Twin Lakes-Silliman Pass, Lakes Trail, Mist Falls 5/29-5/31
Route taken on 5/29: Twin Lakes trail to Silliman Pass
The Rangers at Lodgepole told me Silliman Pass was snowed over, but I found it to be snow-free. Water crossings were 4-6" deep at most. No mosquitoes.
View from Silliman towards Ranger Lake:
upload pictures
And towards Silliman Peak:
upload image online
Route taken on 5/30: Wolverton to Lakes Trail (Watchtower Route) to Emerald Lake
The Rangers at Lodgepole said that the Watchtower Route was closed due to ice/snow, but when I arrived at the trail junction the sign said it was open. I took the Watchtower Route up and had no real problems, aside from one patch of snowed over trail near the canyon wall. Later I ran into a couple who met the Pear Lake Ranger on her way up. Apparently the route is still closed, but the Ranger was going to take it up to see if it was safe to open it yet. No mosquitoes yet--and I ate lunch right next to a pool of standing water.
Difficult Section:
One 10-15' long section of snowed-over trail near a precipice. I didn't have any trouble but others might. Here's a pic:
image ru
Route taken on 5/31: Roads End to Mist Falls, small detour up Sphinx Creek trail because I wanted to see what I could see. I recall crossing over 4 wooden bridges *after* the wood/metal bridge spanning the South Fork of the Kings River, but only the lower two had water under them.
There were several mosquitoes around me near the river.
View towards the Sphinx:
greenshot