Late season recommendations.

[paul]

[/quote] Seem the general concensus is to stick to 3 days out.[/quote]

I would not say quite that. I wouldn't have an issue going out for longer; but I'd keep it short distance-wise, so that I wouldn't plan to go three days deep before turning around to head back. To me it's less about length of trip than about keeping the bailout options quick and easy, so that it's still easy to get out regardless of weather.

[commonloon]

Go for it! ;-)

I've done a lot of October trips over the years. As others have said be prepared for weather. Be very careful if the weather report just prior to your trip includes a storm. They can obviously be significant. I've had both blue bird but cold trips and trips with weather including freezing rain, sleet and snow.

I've done trips in out of Horseshoe Lake (Red Cones TH) for example in October.

As others have said, a warmer bag or quilt is a must. I take a 20F EE quilt (for me it is comfortable only down to 25F) with extra insulation, or 15K Katabatic quilt if I expect it to be really cold or I'm plan on camping high. Take real rain gear (top and bottom) and make sure to have warm mid-layer(s). You want to be sufficiently warm to hike when it's cold. But be prepared to hunker down in your shelter if unexpected bad weather hits.

I also generally try to think about bail outs or shortcuts if any weather is forecasted.

Good luck!

[youtube_vid] https://youtu.be/KRpUxDFNROE [/youtube_vid]

[AidanDawn2000]

AidanDawn2000writes:

...not sure if the roads/trailheads will even be open or the level of outright risk any mid-October trip in the Sierras commands.

Hymmmm, my wife and I seem to recall a young man named Aidan from the Santa Cruz Mountains who drives a roadster, and was heard to say: "Drive fast, take chances!"

We always hoped you were joking, and are glad to see you using healthy caution today.

I agree with what's been written above, and will add another cautionary note that has been driven by fear into my psyche. If you guys set up a base camp, and intend to climb mountains, or explore an area on day hikes, be conservative with both the route you take, and the gear you bring with you. My point is that you do not want to be caught out, and ill-prepared if a cold, early storm descends upon you. I have nearly been separated from my camp, and due to my stupidity-- all bivouac gear, simply by dense cloud and high wind that blew up the surface snow. If you can't make it back to your camp, you better have enough warm stuff to weather a night out. I think you can work out what all that might include, and don't forget matches! Some would advise to even take your sleeping bag and ground sheet on day trips/climbs. This of course makes for a heavier day pack, and slower going. Another mountaineering thought is that: "There is safety in speed." The point is, that being light and fast, you can get back down a mountain quickly, and race the storm back to camp. Corollaries to that method are the conservative route choice I mentioned above, and a conservative mindset that has you ready to bail out of a climb immediately if weather threatens.

Following Paul's good advice to choose safe and accessible trailheads, great trips can be made from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite*; the North Fork of Big Pine Creek; and Rock Creek in the Eastern Sierra. Lizzie also mentions the great trips you can do from Twin Lakes above Bridgeport-- Peeler to Snow Lake, for example, and if the weather stays fine, you could enjoy the Buckeye Hot Springs while you're there. Hope you have a great trip! Ian and Lizzie.

*Check with the Yosemite staff re. the last date when cars may be left overnight in T.Meadows. I'm not sure if it changes, but it used to be 10/15.
(Here are 2 phone numbers to reach the ranger staff: (209) 372-0309, (209) 372-0308.

Hi Ian and Lizzie!! I really must invite myself over to your house sometime to get through all my Sierra questions more efficently!

Some other Sierra outing is definatly a good option (I know my way around Emmigrant to some degree and it's conveniently close to SF).
BUT the prospect of cold nights spent in hot hot hotsprings is just SO enticing!

Would not be doing any day trips or peak bagging. Just soaking.

Big problem is where to park and what trailhead to use if trying to reach Iva Bell. Seems the road into reds medows will be closed by then which makes it hard.

Can get daily weather updates on the satellite communicator, and have so far esclusivly used MapOut for navigation so snow on the trail would not effect that. Would definatly bring compass as backup.

[Harlen]

Aidan writes:

Hi Ian and Lizzie!! I really must invite myself over to your house sometime to get through all my Sierra questions more efficently!...

Any time at all. Regarding Iva Bell, I've only reached it via a convoluted off-trail route that began in Convict Creek, and headed over "Pretty Pass"... down Purple Creek... and some bushwacking way after that. Others will know the best route options, but I'll venture a route that you might happily use:

Over Duck Pass, south of Mammoth Lakes, down to Iva Bell, then out via the easy to navigate Mammoth Pass. You would be making a neat circle trip, ending up near enough to your car. If you come by, we'll pour over the maps for the possible routes in between.

Best of luck, and we and the boys will be glad to see you. Ian.

[narc1370]

https://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm

[AidanDawn2000]

https://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm

Saw that. perhaps forces the much higher elevation route over duck pass. No doubt ill advised this late.

[Gogd]

https://www.nps.gov/depo/index.htm

Saw that. perhaps forces the much higher elevation route over duck pass. No doubt ill advised this late.

Watch the weather. If no big storm is forecast AND snow is not already present, good weather up high is as good as good weather lower down. Duck Pass can still be feasible, as it is hard to get lost coming back, and no real fall exposure exist along that route. But Iva Bell still has the high stream crossing potential, no matter the route taken to get there.

Ed

[AidanDawn2000]

New plan! Cut it down to early start Saturday and exit mid-day Tuesday to be back in SF for Tuesday night obligations. Really want to see Big Lake and all the slabs around there so hopefully achieve that this weekend

(Planned camp spots 1,2,3)

Any thoughts? Planning for mid 60s day and high 20s at night

[mort]

Excellent! Big Lake is great. It will be cold, but there are wonderful swimming & diving rocks on the north west shore of Rosasco. Have a good time.
-m

[Harlen]

Aidan writes:

Any thoughts? Planning for mid 60s day and high 20s at night

Yes, keep your clothes on this time!

Glad you found a trip that suits you. Big Lake is beautiful, and if you have any free time, I recommend a hike down the amazing glacially polished drainage below Yellowhammer, toward the main river by Lord's Meadow. Good luck, Ian.

Never seen anything like it!

Big Lake, east shore. Climbing that peak to the left in this photo would give you a great view, or you could go up Mt. Gillette for an even better vantage point.