TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
- Flamingo
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TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
Hi All,
Last weekend, I made a short trip to Roads End, to check out the snow conditions and try a couple new pieces of summer gear. I backpacked from Roads End up to the PCT junction at Woods Creek, camped by the suspension bridge, and then returned to the trailhead the next day. It was exciting to see this area of the park, normally crowded, with a deeper sense of solitude.
Snow: On north-facing slopes, the snow is melted away up to 9000'. On many south-facing slopes, the snow is entirely gone.
I encountered a handful of day hikers going to Mist Falls, but otherwise I met only two backpacking parties. One guy was finishing the Rae Lakes loop counterclockwise, and he said it was a long slog through rotten snow from Glen Pass down to 9000'. Another two guys were starting the Rae Lakes loop clockwise, lacking trekking poles or an ice axe (err, good luck).
The conditions are very nice right now! Warm nights, low crowds, no mosquitos. . .
The Sphinx and Palmer Mountain
Perfect picnic conditions in Castle Domes Meadow
Castle Domes
On the Woods Creek suspension bridge; patchy snow on north-facing slopes above 9000'
If you're curious, I posted more photos on my Flickr stream: (link)
Cheers,
V.
Last weekend, I made a short trip to Roads End, to check out the snow conditions and try a couple new pieces of summer gear. I backpacked from Roads End up to the PCT junction at Woods Creek, camped by the suspension bridge, and then returned to the trailhead the next day. It was exciting to see this area of the park, normally crowded, with a deeper sense of solitude.
Snow: On north-facing slopes, the snow is melted away up to 9000'. On many south-facing slopes, the snow is entirely gone.
I encountered a handful of day hikers going to Mist Falls, but otherwise I met only two backpacking parties. One guy was finishing the Rae Lakes loop counterclockwise, and he said it was a long slog through rotten snow from Glen Pass down to 9000'. Another two guys were starting the Rae Lakes loop clockwise, lacking trekking poles or an ice axe (err, good luck).
The conditions are very nice right now! Warm nights, low crowds, no mosquitos. . .
The Sphinx and Palmer Mountain
Perfect picnic conditions in Castle Domes Meadow
Castle Domes
On the Woods Creek suspension bridge; patchy snow on north-facing slopes above 9000'
If you're curious, I posted more photos on my Flickr stream: (link)
Cheers,
V.
- Bluewater
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TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
Thanks for posting your photos. This really makes we want to get back out there, soon!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
- bheiser1
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- Ballpeen
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
Thanks for the info! I like to take my boys up there early season for car camping and day hiking. Last year around this time, roads end was day use only. Sounds like that might not be the case this year. Were any of the campgrounds in the roads end area open?
- KathyW
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
Thanks for the update. I'm headed up the Copper Creek Trail this weekend. I'd like to camp at Grouse lake and attempt Goat Mountain. Any suggestions on the need for snowshoes above 9000' or 10000'? Did the guy who did the Rae Lakes Loop have snowshoes or wish he had them if he did not? If I end up hauling the snowshoes and other winter gear, I might split the uphill to Grouse Lake into 2 days instead of one.
- maverick
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
Thanks for the TR Vhsvhs. Were their a lot of campers in Paradise?
Campgrounds that are currently open: http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Ballpeen wrote:
Were any of the campgrounds in the roads end area open?
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
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
- Flamingo
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
@KathyW - The Copper Creek trail is snow-free, at least up the ridge to Mount Hutchings, and I would guess that the route to Grouse Lake is also snow-free. However, Goat Mountain still has snow on its southern face, but not much. See the photo I attached. It's not a very good photo, but it shows a dusting of snow on Goat Mountain, as viewed from Castle Domes meadow. FWIW, I hope that helps.
A view of Goat Mountain from Castle Domes Meadow.
A view of Goat Mountain from Castle Domes Meadow.
- Flamingo
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
Hey @Ballpeen and @maverick - I saw one group camped in Lower Paradise, but Upper Paradise was a ghost town.
- KathyW
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
vhsvhs - Thanks - it helps. I might just plan to try to be out where there is snow early in the day instead of dragging the snowshoes.
- Duxbait
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Re: TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon
I plan to do similar. I am decide whether or not to carry crampons and an axe now. Seems either soft snow or hard in the am where I may want the traction.KathyW wrote:vhsvhs - Thanks - it helps. I might just plan to try to be out where there is snow early in the day instead of dragging the snowshoes.
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