West Sierra 2 day, Emigrant Upper Relief?

[mursey]

Hello folks,

I want to start by thanking you all for your recommendation on my previous trip. I've been backpacking around the Trinities and Marbles up in N California since I was a kid, and was not very familiar with the Sierras. Living closer to there now, this forum has been a wonderful resource and source of inspiration.

I plan on taking a group of 4-5 people out, mid-July and am looking for a spot not too far from the Monterey/Bay area. Emigrant seems like a good option, perhaps Carson Iceberg a bit dry this year?

I was thinking Gianelli Cabin to somewhere near Upper Relief? Is there a nice place to set down around there anyone might recommend? I was also considering starting at Kennedy packstation, but that seems potentially VERY crowded (I was hoping for moderately crowded).

The group is all in excellent shape, and mildly to very experienced. Two of the guys have a lot of x-country experience and are eager to do something very manly in two days, but the other two have just a few trails under their belts, so probably no talus slopes! I plan on doing some Leave No Trace™ education up there as well.

--


What level of backpacking experience do you have?
Me: 3, Group 2

What terrain are you comfortable/uncomfortable with?
Me: Class V, Group II

What is your main interest?
- Lakes
- Big Mountain scenery


How many days/nights is your trip, not including travel to trailhead?
2 days, 2 nights. Camping near trailhead first night

[Dave_Ayers]

It's been many years, but I don't recall there being much Talus in that area. I've been up the Iceland/Ridge/Lewis Lakes area once and I recall it being a straightforward granite slab walk. There's not much for high peaks to challenge your better hikers, but Granite Dome is ~10,320 and might be worth a climb.

[Wandering Daisy]

I did a trip out of Gianelli through Upper Relief and Lewis Lakes (Granite Dome) so look at my trip report. To clarify, the "mostly slab" walk to Upper Lewis Lake is from the north side (Summit Creek- Kennedy Meadows). To directly go to from Upper Relief to Iceland Lake is more than slab walking. It involves some complicated route finding. To avoid this traverse, you have to start from Lower Relief Valley. Personally if I were headed to Lewis Lake-Iceland Lake area I would go in from Kennedy Meadows. Not sure why you are so against Kennedy Meadow trailhead. It is far more scenic than Gianelli. It also is the better way to get to Lewis Lakes if you only have two days.

[mursey]

Thanks for the advice.

Looks like we will have two cars, and a shuttle possibility. How does this look for 2 days to your eye?

http://www.hillmap.com/m/ag1zfmhpbGxtYX ... IDAmK6pCgw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Would you recommend another (shuttled) weekend route in the Western Sierra?

[maverick]

WD wrote:
I did a trip out of Gianelli through Upper Relief and Lewis Lakes (Granite Dome) so look
at my trip report.

http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... kes#p83807" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[paul]

Pinto Lakes is my favorite spot around that area. Doesn't look like much on the map but very nice, especially the upper lake. And Granite Dome is a skip and a jump from there for some nice views. The off-trail travel is very easy - from Salt lick Meadow you follow a stream (or this year, the dry stream bed) all the way to the lakes.

[balzaccom]

My only concern on this trip would be that you are going to do a lot of hiking to see places that you will want to explore.....and won't have the time to do so.

It's a good climb up out of Kennedy Meadows...and I agree that the Iceberg and the other lakes are well worth a look. It's a wonderul region to explore, with some smaller lakes and possibly good fishing, but you are going to want to keep on hiking. And there is the dome to climb.

The hike from there out to Gianelli is less scenic, unless you take a few side trips to Leopold, Granite, etc. Which will take time that you may not feel you have.

We''ve done a lot hikes in the area, and have a few of these in the destinations section of our website.