High Sierra Topix

I called Bass Lake Ranger office today. Here are my raw notes:

* Trails are still covered in snow. Bring snow poles or ice picks.
* This past week a lot melted. Before this week people couldn’t even get up there. Now it’s melting faster.
* The roads to get there are all open and fine.
* The loop does have a few small creeks. They are usually very small but are more swift now because of the snow melt. Be careful crossing.

ICE PICKS?



Try trekking poles and microspikes.

That was funny, AT. I hear tell that 151 melts ice pretty well.

Swaits, be safe and have fun..

LOL, I am so gonna start calling things ice picks... "Hey, this looks pretty icy, pass me the ice picks!"

Rangers. LOL.

I shrugged too. Just relaying exactly what she said.

I don't doubt it -- I've been told ridiculous things by rangers. And other people volunteering for park or forest service who haven't been in the position long enough to know up from down. Dude in Yosemite was trying to get people fined, he was telling folks they could carry bear spray -- it's illegal in Yose and SEKI to have it.

Sometimes the nice ladies in the office aren't exactly on point but it does bring up some interesting mental pictures, of ice picking through the snowy wilderness.

Carol, in the Tuolumne wilderness permit station told me upon return from Virginia Lk when I asked, "Why didn't you tell us that gillnets were in the lakes?" Carol: We don't like people to know about that operation... I could have used an Ice pick about then. She was there at the desk on two subsequent trips; I waited for the next ranger, glaring at her the whole time.

She was there at the desk on two subsequent trips; I waited for the next ranger, glaring at her the whole time.

Would have love to have recorded that!

Back to Lillian.. South shore works for fishing as does the talus field to the West. The drop-off is about 40' out so either cast big or go home. The rock where Matt was pumping the raft was good as well on short casts. Vanderburgh South of there has nice trout as well. Something big broke me off on the East side.

Curious if you completed the trip and if so, can you provide any images and or condition updates?

This is a plan C for my group' scheduled to head out this Saturday.