End of May trip Advice

[Love the Sierra]

Thank you so much, my friends!!!
Work suddenly got so busy, I could not stand to open a computer after 14 or more hours of work.
I got it! Let Copernicus be my guide, I am no PCT mountaineer! I went on early May trips in 2017,2018, 2021 and 2022 and will use those trips as guides to what I see on Copernicus.

SSSDave, I have done all of that car camping in most of the areas you recommended when my kids were young. However, once I learned to use crampons, camp on the snow and, in general, about safety in snowy camping and hiking, I felt so liberated, I never wanted to go back down again

WD, my dogs have never felt the altitude as much as I do. However, my Jasmine Rose is the first dog I have had who seems to feel it. We seem to acclimate at the same speed so it works well for us.

For spring trips, I prefer to pack in and base camp. For one, I have a really heavy pack with all of the cold weather gear. The other is, I like to stay reasonably close to a road in case bad weather suddenly kicks up.

[Love the Sierra]

Hi KahaMike, and Bishop Bob, I have been thinking of a Domelands trip for a while. However, I would rather deal with snow than ticks, mosquitos and lack of water supply. I will have to look again.
WD, I have taken all of my dogs up to the Whites, but we always stayed on trail through the Bristlecones. There are some very nice spots for car camping up there. HMMM, haven't been there since 2019. Another great idea!

[Love the Sierra]

...So much for Dome Lands, it burned 2024 in Trout and Long Fires.
SIGH
We need to hurry up and hike the beautiful areas before they are gone.

[Wandering Daisy]

I have done most of my hiking in the White Mountains from the east side, which is really rough and few trails, and few water sources. I would not take dogs on that side- it is not paw-friendly at all. I have walked the road to White Mountain years ago so that is what made me think of altitude and dogs. I was already acclimated, but a car full of hikers drove up to the trailhead from sea level, and two of them were already puking. I have never been down in the Bristlecone Forest. The ridge is extremely cold and windy, even in summer.

I am with you- rather do snow than ticks, mosquitoes and heat. I understand that southern Sierra has less snow than we do up north. I have done Yosemite mid-April before permit reservations are required. It is great. But no dogs allowed, so that is not a solution for you.

A supposedly good early season hike is Paradise Valley out of Roads End. I think end of April is before peak flows, so if you could cross the creek Castle Domes is wonderful. Bubbs Creek? The south facing slopes going up to Granite Basin (Copper creek?) may be snowless, but it is a 5000-foot elevation gain.

[maverick]

A supposedly good early season hike is Paradise Valley out of Roads End. I think end of April is before peak flows, so if you could cross the creek Castle Domes is wonderful. Bubbs Creek? The south facing slopes going up to Granite Basin (Copper creek?) may be snowless, but it is a 5000-foot elevation gain.

Both are in the National Park.

[Love the Sierra]

It is a real problem for us. All of the lower altitudes are either burned or National Park, or both, of course.
Interesting that you mention no permits before April in Yosemite. I forgot. When we were there in February, we saw a ranger checking permits for people going up the trail that goes to the top of Yosemite falls. We had been on the valley trail heading for Mirror Lake and near the TH.

[Gogd]

Lower Cottonwood Creek.

• Reference USGS topo: Bartlett, California.
• Dogs are permitted, given the hike is entirely within Inyo National Forest.
• The low elevation trailhead is at about 5200', accessible via Cottonwood Road, The turn off to Cottonwood Road has signage indicating it accesses the Cottonwood Creek Power Plant. Cottonwood Road intersects Hwy 395, ~11.5 miles south of the intersection in Lone Pine of Whitney Portal Road and Hwy 395. There is a rustic car camp located adjacent to this trailhead.
• The high elevation TH location is a roadside point of historical interest at 9150' elevation, pertaining to 1870s Colonel Sherman Steven's sawmill, located on Horseshoe Meadow Road, about 1-2 miles short of the campground TH to the Cottonwood Lakes.
• No recorded history of burn activity along the trail's route.
• Currently Rec.gov does not list this trail (no permit required?)

Pretty, with lots of trees, this low use trail follows the Cottonwood Creek drainage through the narrow canyon, which can tower 2,500' overhead. There are multiple stream crossings, including several minor feeder streams. Best inquire before traveling, regarding if these crossings along this trail are safe, given the early season date of your hike. Another (minor) concern is you will receive less direct sunlight than what one customarily expects when hiking in the Range of Light. But this may be a plus in the afternoon, if the weather is warm. Side trips include checking out the series of water falls of Little Cottonwood Creek, and the steep, but doable, XC climb to Timosea Peak. I hiked this trail decades ago, and was able to spot scant remains within the canyon, of the log flume that once lead from the Steven's sawmill.

Ed

[swimjam]

Have you considered going into the Dardanelles via hwy 108 over the clark fork? The highway normally opens by memorial day. The scenery is spectacular and the fishing is good at Spicer reservoir. Maybe I'll see you there. Oh yeah, it's a lot easier to get to from the bay area too.

[Love the Sierra]

Good, interesting idea! I see the trail, it is called cottonwood creek trail. Would it be all bushwhacking?

swimJam, I always wanted to go to Carson Iceberg, it is the only wilderness, other than the national parks, that I have never hiked. Hasn’t Clark Forks and that entire area been burned?

I live in Ventura County and they have burned all of the magnificent high country in the San Gabriels and now they are going to clear cut the Los Padres, the only healthy forest down south. Part of the reason i am so desperately trying to get to the sierra early this year is because use i am so sick of burned, over crowded front country. Even the wilderness is like front country down here. It is pretty awful.

Anyway, i have been considering driving up to Carson Iceberg. Can you recommend a trip that has not been burned there? I have thought about the PCT, but those creek crossings seem pretty harrowing.

Thank you all for brainstorming with me!

[Love the Sierra]

…But, SwimJam, that may be a great idea depending upon the thaw and snow conditions.
I could go the other way too from the PCT south then west to Kennedy Lake and relief reservoir or from Kennedy Meadow.