Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

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.
User avatar
orbitor
Topix Regular
Posts: 121
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:36 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Bishop, CA

Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by orbitor »

We hiked the Shepherd Pass trail to climb Mt. Williamson (TR coming). On Sunday night 21 July we were camped out at Shepherd Pass when a violent thunderstorm hit us. We made it through ok and hiked out on Monday 22 July, but the trail was really affected by the storm. Most damage:
1) Switchbacks right below Shepherd Pass were washed out by rock slides. Negotiating that section with full packs is now pretty unnerving, both up and down.
2) First long switchback right below Anvil Camp has a trail section that was completely obliterated by a huge mud slide. The gash is 10-15 ft across and 10 ft deep. We had to descend into this gully, then climb back up the other side. It's passable, but barely.
3) Shepherd and Symmes Creeks both had torrents sweep the drainages. Uprooted trees and layers of mud extended several feet on both sides of stream beds. The three stream crossings near the trailhead were made difficult by generous amounts of mud deposited by a raging Symmes Creek.

We reported all of this to Inyo NF at the InterAgency VC in Lone Pine, but it might be a while before the trail is repaired. If you need more details, let me know.
Climbing | Community | Adventure | Life
http://www.sierramountaineeringclub.org
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11812
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by maverick »

Thanks for the update Orbitor. :thumbsup: By any chance do you have any photos
of the damage you could attach to your post? Thanks.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

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
User avatar
orbitor
Topix Regular
Posts: 121
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:36 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Bishop, CA

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by orbitor »

maverick wrote:Thanks for the update Orbitor. :thumbsup: By any chance do you have any photos
of the damage you could attach to your post? Thanks.
Maverick,
I have photos, but no chance to process them yet. Just got back yesterday afternoon. Will post as soon as time allows. Thank you.
Climbing | Community | Adventure | Life
http://www.sierramountaineeringclub.org
User avatar
rscofield
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:29 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Yucca Valley, CA

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by rscofield »

Looking forward to the photos, especially of the switchbacks. Would you say it is more of a cross county route now? If so, what class? I have a trip planned up there in September.
User avatar
orbitor
Topix Regular
Posts: 121
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:36 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Bishop, CA

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by orbitor »

rscofield wrote:Would you say it is more of a cross county route now? If so, what class? I have a trip planned up there in September.
rscofield,
It's not a cross-country route now. 99% of the trail is still as before, but the sections that sustained damage are in bad shape. Between trailhead and Anvil Camp there are numerous places where washouts of various sizes intersect the trail. The worst ones are right below Anvil Camp, culminating with the bulldozer-sized slide that took out everything in its path down to Shepherd Creek.
The switchbacks under Shepherd Pass are deeply cut by runnels, requiring very careful foot placement. Rocks are unstable wherever the slide destroyed the trail.
Climbing | Community | Adventure | Life
http://www.sierramountaineeringclub.org
User avatar
rscofield
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:29 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Yucca Valley, CA

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by rscofield »

Thanks, Yes I was curious about the section just below the pass.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11812
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by maverick »

Further flashfloods expected today, so there may be even more damage.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

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
User avatar
rscofield
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:29 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Yucca Valley, CA

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by rscofield »

Tis the season. Lots of thunder here in the desert too.
User avatar
J ney
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 71
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 5:55 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by J ney »

Wow... Thanks for the heads up! Pics would be great! I saw those storms in the forecast and cancelled a trip out to Mt Sill on Sunday, sounds like I made the right call... Trying again in a couple of weeks.
User avatar
SenorDingDong
Topix Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:15 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Shepherd Pass Trail - Significant Damage 7/21/2013

Post by SenorDingDong »

I just hiked down Shepherds Pass this afternoon, after completing a loop from Kearsarge.

Monday and Tuesday's monsoonal rains contributed more damage to the trail. The large gully below Anvil Camp is passable, but required some 3rd class moves on loose rock held together by mud. Rocks the size of cars are perched in a loose slurry of mud, and many looked like they could roll.

Aside the large gully, the trail is a mess. Much of the trail is eroded (most of the water bars blew out or clogged), and the footing was a pain. It took us much longer than expected to get down. Both Symmes Creek and Shepherd Creek are scoured down to bedrock, and lost most of their riparian areas.

The trail is completely impassible to stock, and given INF's budget woes, I doubt any serious trail maintenance is in the cards for the Shepherds Pass trail. But I'm sure a Geomorphologist would get a kick out of the hike.

Be safe out there!
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests