Pioneer Basin 7/10-7/15
Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:47 pm
Just got back from Pioneer Basin, 7/10 -7/15.
Mono Pass. On 7/10 Mono Pass had snow on the lower switchbacks, steep enough that a large group decided not to go. On 7/15 enough day-hikers had made a path and enough had melted that it was being used. Otherwise, you can avoid these by going off-trail, snow-free, and intersecting the trail higher up. The upper part, once you turn around the corner, had two distinct steep snowfields covering the trail. The first is in shade until about 9:30AM and on 7/10, was still very hard and icy at 10AM. I used crampons, and was glad to have them. It was still freaky, as there is a rock band below (not a good safe run out). Once into the upper bowl, the trail also traverses high, and here it was sunnier in the morning, and in spite of being icy, if one were to fall, there was a good safe run out. On the last part of this traverse my left crampon broke, which caused a bit of worry. Returning on 7/14, at about noon, both snowfields were very soft, and there was a much more definite path. The danger now, is that in late afternoon the snow is actually unstable. I did not use crampons. Just out of curiosity, I dropped down below the cliff band to traverse, and then climbed on class 2 rock back up to the trail. I actually felt safer doing this. But everyone else was just going across on the beaten path. The sun cups surrounding Summit Lake are a real pain. Coming back, I instead, went up the high use-trail (not on the map) to avoid Summit Lake. My original plan was to go around Golden Lake to avoid the crossing of Mono Creek. The east side of Golden lake IS NOT SAFELY PASSABLE! A very steep snowfield goes to the lake, and the bottom part as split off the upper part. I went back up and over the regular trail, which was just fine. It is almost all snow-free except for a short part on the north side as you drop into Mono Creek, which was really easy to cross (knee deep).
Pioneer Basin. Amazingly melted off. I tried to follow the trail on the map, and the middle section got lost in snowdrifts. It is easy to just go up any way with plenty of choices for a snow-free ascent to the first lake (which really is a flooded meadow). The crossing at the trail was too swift when I arrived in the afternoon, so I went out into the "lake" and crossed crotch deep, but with no current. All the lakes are melted to some degree. Even the uppermost lake is ice-free at the outlet. There are still plenty of deep snow drifts, but they can be easily avoided. The snow is firm- even in afternoon never sunk in more than a few inches. Hard as a rock in the morning after one night when it froze hard. About an hour of sunlight softened the crust. There are plenty of nice dry places to camp.
Ruby Lake. The day I went in the lake was mostly frozen. When I came out it was half covered with drift ice, all wind blown to the north side. Steep snowbanks on the south (north facing) side. Good dry camping on the hill north of the lake.
Fourth Recess Lake. Also just breaking up when I went in. When coming out, it was mostly ice-free, with a bunch of float ice at the outlet. I did not try to cross Mono Creek at the trail crossing, so cannot comment on that. I dropped down the steep west hillside from Trail Lakes. This hillside was really wet in places and very cliffy, but snow-free.
Mono Pass. On 7/10 Mono Pass had snow on the lower switchbacks, steep enough that a large group decided not to go. On 7/15 enough day-hikers had made a path and enough had melted that it was being used. Otherwise, you can avoid these by going off-trail, snow-free, and intersecting the trail higher up. The upper part, once you turn around the corner, had two distinct steep snowfields covering the trail. The first is in shade until about 9:30AM and on 7/10, was still very hard and icy at 10AM. I used crampons, and was glad to have them. It was still freaky, as there is a rock band below (not a good safe run out). Once into the upper bowl, the trail also traverses high, and here it was sunnier in the morning, and in spite of being icy, if one were to fall, there was a good safe run out. On the last part of this traverse my left crampon broke, which caused a bit of worry. Returning on 7/14, at about noon, both snowfields were very soft, and there was a much more definite path. The danger now, is that in late afternoon the snow is actually unstable. I did not use crampons. Just out of curiosity, I dropped down below the cliff band to traverse, and then climbed on class 2 rock back up to the trail. I actually felt safer doing this. But everyone else was just going across on the beaten path. The sun cups surrounding Summit Lake are a real pain. Coming back, I instead, went up the high use-trail (not on the map) to avoid Summit Lake. My original plan was to go around Golden Lake to avoid the crossing of Mono Creek. The east side of Golden lake IS NOT SAFELY PASSABLE! A very steep snowfield goes to the lake, and the bottom part as split off the upper part. I went back up and over the regular trail, which was just fine. It is almost all snow-free except for a short part on the north side as you drop into Mono Creek, which was really easy to cross (knee deep).
Pioneer Basin. Amazingly melted off. I tried to follow the trail on the map, and the middle section got lost in snowdrifts. It is easy to just go up any way with plenty of choices for a snow-free ascent to the first lake (which really is a flooded meadow). The crossing at the trail was too swift when I arrived in the afternoon, so I went out into the "lake" and crossed crotch deep, but with no current. All the lakes are melted to some degree. Even the uppermost lake is ice-free at the outlet. There are still plenty of deep snow drifts, but they can be easily avoided. The snow is firm- even in afternoon never sunk in more than a few inches. Hard as a rock in the morning after one night when it froze hard. About an hour of sunlight softened the crust. There are plenty of nice dry places to camp.
Ruby Lake. The day I went in the lake was mostly frozen. When I came out it was half covered with drift ice, all wind blown to the north side. Steep snowbanks on the south (north facing) side. Good dry camping on the hill north of the lake.
Fourth Recess Lake. Also just breaking up when I went in. When coming out, it was mostly ice-free, with a bunch of float ice at the outlet. I did not try to cross Mono Creek at the trail crossing, so cannot comment on that. I dropped down the steep west hillside from Trail Lakes. This hillside was really wet in places and very cliffy, but snow-free.