Pondering Snow & River Crossings

[Wandering Daisy]

I crossed early June before they ever had a bridge as well as a few years ago in low late season water. There used to be multiple log jams downstream that you can cross on. Also, at high flows the water levels can vary several feet during a 24-hour period. Crossing in morning is lower than late afternoon. A clockwise permit would be the safest this year, so you could easily retreat if needed.

[Lumbergh21]

I think travel in the Sierra during June and July is going to be miserable and dangerous this year. Either travel on consolidated snow in May using crampons or alpine snowshoes before the height of the melt or wait until most of the snow has melted out and deal with the mosquitos in August and maybe even September.

[texan]

I think travel in the Sierra during June and July is going to be miserable and dangerous this year. Either travel on consolidated snow in May using crampons or alpine snowshoes before the height of the melt or wait until most of the snow has melted out and deal with the mosquitos in August and maybe even September.

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Very good advice. This years snowpack is the second most annual snowfall ever. Only 51-52 is larger. I learned from my mistake as teen when we went Piute Pass 7/23/83 to fish for goldens and came back the same day. Too much snow. Humphreys Basin looked like January instead of late July. That's why in 1995 when I lived in Colorado I waited until the last week in August to go to Emigrant Wilderness over Brown Bear Pass. There was a lot snow but it was manageable. Thanks again for posting.

Texan

[JWreno]

I am excited to have a permit for a 11 day trip in September. It will be fun to see a few less people on the trail then. I have the bugs are mostly gone by then. 2011 was snow year but not like this one.

We live in Reno and have been shoveling snow almost every week since before Christmas. Spring feel like it won't be here until mid April.

[gjanee]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, it will be interesting to hear Rae Lakes reports as people start hiking up there.

[Wandering Daisy]

Read Mav's conditions post on late opening of SEKI roads. You may not even be able to get to the trailheads.

[Gogd]

Very good advice. This years snowpack is the second most annual snowfall ever. Only 51-52 is larger. I learned from my mistake as teen when we went Piute Pass 7/23/83 to fish for goldens and came back the same day. Too much snow. Humphreys Basin looked like January instead of late July. That's why in 1995 when I lived in Colorado I waited until the last week in August to go to Emigrant Wilderness over Brown Bear Pass. There was a lot snow but it was manageable. Thanks again for posting.

Texan

I hiked up Bear Creek mid July of 83. It was snow free, and very nice. But when we summited Seven Gables on a day hike, the entire Sierra interior east of the peak to the Sierra Crest was still in the depths of winter, the lakes frozen, most of terrain covered in deep snow. That is not to say the 2023 season will turn out that way. It is my observation that a big late spring storm has a greater impact on late season snowpack than any weather occurring in the winter/early spring.

Ed

[Wilderness]

I was planning to go thru the Tablelands to Big Bird Lake, down Deadman and up Cloud Canyons, over Colby Pass to Junction Meadow then down Kern Canyon over to Bear Paw Meadows (via High Sierra trail) then over Pterodactyl Pass back thru the Tablelands: last week of July first week of August. Anyone have an idea what river crossings might be like then with this big snow year. Thanks

[Wandering Daisy]

All Kern River crossings. If bridges are out then a problem. The wading at Junction Meadow could be difficult. You perhaps just need to have some retreat options planned. For example, instead of doing the Kern Canyon HST loop, you could go over Pants Pass or up Cloud Canyon and over Lion Rock Pass or down to Tamarak Lake. You would then trade snow on passes for river crossings. Depends on your snow skills vs river crossing skills. And at worst, just turn around and go back the way you came. It sounds bad, but just camp at different places and it will not seem like too much repeating.

And crossing Pine Creek? (the creek from Tamarack Lake), can be difficult and dangerous at the trail. Go upstream to the wide swamp and wade- could be waist deep but is calm.

[gjanee]

An update on conditions. I had made a pre-backpack reservation at Sentinel Campground but the NPS just cancelled it:

"The Winter of 2022-2023 produced an enormous amount of rain and snow in the Central Sierra. The storms caused significant damage to many roads both inside and outside the parks. There are numerous sections of Highway 180 between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove that need to be rebuilt. In these areas significant portions of the pavement, supporting base and substrate have been washed away. This damage leaves the remaining roadway, often less than a lane wide, unstable and with no foundation to build off of. Road repairs have begun but in many areas the roads will not be repaired or passable until much later this year.

All Cedar Grove campground reservations for 2023 have been cancelled and it is unlikely that the campgrounds will open in 2023"

It sounds like it might not be possible to get to the Rae Lakes trailhead at all this year. Sheesh!