High Sierra Topix

I'm doing a little reverse psychology and not going out of town this weekend - Angelinos are creatures of habit, and everyone leaves the city on the 4th. I'll probably do a nice hike in Griffith park and not run into a soul.

Seriously, though, I usually do the Cottonwood lakes this time of year, but hear that the upper ones are still snowed in.

Instead I'll probably be going out next weekend into the upper Golden Trout Wilderness. Up and over Cottonwood pass, knock around the back country there, and come back over trail pass. Never done that before but I'll bring my fly rod and see what happens.

Jaeger wrote:I'm planning to scout around the Wishon area this weekend. I called the High Sierra station in Prather. They said they haven't had any reports from their people for the area yet but the trailheads are free of snow along McKinley Grove Road. I'm hoping snow line will be about 9000 but that may be wishful at this point. I do know the creeks will be running high. I'm going to try to avoid the big ones as much as possible. We'll see what happens. Really looking forward to exploring this area.

Hey Jaeger,

Sorry to catch this too late to help you out, but snow line is higher than 9,000 feet for the west slope central Sierra as of this Wednesday. I visited a lake off Kaiser Pass Road sitting at just over 9,000 feet on a north-facing slope and the trail was 99% snow-free. The lake looked to have been thawed for at least a few weeks. Hope you have a nice trip!

Matt

Just got back from Summit Trail parking lot out of Quaking Aspen. Started hitting patches of snow in less than a mile, and had to start looking for tree markers. Hiking parties were returning after giving up. The hardiest made it to Jacobsen Meadow but turned around after sinking a foot into the mud on every step. Hard to find camping this weekend, so most just went home.

Staying close to home. Hiked Tumalo Mt. for the 3rd time in 9 days yesterday. 10 days ago the hike was 99% on snow. Yesterday down to 40%. 10 days before I head s. to the Sierra. Note 2nd photo was taken from where I was standing in the first photo (note trees in left background). So the change at this point on the summit is not as great as the photos might suggest.

Mike

Timberline wrote:

TehipiteTom wrote:I'm doing a wildflower-hunting road trip with dayhikes in the Northern Sierra, up via Quincy and back over Carson Pass.

Hey Tom,
Would love to hear about the flower conditions at Carson after your return. We were just up there yesterday, but didn't have time to stop (and smell the flowers! yeah I know). This should be a banner year at the pass, but is it still too early?

Would appreciate any feedback; Thanks a bunch

Carson Pass is a ways off yet. Very little blooming above 8,000', and getting up toward 9,000' there were still a fair number of snowfields. (Winnemucca Lake still had some ice on it.)