High Sierra Topix

My advice would be to "just be prepared for anything"! We just got back from an overnight trip to Pear Lake. We were planning to go to Moose Lake, but we noticed cold downdrafts starting early afternoon on Saturday. Turns out camping at Pear was the best move as it started hailing around 6:30pm... and I don't mean little hail. It was up to golf ball size hail... and it put two holes in our Copper Spur tent! Post storm was stunning with the accumulation and rainbow(s)! That being said, we did Precipice Lake two years ago mid-October and it was splendid weather. Just be prepared, have backup plans and know when to call it.

Forecast is now looking like snowflakes just a bit to the north. Good for a lead in week to fall leaf season.

NWS Reno:

...TIMING DIFFERENCES STILL
EXIST BETWEEN THE EC AND GFS REGARDING HOW FAST THE UPPER LOW
DEPARTS THE REGION WITH THE GFS MAINTAINING A FASTER DEPARTURE.
LITTLE CHANGE IN THE FORECAST BEYOND FRIDAY BUT STILL EXPECTING A
PERIOD OF SHOWERS TO PERSIST AS THE COOLER TEMPS ALOFT PROMOTE
INCREASED INSTABILITY. WHETHER THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR PRECIP EXISTS
FRIDAY OR SATURDAY WILL NEED TO BE FURTHER REFINED BUT SEEMS THE GFS
HAS TRENDED MORE TOWARDS THE EC WITH A SLOWER DEPARTURE. SOME
PRECIP COULD OCCUR IN THE FORM OF SNOWFALL FOR AREAS ABOVE
8000-9000 FEET WITH 700MB TEMPS COOLING AS MUCH AS -2C. BEYOND
SATURDAY, MOST MODELS EJECT THE LOW AND WE SHOULD BEGIN A GRADUAL
WARMING AND DRYING PATTERN INTO THE START OF NEXT WEEK. FUENTES

Mammoth:

.THURSDAY...BREEZY. PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 69 TO 79.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...BREEZY. PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
SHOWERS. LOWS 34 TO 44.
.FRIDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. HIGHS
61 TO 71.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
LOWS 27 TO 37.
.SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS. HIGHS 58 TO 68. LOWS 25 TO 35.
.MONDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 63 TO 73.

Thank you to everyone who responded to this. Lots of good information as well as suggestions. A close friend worked with Charlie Hench so I am quite familiar with his story and actually did think about that when planning this trip. I have driven the road into Florence Lake area hundreds of times and find the road to be enjoyable to drive so that was not a concern of mine. However, after watching the weather closely it seems that the weather is changing and a possible "system" is brewing. I decided to head for lower elevation and plan to head out to Jeannie Lakes and Lost Lake "dawn early" on Thursday. Looks like the weather will turn late friday and saturday, so even this trip might be short or a no go in the end.
And poor Lake Italy, which has been on my "list" for a while will have to wait another season for me! Again, thank you all for your suggestions.
I will post a trip report if in fact a trip happens.
thebrenner!

I was only going to the 9000' level on Bear Creek, but I am backing off for this weekend. Just call me a fair weather backpacker! I think there will be some more Indian summer weather in October, and better opportunities, but if not, an El Nino year would be good for everyone.