Truckee / Donner / Tahoe area looking for info

[Ayo]

Good morning,

Looking to start some higher altitude hiking and wanted to try some trails in the Tahoe area. Was specifically looking at the Frog Lake area and surrounding trails.

What type of footwear do I need this time of year? Snowshoes? Hiking boots with microspikes? Mountaineering boots with crampons?

Just planning on doing a few day hikes to try out the thinner air. Any recomendations?

TIA

[Tom Perkins]

It is getting warm, and slushy by mid day. We went on the rim trail, from Kingsbury North trailhead the other day, and by noon it was getting slippery. If you get an early start, snowshoes will be fantastic, and boots with spikes will probably work. There will be patches of dirt or mud to make your way through, especially on South facing slopes. You probably won’t need mountaineering gear unless you are climbing or crossing steep slopes, and I would bring an ice axe and know how to use it for that.

[c9h13no3]

Good morning,

Looking to start some higher altitude hiking and wanted to try some trails in the Tahoe area. Was specifically looking at the Frog Lake area and surrounding trails.

What type of footwear do I need this time of year? Snowshoes? Hiking boots with microspikes? Mountaineering boots with crampons?

Just planning on doing a few day hikes to try out the thinner air. Any recomendations?

TIA

Donner Summit is one of the snowiest places in California. Expect continuous snow coverage. Don't forget to buy your SNO-Park permit if you park there. And don't fall off a cornice and die like this dude did a while back at Frog Lake.

For similar views, without the slednecks, I'd hike out towards the Peter Grubb hut instead.