High Sierra Topix

I've been toying around with plans for an early season trip. I probably won't take it just given how my schedule is playing out, but I figured I'd throw it up here for discussion.

The East Fork Carson River area has a neat back country waterfall or two, and a strange geology feature called a Soda Cone. There's been trip reports on this site from Tahoejeff here & here, so it's at least appealing enough to go back to. Balzaccom also has a trip report from the area. And the Washington Post and other media outlets have noted the early season wildflowers on the PCT around Nobel Lake, which isn't too far from this area. Highland Peak has 2000 feet of prominence as well, if you're into climbing tall things.

So with the scenery looking solid, I'm intrigued. It's also all below 9000 feet on the eastern side of the crest, so I'd expect it to melt out quick.

I've got a few questions about the trip though:

1) The road to Little Antelope trail head is 6-7 miles on dirt road. It looks good from the air, but is 4WD high clearance needed? I assume this road would get crappy in the snow/rain as well.

2) Any other scenic destinations I'm missing? Cool rock formations, pockets of wildflowers, ect.

The dirt/gravel road is steep and there are a couple of water crossings. It gets a little rutted up top between Rodriquez flat and the TH. Would a Honda Accord (or similar) make it all the way to the TH? Probably, but it would be slow going and the water crossing could be hairy 'till the melt subsides.
You have to cross Silver King Cr to get to the Soda Cone. That too could be sketchy with a heavy run off.
Lastly, to reach the falls, you have to cross the East Fk itself. That definitely is a task before late Summer...
PM me if you want more deets

TahoeJeff wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2019 10:52 am Lastly, to reach the falls, you have to cross the East Fk itself. That definitely is a task before late Summer...
PM me if you want more deets

Hm, I kinda figured with the meadows it'd be spread out enough to get through.

Also, worst case scenario, you could not cross the river, and go cross country from Poison Creek, staying on the east side to Carson Falls. Not sure if that'd be a pleasurable bushwhack, but meadows are usually just wet & boggy.

Early season wildflowers around Nobel Lake? It took until August in 1998 and there was still snow on the trail. I'm speculating those articles were referring to dry years. That whole Ebbetts Pass area is a real snow catcher. Some years it gets more snow than Carson Pass. I don't think it will be open for awhile.

rightstar76 wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2019 2:10 pm Early season wildflowers around Nobel Lake? It took until August in 1998 and there was still snow on the trail. I'm speculating those articles were referring to dry years. That whole Ebbetts Pass area is a real snow catcher. Some years it gets more snow than Carson Pass. I don't think it will be open for awhile.

Yeah, up on the pass will be snowy (43 inches at Ebbett's Pass). But ~8 inches at Poison Flat, not that bad.

Bear in mind and that even six inches of snow can make these faint trails hard to follow. Assume that you'll be navigating a lot, and moving slower than usual.

balzaccom wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2019 7:05 am Bear in mind and that even six inches of snow can make these faint trails hard to follow. Assume that you'll be navigating a lot, and moving slower than usual.

Yeah, if I do this trip, it will probably be in June this year. I'll let poison meadow melt out first. For hiking, I generally like about 40% snow coverage, you can still move fast, and it makes for some nice pictures and cold beers in the evening