Late season recommendations.

[AidanDawn2000]

To cut right to the chase, university gives us a small "fall break" October 14-18 and while I know this is late season indeed I would love yall's thoughts.

The dream would be to make it to Iva Bell. Pretty low elevation at `7000 but not sure if the roads/trailheads will even be open or the levle of outright risk any mid-October trip in the Sierras commands. Looks like Reds Meadow road usaully closes end of october but some years are sooner.

Plan B is probubly Lost Coast.

Any other ideas?

[sparky]

5 says in mid Oct I would def come prepared. I usually do weekend trips in mid Oct. I'm going out that weekend if the weather holds but will be day hiking around onion valley

[AidanDawn2000]

In terms of gear, was planning on satellite communicator, 3 season tents, and 0° bags. And of course a close eye on forecast in the week leading up.

[balzaccom]

Yeah, I prefer shorter trips on the shoulder season---and ideally, ones that have a trailhead below the snow level.

Since. I've just spent some time down there, you could explore a lot of the Mokelumne Canyon over a few days. You won't see a soul, and after a few miles, you might not see much in the way of trails, either. But it's lower elevation, and there's plently to explore.

[c9h13no3]

95% of the aspen groves are within (short) day hike distance. Add in long cold nights, and I think day trips are the way to go after September.

Leavitt Meadows has some fall color that make an otherwise boring approach nicer. Big Wet Meadow has a few aspens and is less buggy than usual. Lower elevations like Tehipite Valley are less full of snakes and hot weather. Crowded destinations are a bit less crowded, but usually not as much as you’d expect.

Just off the top of my head.

[paul]

Preparing for the weather you may get while you are out is part of it, but for me the trickier part is selecting a trailhead and route that won't get me into trouble regardless of the weather. To me that means a trailhead that has a paved road to it, and that will not end up behind a locked gate if a snowstorm closes the road. Route-wise, in the late season I like to avoid crossing any pass that might be hairy if it gets a foot or so of snow on it. Even when you have the clothing to be comfortable and safe in a big storm, you should consider that a bunch of fresh wet snow will slow you down quite a bit. So I would keep my route short. Iva Bell would be out of range for my tastes.
And I don't trust any forecast for five days in October - three days would be as far as I would trust a forecast at this time of year.
Take a look at Desolation Wilderness, going in via Echo Lake.

[mort]

The dream would be to make it to Iva Bell.

I'd go to Iva Bell. Your profile says Santa Cruz. If Sequoia isn't out of the question - The road to Lodgepole would be plowed if it ever snows. Trails into the Tablelands, or Twin Lakes - Silliman Pass, Ranger Lake or further would be nice. The lakes trail and the Twin Lakes trail are ski routes and have signs high in the trees so you won't lose the trail (if it snows a lot).
-mort

[Gogd]

@AidanDawn2000
The fact you are carrying a sat device is not pertinent. Those are for unavoidable emergencies, not a get out a jail free card for plans based on hubris.

The obvious question beckons: do you have adequate gear.

• I have been in the area at that time of year. Expect night temps in the low thirties.
• A weather event may cause temps to fall to the low teens. You will need a sleeping bag, clothing layers, head wear and glove/mittens that are up to the task.
• You will also need a hard shell parka and pants that are waterproof - not water resistant, but WATERPROOF.
• Should it snow you will need long gators. Also bring plastic bags to wear over your feet inside the boots, so your socks and feet won't get soaked. You will want to bring extra bags should they get damaged.
• You must have a tent that will stand up to a storm, and keep you dry.

That said, you rate yourself as a Level 2 backpacker. Iva Bell in mid October presents four types of challenges:

1. That time of year sometimes sees an early, significant storm. If it is warm you'll get a lot of rain and you may have to contend with a couple of high stream crossings. They can be dangerous.
2. If it is cold, you will get snow. Snow will make footing slippery, and unsafe everywhere you walk! Early season snow will have no base pack under it, so foot steps will plunge into the snow and find whatever lies beneath the snow. Contact with hidden rocks may cause serious flesh wounds, make you misstep and give you an ankle or knee sprain, or result fall accidents and broken bones.
3. Fresh snow on bare ground will slow progress to a crawl. It can take six hours to cover ground normally crossed in one hour. I've been through this, it is really exhausting and sucks!
4. Snow may cover the trail, so you must be capable of using a map and compass to assure you don't end up lost. It is fine to use tech for navigation, but you really shouldn't trust your life to battery operated devices without the back up of a map and compass.

