2020 Backcountry Conditions Reports
- maverick
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- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
2020 Backcountry Conditions Reports
This is not a place to post trip reports, but a place for members to post current conditions experienced in the backcountry on recent trips.
This will give other members considering visiting, or traveling through that same location a heads up on difficult sections, so they can plan accordingly.
Please, do not request information about particular sections of interest that you are about to visit, your post will be deleted.
Please include the area you visited and the dates of your trip in the "Subject section" above!
Copy and Paste this outline below and fill out the info.
Route taken:
Difficult section encountered:
Special equipment needed/used:
Possible alternative routes:
Example:
Subject: Roads End>Rae Lakes>East Lake>Longley Pass>Sphinx Lakes 7/4-7/12
Route: Roads End-Upper Paradise Valley-Rae Lakes-Glen Pass-Junction Meadow-Lake Reflection-Longley Pass-Cinder Col-Sphinx Col-Sphinx Lakes-Roads End
Difficult section encountered on this trip:
- Lost of snow on northern side of Glen Pass icy in the morning hours.
- Bubbs Creek crossing very difficult, found the best crossing point 400 yards west of the usual low water crossing section.
- Big cornice encountered on Longley Pass, which was bypass by climbing rocky section north of the pass (class 3).
Special equipment needed/used:
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Trekking Poles
Possible alternative routes:
- When crossing Bubb's, I notice a section about 100 yards further west that looked much easier.
- Should have bypassed the cornice on the southern side, route looked barely class 2.
This will give other members considering visiting, or traveling through that same location a heads up on difficult sections, so they can plan accordingly.
Please, do not request information about particular sections of interest that you are about to visit, your post will be deleted.
Please include the area you visited and the dates of your trip in the "Subject section" above!
Copy and Paste this outline below and fill out the info.
Route taken:
Difficult section encountered:
Special equipment needed/used:
Possible alternative routes:
Example:
Subject: Roads End>Rae Lakes>East Lake>Longley Pass>Sphinx Lakes 7/4-7/12
Route: Roads End-Upper Paradise Valley-Rae Lakes-Glen Pass-Junction Meadow-Lake Reflection-Longley Pass-Cinder Col-Sphinx Col-Sphinx Lakes-Roads End
Difficult section encountered on this trip:
- Lost of snow on northern side of Glen Pass icy in the morning hours.
- Bubbs Creek crossing very difficult, found the best crossing point 400 yards west of the usual low water crossing section.
- Big cornice encountered on Longley Pass, which was bypass by climbing rocky section north of the pass (class 3).
Special equipment needed/used:
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Trekking Poles
Possible alternative routes:
- When crossing Bubb's, I notice a section about 100 yards further west that looked much easier.
- Should have bypassed the cornice on the southern side, route looked barely class 2.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
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- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Winnemucca Lake 6/1
Posted by Lori Bellis on SNCC-TPP:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Duck Pass/Barney Lake 5/31
Posted by Delaney Davey on SNCC-TPP:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Virginia/Cooney Lakes 5/23
Posted by Jennifer Guthrie on SNCC-TPP:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Piute Pass 5/27
Posted on SNCC-TPP:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Treasure Lakes 5/23
Posted by Tammy Luther on SNCC-TPP:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
20 Lakes Basin 6/2
Posted on ESHB by Gaia Marrs:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Crown Valley 6/4
Posted by Nick Watts on SNCC-TPP:
Current conditions in western John Muir Wilderness:
All trails from the Crown Valley trailhead area are essentially snow-free except for small patches in shady north facing areas. There are still a lot of really muddy areas and all the meadow sections are very wet. The trail to Spanish Lake wasn't in too bad of shape until very near the lake, when it became a little difficult to follow. The trail from Lake 8632 to Wet Meadow is in need of some serious maintenance, as is the trail from Cow Meadow to the spur trail to Chain Lakes. The trail to the uppermost Chain Lake is followable mainly by cairns. Numerous tree falls on the other nearby trails but fairly easy to follow. Climbed Castle Peak (10,659) without having to deal with much snow. Easy hiking to the summit block which is Class 2-3. Photo is the Sierra Crest taken from Crown Ridge facing southeast.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11870
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Sabrina Basin 6/1-6/4
Posted by on Raymond Adkins on SNCC-TPP:
Minimal snow on trail. Upper lakes still partially frozen but melting quickly. Mosquitoes not out yet. Saw a few parties at Blue Lake but no one after Blue, just one set of foot prints. Amazing to see this basin so empty.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- 2020hiker
- Topix Novice
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:25 pm
- Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Re: 2020 Backcountry Conditions Reports
Thanks for the trip report on Sabrina. Headed up that way over July 1 Hoping we get some more snow melt as I attempt north-south lake trip. We'll see.
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