High Sierra Topix

Route taken: Rush Crk TH - Clark Lks - 1000 Island Lk - N Glacier Pass/Mt Davis - 1000 Island Lk - Donohue Pass - Donohue Pk - Donohue Pass - 1000 Island Lk - Clark ks - Rush Crk TH

Difficult section encountered: Snow on east side of N Glacier Pass & on route to Mt Davis, but soft after 9 AM; snow in patches among talus above 11500' on Donohue that made scrambling more challenging (didn't want to step in soft snow to have it collapse on me)

Special equipment needed/used: Poles & microspikes on snow on route up to N Glacier Pass; microspikes probably not needed, but poles were useful. Poles on snowfields on route up to Mt Davis.

Possible alternative routes: Scrambled over rocks on route from N Glacier Pass to Mt Davis to avoid drop down to Lk Catherine, but looked possible to go up slope from Lk Catherine to summit of Davis. I probably went too far towards the ridge on the approach to Donohue, thinking that the more southern exposure would reduce snow. Might be better to take standard NW slope up to Donohue.

Route taken: Onion Valley, Kearsarge & Glen Passes to Rae Lakes. Arrowhead Col (?) into 60 Lakes Basin to near Gardiner Pass.

Difficult section encountered: None really. There is far less snow on Glen Pass than there was last year the first week of August! There are a few post-holing opportunities if you're not careful. There is virtually no snow in 60 Lakes Basin until you get near Gardiner Pass (or similar elevations).

Special equipment needed/used: Poles on Glen Pass. Microspikes might be helpful if you're crossing early a.m.

Possible alternative routes: None, although if I had an extra half-day I would have climbed Mt. Cotter.

Other tips: Met several JMTers coming south. They said the only other pass with snow was Muir, and it was easily negotiable. There are mosquitos during the day in bright sunshine and none in the morning/evening.

Just last year I complained about how much snow there was in this area and it was two weeks later! This year the opposite is true. The water level is the lowest I've ever seen in 20 years of backpacking here. There was no water between Chicken Springs Lake and Rock Creek! Even the water in Rock Creek [junction of Soldier Lake trail and Army Pass trail] was shallow enough, one could easily walk over rocks to cross. Weather was great - highs in mid 60's and lows ~ 33.

connorpjack wrote:Route taken: High Sierra Trail



Difficult section encountered: Kaweah Gap on May 22nd, ~1 ft. snow above lower Precipice Lake, ~2 ft. above upper Precipice Lake. Snowshoes needed if you don't want to scramble the rocky bits.

JMT on Whitney is clear except for some icy patches. Microspikes recommended.



Special equipment needed/used: Snowshoes needed, Kahtoola Microspikes used



Possible alternative routes: Scramble the scree west of the trail. Pretty gnarly though.

Photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 3174594591" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jack,

Thanks for the post and pictures (good stuff!) I will be doing the same route in a few weeks. Wow! What a difference a year makes in terms of the snowpack.

I am interested in hearing where your favorite camp spots were. Any additional info and/or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Michael

Route taken: Crabtree Meadows -> Piute Meadows -> Groundhog Meadows (yes, we missed the trail to Piute Lake in the granite) -> Gem Lake. Return via Piute Lake with a side trip to Bear Lake.

Difficult section encountered: None if you discount the mosquitoes. W. Cherry Creek ford was a rock-hop at the junction with Buck Meadow Creek, and a knee-deep ford in slow water at Piute Lake. All other creek crossings were rock-hops.

Special equipment needed/used: None.

Other tips: Bring headnets and mosquito-proof clothing - mosquitoes are in full force and DEET wasn't quite enough to keep them at bay.

Route taken: North Lake, Lamarck Col, Evolution Basin, Muir Pass and back.

Difficult section encountered: A lot of post-holing near the top of Lamarck Col. Problem was going over late in the day both times; probably easier earlier in the day. Little snow encountered anywhere else. No snow on top of Muir Pass, and only a few patches looking down on the south side.

Special equipment needed/used: Poles & gaiters on Lamarck. Snow is soft, so nothing more is needed.

Mosquitoes are out in force in the Lamarck Lakes area.

Route taken: Green Creek trailhead to camp at East Lake, then dayhike up to Summit Lake.

Difficult section encountered: None. Had to wade one stream crossing above East Lake - the rest were rock-hops. No snow except patches on north faces of the highest peaks. Trail dry and in excellent condition. Gale force winds drove us out after one night of planned 3 nights, but at least they knocked the mosquitoes down. It was quite a sight to see the 1 to 2 foot high wind-driven waves crash on the shore of East Lake. Bigger wind gusts drove a curtain of spray across the lake and onto the shore. Here's a photo of the waves on East Lake just after sunrise when winds were moderating from their nighttime howl.
-Phil

Its too hard to format it right on this moble device so i will keep it simple.

Pants Pass June 22. 70% snow on east side. None on west.

Lion Rock Pass 1 70% snow on north side. None on south.

Lion Rock Pass 2 95% snow on north side. None on south. Both 1 and 2 on the 22nd.

Lion Lake Pass. June 23. No snow pn south side. 80% on north.

Cloud Canyon head wall June 23. 70% snow. Horrible post holing!

Deadman Canyon head wall. June 23. 30% snow on east side. West side including
Elizabeth Pass trail is free of snow.

Horn Col June 23. No snow on either side of pass.

Tablelands are free of all snow.

Scimitar Pass (Big Pine Creek south fork). June 18th. The route is snow-free on both east and west sides.

Cirque Pass. June 18th. The route is snow-free on both east and west sides.

Jigsaw Pass (Big Pine Creek north fork). June 21st. The route is 95% snow-free on both east and west sides. There are a couple small snow patches on the east side. These patches can be avoided, or can be used for glissading.

vhsvhs,
if you have time to post a trip report, it'd be great to hear about that route, and/or see photos!
cg