Ed

[AidanDawn2000]

@AidanDawn2000
The fact you are carrying a sat device is not pertinent. Those are for unavoidable emergencies, not a get out a jail free card for plans based on hubris.

The obvious question beckons: do you have adequate gear.

• I have been in the area at that time of year. Expect night temps in the low thirties.
• A weather event may cause temps to fall to the low teens. You will need a sleeping bag, clothing layers, head wear and glove/mittens that are up to the task.
• You will also need a hard shell parka and pants that are waterproof - not water resistant, but WATERPROOF.
• Should it snow you will need long gators. Also bring plastic bags to wear over your feet inside the boots, so your socks and feet won't get soaked. You will want to bring extra bags should they get damaged.
• You must have a tent that will stand up to a storm, and keep you dry.

That said, you rate yourself as a Level 2 backpacker. Iva Bell in mid October presents four types of challenges:

1. That time of year sometimes sees an early, significant storm. If it is warm you'll get a lot of rain and you may have to contend with a couple of high stream crossings. They can be dangerous.
2. If it is cold, you will get snow. Snow will make footing slippery, and unsafe everywhere you walk! Early season snow will have no base pack under it, so foot steps will plunge into the snow and find whatever lies beneath the snow. Contact with hidden rocks may cause serious flesh wounds, make you misstep and give you an ankle or knee sprain, or result fall accidents and broken bones.
3. Fresh snow on bare ground will slow progress to a crawl. It can take six hours to cover ground normally crossed in one hour. I've been through this, it is really exhausting and sucks!
4. Snow may cover the trail, so you must be capable of using a map and compass to assure you don't end up lost. It is fine to use tech for navigation, but you really shouldn't trust your life to battery operated devices without the back up of a map and compass.

Ed

These are great points and exactly the kind of things I was wondering about. Seem the general concensus is to stick to 3 days out.

[Harlen]

AidanDawn2000writes:

...not sure if the roads/trailheads will even be open or the level of outright risk any mid-October trip in the Sierras commands.

Hymmmm, my wife and I seem to recall a young man named Aidan from the Santa Cruz Mountains who drives a roadster, and was heard to say: "Drive fast, take chances!"

We always hoped you were joking, and are glad to see you using healthy caution today.

I agree with what's been written above, and will add another cautionary note that has been driven by fear into my psyche. If you guys set up a base camp, and intend to climb mountains, or explore an area on day hikes, be conservative with both the route you take, and the gear you bring with you. My point is that you do not want to be caught out, and ill-prepared if a cold, early storm descends upon you. I have nearly been separated from my camp, and due to my stupidity-- all bivouac gear, simply by dense cloud and high wind that blew up the surface snow. If you can't make it back to your camp, you better have enough warm stuff to weather a night out. I think you can work out what all that might include, and don't forget matches! Some would advise to even take your sleeping bag and ground sheet on day trips/climbs. This of course makes for a heavier day pack, and slower going. Another mountaineering thought is that: "There is safety in speed." The point is, that being light and fast, you can get back down a mountain quickly, and race the storm back to camp. Corollaries to that method are the conservative route choice I mentioned above, and a conservative mindset that has you ready to bail out of a climb immediately if weather threatens.

Following Paul's good advice to choose safe and accessible trailheads, great trips can be made from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite*; the North Fork of Big Pine Creek; and Rock Creek in the Eastern Sierra. Lizzie also mentions the great trips you can do from Twin Lakes above Bridgeport-- the circle from Peeler to Snow Lake, for example, and if the weather stays fine, you could enjoy the Buckeye Hot Springs while you're there. Hope you have a great trip! Ian and Lizzie.

*Check with the Yosemite staff re. the last date when cars may be left overnight in T.Meadows. I'm not sure if it changes, but it used to be 10/15.
(Here are 2 phone numbers to reach the ranger staff: (209) 372-0309, (209) 372-0308.