R01 TR: Snowmelt update from Kings Canyon May 2014

[Flamingo]

Hi All,

Last weekend, I made a short trip to Roads End, to check out the snow conditions and try a couple new pieces of summer gear. I backpacked from Roads End up to the PCT junction at Woods Creek, camped by the suspension bridge, and then returned to the trailhead the next day. It was exciting to see this area of the park, normally crowded, with a deeper sense of solitude.

Snow: On north-facing slopes, the snow is melted away up to 9000'. On many south-facing slopes, the snow is entirely gone.

I encountered a handful of day hikers going to Mist Falls, but otherwise I met only two backpacking parties. One guy was finishing the Rae Lakes loop counterclockwise, and he said it was a long slog through rotten snow from Glen Pass down to 9000'. Another two guys were starting the Rae Lakes loop clockwise, lacking trekking poles or an ice axe (err, good luck).

The conditions are very nice right now! Warm nights, low crowds, no mosquitos. . .


The Sphinx and Palmer Mountain


Perfect picnic conditions in Castle Domes Meadow


Castle Domes


On the Woods Creek suspension bridge; patchy snow on north-facing slopes above 9000'

If you're curious, I posted more photos on my Flickr stream: (link)

Cheers,
V.

[Bluewater]

Thanks for posting your photos. This really makes we want to get back out there, soon!


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[bheiser1]

Yes, what Blue water said. It looks like summer!

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[Ballpeen]

Thanks for the info! I like to take my boys up there early season for car camping and day hiking. Last year around this time, roads end was day use only. Sounds like that might not be the case this year. Were any of the campgrounds in the roads end area open?

[KathyW]

Thanks for the update. I'm headed up the Copper Creek Trail this weekend. I'd like to camp at Grouse lake and attempt Goat Mountain. Any suggestions on the need for snowshoes above 9000' or 10000'? Did the guy who did the Rae Lakes Loop have snowshoes or wish he had them if he did not? If I end up hauling the snowshoes and other winter gear, I might split the uphill to Grouse Lake into 2 days instead of one.

[maverick]

Thanks for the TR Vhsvhs. Were their a lot of campers in Paradise?

Ballpeen wrote:
Were any of the campgrounds in the roads end area open?

Campgrounds that are currently open: http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Flamingo]

@KathyW - The Copper Creek trail is snow-free, at least up the ridge to Mount Hutchings, and I would guess that the route to Grouse Lake is also snow-free. However, Goat Mountain still has snow on its southern face, but not much. See the photo I attached. It's not a very good photo, but it shows a dusting of snow on Goat Mountain, as viewed from Castle Domes meadow. FWIW, I hope that helps.

A view of Goat Mountain from Castle Domes Meadow.

[Flamingo]

Hey @Ballpeen and @maverick - I saw one group camped in Lower Paradise, but Upper Paradise was a ghost town.

[KathyW]

vhsvhs - Thanks - it helps. I might just plan to try to be out where there is snow early in the day instead of dragging the snowshoes.

[Duxbait]

vhsvhs - Thanks - it helps. I might just plan to try to be out where there is snow early in the day instead of dragging the snowshoes.

I plan to do similar. I am decide whether or not to carry crampons and an axe now. Seems either soft snow or hard in the am where I may want the traction.