Desolation Wilderness near Lake Aloha in mid-May

[maiathebee]

Posted in the Eastern Sierra Hiking FB group. Image from the air on 5/6/21

[RGTPSB]

Wow! Looks snowy.

Although I have gone off trail before, my last trip to Desolation was in mid-June of 2018, and at that point there was a lot more exposed granite. Think it is still worth a try, or perhaps I should delay? It doesn't even look like there is any exposed granite.

[SSSdave]

As I posted 3 weeks ago, wiser to wait till June. Latest SH satellite on May 11 shows only Grass Lake and Echo Lakes melted out with Susie 2/3 and Aloha maybe 1/8. Rest are all still white snow slabs. Even if you can hike in to some frozen lake, what good is that? Might as well be at a meadow covered with snow you can at least walk on safely.

[maiathebee]

Even if you can hike in to some frozen lake, what good is that? [/color]

Plenty of good! I find the snowscapes and iceberg chunks especially charming.

Back to the OP---I think if you're comfortable with snow travel you should go for it. You might have to hunt for a dry spot to camp, and you might end up doing plenty of postholing, but just be smart about your limits and you'll still have a good time in the mountains

[shanks59]

SSSdave, where are you getting those satellite photos? If they aren't public would it be possible for you to share some pics of current conditions in the Emigrant? Looking to do a trip there end of May. Thanks

[maiathebee]

Probably Sentinel. Here: https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentinel-playground/

Or you can get access with an upgraded CalTopo membership and overlay things like routes and elevations.