Pondering Snow & River Crossings

[paul]

Michael – I have a couple thoughts regarding trips that can be done without significant stream crossings. The key, obviously, is to stay as high in the drainages as possible.
My fisrt thought is Humphreys basin and French canyon. Getting up to Piute Pass involves no serious stream crossings – though you’ll have to wade some small stuff. Then you can explore all the lakes in Humphreys basin without any big streams to cross, by staying high in the basin. Good chance that would mean a lot of snow travel unless it is after mid-July this year. But it’s all easy terrain, even an ascent of Four Gables to see a great view. Then you can drop down almost to Hutchinson Meadow, and turn the corner to go up French Canyon, staying on the east side of the creek. The various outlet streams that come down from the lakes on the bench above will present some challenges I’m sure, but ought to be do-able, and once up the canyon a ways you can ascend to the shelf and explore those lakes. Then you can cross the main French canyon stream up high, and go down its west bank a bit and thus up to Merriam Lake and the lakes north of it. From there one could go over Ruskie Pass (I have been over it on skis, and I am not a good skier) and down into the Seven Gables Lakes without any seriously steep snow, and by staying on the right hand side of their outlet and the right hand side of the East Fork of Bear creek, get down into the main bear creek drainage, go downstream, and ascend the Hilgard Branch – not via the trail but on its south bank. The trick would be crossing the Hilgard Branch before it makes its turn east into the narrow slot at about 10400 feet elevation – because you must be on the trail to get through that slot. I came through there on skis in early May of 2008, a low snow year, and that was the one place I had to follow the trail. I had been able to cross the HB lower down on a snow bridge. Once you get through that slot it is easy peasy all the way to Italy Pass, and you could either go down to Honeymoon Lake and back up to Pine Creek Pass, or go from Granite Park over to Royce Lakes and get to Pine Creek pass that way. Once at Pine creek pass or near it, you can retrace your steps to get out, or go over Puppet Pass or Steelhead col to get back into Humphreys Basin. I went over Steelhead col on my ski trip, booting it, but without crampons, and I think that was easier than when I came the other direction in August of 2018 on the talus.
Of course, you could skip the whole Ruskie pass/Bear creek/Italy pass loop, and probably have plenty to do for a week or more just exploring the Humphreys and French canyon and Merriam area lakes.
From the west – From Courtright, Maxson trailhead. Go via Hobler Lake, Red Rock Basin, Reddy’s Hole to Upper Indian Lake, then explore the lakes on the west slope of the LeConte Divide, Red Mountain Basin. It will be wet in lots of places but you wouldn’t have to cross any significant streams to get to Upper Indian, and none of the terrain is steep if it is snow covered – I have been through there both on skis and on foot. In Red Mountain basin, if you stay high and mostly ignore the trails you should be able to get around just fine. Then you can drop down from Devil’s Punchbowl, and the trail stays ion the north bank of the NF kings, then up you go to McGuire Lakes and Bench Valley. Of course one can get from the Punchbowl to Bench Valley by the shorter rout over Lucifer’s saddle(s) , but covered in snow that could be tricky. If you need one more basin, you can go down to the NF kings again, but this time do not cross where the trail crosses, instead stay on the north bank until you can turn up into Blackcap basin.
The one downside of this idea is that you are faced with a long slog out down along eth NF kings and Post Corral Creek, unless you want to do a little bit of possibly tricky snow to get over Valor Pass, and then Martha, Hell for Sure Pass and then the trail to Post Corral. And you might have to find your own crossing of Post Corral creek, further upstream than the trail crossing; though I would expect a wide, not too fast ford where the trail crosses, likely knee deep but not too bad. It’s a pretty flat bottom valley there so the stream can spread out pretty wide if it is really flowing.

Anyway, just possibilities!

