Duck Pass/Fish Creek options for early August
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 8:14 am
Given the amount of snow, I'm pretty glad I chose Rancheria Falls for my trip in June. However, I'm starting to get a bit concerned about my planned Duck Pass to Fish Creek to Reds Meadow trip at the end of July (Jul 31 - Aug 4, 5 days, 4 nights). I'll be taking my 9 yr old twins so am just trying to think of backup options if there is still a lot of snow and/or snowmelt. They really wanted to go to Iva Bell Hot Springs, which is why we chose that route (and I'd like to still visit there if possible).
So can anyone offer advice on what to expect on Duck Pass (according to the guidebooks it is slow to melt out even in a normal season)? Are the switchbacks difficult/dangerous under any remnants of snow or is it just a plod? What about the depth of Fish Creek? We were planning to go down to Cascade Valley from Purple Lake and then down the valley and across the river at Second Crossing. Is crossing Fish Creek at the bottom of the switchbacks down from Purple Lake easier (then going up the other side to the Minnow Creek trail)? Or would we need to go all the way round to Virginia Lake and Tully Hole to find the bridge and then go up to Minnow Creek that way (a lot longer route!)? Alternatively is there another loop you would suggest out of Reds Meadow that still visits the hot springs?
So can anyone offer advice on what to expect on Duck Pass (according to the guidebooks it is slow to melt out even in a normal season)? Are the switchbacks difficult/dangerous under any remnants of snow or is it just a plod? What about the depth of Fish Creek? We were planning to go down to Cascade Valley from Purple Lake and then down the valley and across the river at Second Crossing. Is crossing Fish Creek at the bottom of the switchbacks down from Purple Lake easier (then going up the other side to the Minnow Creek trail)? Or would we need to go all the way round to Virginia Lake and Tully Hole to find the bridge and then go up to Minnow Creek that way (a lot longer route!)? Alternatively is there another loop you would suggest out of Reds Meadow that still visits the hot springs?