Emigrant Lake TR

[bps999]

Made it to Emigrant Lake on July 10 2011, here's some info on conditions. We started on July 9th from Kennedy meadows and first tried the branch towards relief valley. We considered Summit Creek uncrossable, so back tracked slightely and took the branch towards sheep camp. Snow started a mile or more below sheep camp and became 100% coverage very quickly. The forest at the bend in the creek at sheep camp was almost 100% covered, we found an ok camp several hundred yards back from the creek in the rock formations. On July 10th we proceeded towards lunch meadow, finding some sections of exposed trail but mostly snow cover. We crossed the creek on a slightly questionable snow bridge (it could easily have been waded at knee deep or less) and headed up towards mosquito pass. 100% suncuped snow all the way over. Got a slight break from the suncups in the forest just before Emigrant Lake. The Lake was mostly snow covered but did have a substantial liquid section at the East end. Returned to sheep camp the same day, and then hiked out on July 11. Hot and sunny the whole time, I would think the snow should be melting fast, so things may have changed quite a bit by now.

[bps999]

Here are a few pics. One of the terrain between Mosquito pass and Emigrant Lake, one of Emigrant Lake, and one closeup of the suncups in the area. All taken 7/10/'11.

[maverick]

Thanks Bps999 for posting this TR.
Really like the last photo, it really shows off all that snow that is still out there, and
the Emigrant Lake shot is nice too.

[DriveFly44]

I love that second photo - Am going to try and get there before school starts up in 3 weeks. Thanks for the TR.


Ladd

[windknot]

Looks like a winter wonderland in the middle of July. Gorgeous. Thanks for the report and photos.

[Troutdog 59]

Thanks for the TR and pics, even if they show theres still more snow than I was hoping for and the skeeters are starting to show up in force . It is however, a good reminder for all of us that there is still a ton of snow left out there. I think its real easy for any of us to start to thinking that areas like this have to be open now. Its an area thats lower in elevation than the higher parts of the sierra and it typically opens up a bit earlier than most, so its easy to just start thinking it has to be accessible and it most years it would be. This year is not most and your pics are a stark reminder to us all that there is still alot of snow to melt off and challenges to face when crossing streams and/or snow fields. Be safe out there folks. More horrible news this morning about some possible fatalaties in Yosemite due to high water.

[texan]

Thanks for sharing the picture and TR. Theres still a lot of snow out there.

Texan