[kpeter]

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From the west – From Courtright, Maxson trailhead. Go via Hobler Lake, Red Rock Basin, Reddy’s Hole to Upper Indian Lake, then explore the lakes on the west slope of the LeConte Divide, Red Mountain Basin. It will be wet in lots of places but you wouldn’t have to cross any significant streams to get to Upper Indian, and none of the terrain is steep if it is snow covered – I have been through there both on skis and on foot. In Red Mountain basin, if you stay high and mostly ignore the trails you should be able to get around just fine. Then you can drop down from Devil’s Punchbowl, and the trail stays ion the north bank of the NF kings, then up you go to McGuire Lakes and Bench Valley. Of course one can get from the Punchbowl to Bench Valley by the shorter rout over Lucifer’s saddle(s) , but covered in snow that could be tricky. If you need one more basin, you can go down to the NF kings again, but this time do not cross where the trail crosses, instead stay on the north bank until you can turn up into Blackcap basin.
The one downside of this idea is that you are faced with a long slog out down along eth NF kings and Post Corral Creek, unless you want to do a little bit of possibly tricky snow to get over Valor Pass, and then Martha, Hell for Sure Pass and then the trail to Post Corral. And you might have to find your own crossing of Post Corral creek, further upstream than the trail crossing; though I would expect a wide, not too fast ford where the trail crosses, likely knee deep but not too bad. It’s a pretty flat bottom valley there so the stream can spread out pretty wide if it is really flowing.

Anyway, just possibilities!

Wondering about crossing Post-Corral Creek? I don't know what it is like in a wet year, having only crossed it in a relatively dry year.

If you cross it far north of the trail crossing, that is a heckuva lot of cross country to get over to Red Mountain Basin, which will be under snow until August, I think. But what a cool place to be, with no people.

[Wandering Daisy]

I think it is a bit too early to say that Red Mountain Basin will be all in snow until August. It is a west facing basin, lots of afternoon sun. Although the southern Sierra has the highest percentage of average snow at current date, that is an average only. Red Basin may not be average. And, S. Sierra average is less absolute feet of snow than N. Sierra. Red Basin seems like it would be a good bet to melt out earlier than many other Sierra locations. Late season snow, even if quite a bit, you can still find dry spots to camp. And a lot of the dark rock areas will be melted. Yes, you will slog through wet slush. Just cut back on your daily miles, travel from dawn to noon. Take extra socks.

I am not worrying about all this until May. By then we will have a lot more information.

[paul]

I have only crossed Post Corral creek when it was low; but given the wide, flattish nature of the area where the trail crosses, my guess would be wide and not so fast when it is higher. Plus, it wouldn't be too bad to walk upstream on the east bank for a couple miles to find a better spot, the terrain is all gentle. Heck, you could stay on that side all the way to Long meadow where the trail crosses back. You'd have some tributaries to cross that way, but they should be smaller.

Red Mountain Basin, May 21, 2011; taken from the ridge to the west of Lower Indian Lake

[paul]

That area does not have a lot of sensor coverage, but there is one in Blackcap basin
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid= ... on&sta=BCB

And one at Upper Burnt Corral
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid= ... on&sta=UBC

And Manual stations at Long Meadow, Post Corrall Meadow, and Beard Meadow – those, and the manual stations at UBC and Blackcap, are all scheduled for measurement April 1st and May 1st, so a better picture will emerge.

[michaelzim]

Thanks for the added responses...and @paul for the abundant detail!!!

Indeed, I had been thinking along similar lines and just looked at the permits for Piute Pass yesterday. Way too early of course, as the road to North Lake has to be open to start with, but all this 'mental meandering' gives me an excuse for something to do ref. mountains fiddling.
I have never been to Humphreys Basin and had come to the same conclusions as you re reasonably early accessibility for the potential 2023 scene. The idea of going up Four Gables though is a great add on. The south access looks very doable on CalTopo and for sure something to shoot for if the conditions merit.
Ha,ha...I appreciate your "optimism" for my distance ability but your overall route would have been a challenge for me 40 years ago, let alone now and in a snow year to boot. I can see 3 trips in there for your first suggestion!

