Sierra High Route in October?

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
Paloma
Topix Novice
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:50 am
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Sierra High Route in October?

Post by Paloma »

Just wondering, how risky is it to attempt the high route solo in October? Weather looks great for the next 10 days.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11823
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by maverick »

Welcome to HST!
Just wondering, how risky is it to attempt the high route solo in October?
Depends on when in October you plan on going out (anything past the 15th increases your risk), how many days you are planning to be out for (the shorter the better because you can only get a somewhat accurate forecast for 5 days out), and on whether you have the experience and gear to deal with any surprise inclement weather.
Weather looks great for the next 10 days.
Never trust the forecast for more than 5 days out, especially from October on.

Please read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205#p25161
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
Paloma
Topix Novice
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:50 am
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by Paloma »

Thank you!
User avatar
longri
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1082
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:13 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by longri »

October 15 is a good rule of thumb. Take a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=14142

But there's a difference between calculating the odds at home and actually being there.

Be careful.
Ska-T
Topix Regular
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:59 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by Ska-T »

Are you planning to do a section or two of the High Route or the whole thing? With the unpredictable October weather it makes more sense to me to do a section that can be completed in a week or less. Roper's book divides the whole route into 5 sections (or chapters).

The other thing that is a concern is that you describe yourself as a level 3 backpacker, which suggests some experience in off trail travel but not extensive. If that is an accurate assessment then I suggest you do section 2 or 3 of the High Route, since the route finding is more straightforward and you are often near more popular areas (in case you need help).
User avatar
Paloma
Topix Novice
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:50 am
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by Paloma »

Thanks for the link for October weather. That was precisely what I have been looking for.
Last edited by Paloma on Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:43 am, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by sparky »

Even then its still a risk. I have had a storm come up out of no where the first night when the forecast was warm and sunny. That was a cold night. Luckily I was in the front country still and we limped out as soon as we could
User avatar
AlmostThere
Topix Addict
Posts: 2724
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:38 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by AlmostThere »

Your friend better know what he is doing with navigation and snow. It's not just "a bit risky"

Those people who are "always" lucky become SAR subjects if they push their luck too much. It's totally the way it goes -- you can make the same mistake a thousand times over, until you can't. Same story with everything from food storage to wearing jeans to piss poor navigation skills and doing it anyway....
User avatar
Paloma
Topix Novice
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:50 am
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by Paloma »

How cold does it get at night in the backcountry? I'm thinking 20 degrees? I have a hard time getting out of the sleeping bag in those temps!
User avatar
AlmostThere
Topix Addict
Posts: 2724
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:38 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Sierra High Route in October?

Post by AlmostThere »

20 degrees is fairly warm in winter. I've been out in early November and had it be 20 degrees at dinner time -- although it is gorgeous to wake to ice on the lake, icicles in the creek, and dirtsicles in the trail.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 38 guests