2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

[Lisalu22]

Hi all--

Slipped in for a quick trip to Center Basin in southern Kings Canyon NP last week. This info is likely out of date after this week's storms, but there was practically no snow on the ground in the basin, just drifts about 8-12 inches deep that were easy to avoid/ walk around. Creek levels were low-- like early July of last year. Attached is a picture of the Bubb's Creek crossing at Junction Meadow toward East Lake. I didn't try, but looked mellow and passable, definitely lower than in June of 2014.



Anyone with info about what the high country looks like after this week's weather, speak up, please! I'd like to head out again this weekend over Shepherd Pass but am not sure how much has accumulated. Ranger stations in Bishop and Lone Pine had no reports to relay when I called today.

That's good to hear! I'll be heading out for Rae Lakes this weekend (CCW) and will report back how the conditions are!
By the way, I don't think the photo attached?
-Kevin

Hi Kevin, any update on Rae lakes loop? I'm headed there in a couple weeks.

[maverick]

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to HST! Here is the latest update to that area: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12801&p=95995#p95995
When you get time, please do an intro here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9329

[Lisalu22]

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to HST! Here is the latest update to that area: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12801&p=95995#p95995
When you get time, please do an intro here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9329

Thank you

[schmalz]

Steve C at the WZ posted a great video of a group's Whitey attempt last Sat, May 23. Wait until you see the conditions at the crest (where they turned back) - lots of snow. Sure, it's been melting off, but there's also been daily flurries (note how the weather rapidly degrades).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obZCxDa ... e=youtu.be

It's supposed to be 92 in LP this Sat, and 52 @ the peak. Schmalz & I are taking a guided trip up the MR.

Narrowly dodging rocks without taking the time to stop, one handing his ice axe while using his other arm to hold his camera in front of him for the selfie shot... Some pretty dumb behavior in the glissading section.

[Hobbes]

I don't know how to embed Instagram photos (or if it's possible), but as early PCTers are coming out of Kearsarge to re-supply, they're beginning to post up images of Whitney (just the trail) & Forester. Here are links to two of them (just follow the #pacificcresttrail hashtag if you want to search for more images):

https://instagram.com/p/3JsmAfnWiC/

https://instagram.com/p/3KVmcMDtyx/?tag ... cresttrail

[schmalz]

Here's another report from an external source, in this case from the JMT Facebook page from Ned Tibbits. BTW - we need some more HST exclusives people!

"After having recently returned from two separate trips in the sierra, the first between Kennedy Meadows and Cottonwood Pass at the southern end of things and the second in the Carson Pass area, I would have to say to all of you wondering how to deal with the recent snow we finally got, forget the crampons or Microspikes because the pack is too soft and/or powdery. Snowline is around 10,500 on the north sides of the passes and will be receding fast if we get the warming trend forecasters are talking about. Yes, you'll have to wallow up the passes and you'll get wet and cold in the process, so prepare accordingly. Your downhill, southside descents will be dry-trail all the way! Currently, Carson Pass has 2 feet of consolidated snow on northern aspects starting at about 9,000 feet. Comparatively, in the Whitney area the northern aspects have snow starting at about 11,500 and adding up to nearly 4 feet before you top out on Glen Pass or Forester. Kearsarge is snow-free (but it is an east-west pass)."

Posted in the last hour.

[cefire]

Backpacked the east side of Lassen NP this weekend. No snow to report below 7500', many blowdowns along all of the trails from Summit Lake-Bear Lakes-Twin Lakes-Cinder Cone. Mosquitoes were visible in the evenings but not actively feeding yet. I'd expect the Summit Lake area gets hit hard by the bugs sometime soon...

[seniorstinky]

Headed up to Courtright Resevoir to hop onto the Cliff Lake Trailhead and had plans on going onto Dogtooth Ridge for the views. Below is an image album from my trip if you guys are interested!

http://imgur.com/a/VUOgM


Mosquitoes weren't all that bad. I got bit about four times.

Had to cross a pretty fast flowing creek about a mile and a half that you had to take a snag bridge across. May be difficult for some children. The climb isn't bad and I didn't see snow until the north side of Dogtooth ridge. Deepest I found along there was about three feet. Only small 30 meters by 40 meters.

Overall a very smooth trip!

[tomba]

Route: Crabtree TH, Camp Lk, Piute Meadow, XC to Groundhog Meadow, Rosasco Lk, Hyatt Lk, Pingree Lk, Kole Lk, Coyote Lk, Karls Lk, Leighton Lk, Red Can Lk, Wood Lk, Buck Lks, at small lakes at trail crest cut off to Long Lk outlet, Middle and South Wire Lks, Toejam Lk, Granite Lk, Bear Lk, Camp Lk, Crabtree TH.

Named creeks crossed: Lily Ck, Piute Ck, West Fork Cherry Ck, Buck Meadow Ck, Spring Ck. The biggest was West Fork Cherry Ck (below confluence with Buck Meadow Ck and Spring Ck). I found a good crossing here (click on the map link, at the crosshair). Relatively wide, not too deep. Above the knees. Most places looked hard to cross.

At almost 8800 ft some snow on north aspects was blocking the way. Nothing too hard to go around.
Looking at surrounding mountains there was more snow above about 9000 ft.

[Mtnfly75]

Went over Kearsarge pass to Glen Pass this weekend 5/29-5/31. No snow on Kearsarge pass. Large steep snowfield traverse on Glen Pass. Very soft snow even early in am. Beautiful weather out there, don't expect that snow to be there much longer than the next week. Heard lots of,treacherous reports from PCT thru hikers regarding the amount of snow on Forester pass. Cheers