High Sierra Topix

Posted in the Eastern Sierra Hiking FB group. Image from the air on 5/6/21

Wow! Looks snowy.

Although I have gone off trail before, my last trip to Desolation was in mid-June of 2018, and at that point there was a lot more exposed granite. Think it is still worth a try, or perhaps I should delay? It doesn't even look like there is any exposed granite.

As I posted 3 weeks ago, wiser to wait till June. Latest SH satellite on May 11 shows only Grass Lake and Echo Lakes melted out with Susie 2/3 and Aloha maybe 1/8. Rest are all still white snow slabs. Even if you can hike in to some frozen lake, what good is that? Might as well be at a meadow covered with snow you can at least walk on safely.

SSSdave wrote: ↑Wed May 12, 2021 11:20 am Even if you can hike in to some frozen lake, what good is that? [/color]

Plenty of good! I find the snowscapes and iceberg chunks especially charming.

Back to the OP---I think if you're comfortable with snow travel you should go for it. You might have to hunt for a dry spot to camp, and you might end up doing plenty of postholing, but just be smart about your limits and you'll still have a good time in the mountains

SSSdave, where are you getting those satellite photos? If they aren't public would it be possible for you to share some pics of current conditions in the Emigrant? Looking to do a trip there end of May. Thanks

Probably Sentinel. Here: https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentinel-playground/

Or you can get access with an upgraded CalTopo membership and overlay things like routes and elevations.