is Class 2-3. Photo is the Sierra Crest taken from Crown Ridge facing southeast.

Posted by on Raymond Adkins on SNCC-TPP:

Minimal snow on trail. Upper lakes still partially frozen but melting quickly. Mosquitoes not out yet. Saw a few parties at Blue Lake but no one after Blue, just one set of foot prints. Amazing to see this basin so empty.

Thanks for the trip report on Sabrina. Headed up that way over July 1 Hoping we get some more snow melt as I attempt north-south lake trip. We'll see.