Red Mountain Basin had also crossed my mind due to similar considerations as yours, not least being the west side entry and not having to wait for the Sierra crest passes to open to vehicles. Wishon and Courtright could be open quite a lot sooner than many other trailheads. The downside though is those tremendously long (for me) entries. It took me two full days in good, dry, summer weather to just get in to the beginnings of Red Mt. Basin and/or Blackcap Basin. So that is four days just for entry/exit! However, given that they may be at least accessible to a degree that other places are not, it kicks them up on the potential 2023 list. And I have been to those basins a few times so terrain familiarity could be helpful if thick snow is covering all the trails - like you photo sure shows.

As Daisy says, we will know a lot more by May. Meanwhile I am making a kind of "snow tree list" of possible trips that can get shuffled and shunted depending on what happens weather-wise. Getting permits figured for such nebulous dates seems impossible so I'm not bothering to guess. Hopefully "W" walk-ins will be available, though Piute Pass could be a challenge. Sierra NF never seems to be an issue though.
And I'm looking at Death Valley for an April sojourn in the interim, to loosen the limbs.

Thanks again all for the great input. Best ~ Michaelzim

[paul]

Michael - the beauty of going by way of Red Rock Basin is that you are into the subalpine at the end of the first day, with Hobler Lake making a nice lunch stop, and it's lovely walking through RR basin and Reddy's hole to get over near Upper Indian. Definitely nicer, in my opinion, than going in via Post Corral and up to Fleming Lake. I considered coming out that way as well last summer, but by the end of that trip I was ready for some trail and forest, so I took the trail out. and with a near empty pack, one day from Fleming lake or thereabouts is much easier going out than coming in.

[kpeter]

That area does not have a lot of sensor coverage, but there is one in Blackcap basin
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid= ... on&sta=BCB

And one at Upper Burnt Corral
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid= ... on&sta=UBC

And Manual stations at Long Meadow, Post Corrall Meadow, and Beard Meadow – those, and the manual stations at UBC and Blackcap, are all scheduled for measurement April 1st and May 1st, so a better picture will emerge.

Thanks Paul. I think that is 175 inches of snow at Burnt Corral, which at approximately 15' is not as bad as I would have imagined it. So there is hope for the melt.

I feel guilty hoping for a quick melt to open up the back country for my enjoyment, knowing that a quick, early melt will be devastating to many people. I guess I will file it away in my head as a possible silver lining if disaster strikes.

[gjanee]

Hi, I have a similar concern. I have a permit to hike the Rae Lakes loop in early August, and my understanding is that I need to cross the Kings River at some point, I think at Woods Creek. (NPS says, "The South Fork Kings River Bridge above Paradise Valley washed out during the winter of 2016-2017.") Is that likely to be impossible in a year like this?

[michaelzim]

Hi, I have a similar concern. I have a permit to hike the Rae Lakes loop in early August, and my understanding is that I need to cross the Kings River at some point, I think at Woods Creek. (NPS says, "The South Fork Kings River Bridge above Paradise Valley washed out during the winter of 2016-2017.") Is that likely to be impossible in a year like this?

I'm sure that crossing of the Kings River at Upper Paradise Valley is making a lot of people wonder, as indeed it could be "interesting" this late spring and summer. Others will probably know more about it during really high water but when I crossed it in early September 2021 there had just been a monsoon dump and it was no streamlet. I questioned how on earth one would get over it with 3 or 4 times the water flow.
That said, the Rae Lakes Loop is so popular that a LOT of people are going to come up against that challenge well before your trip plan for early August. There will no doubt be multitudes of reports as to the conditions and how to deal with them. Maybe with all the snow there will a log jam of deadfalls piled up as a bridge?!

It is still too soon to say just what the big melt will be like so I would hold onto your permit as getting later dates for that loop may be difficult, especially this year with so many folks pushing back their hiking dates.

We will see in due course... Best ~ Michaelzim