High Sierra Topix

All,

I know this question has been asked before, but I'm not finding posts/TRs that talk about crossing early season or winter with snow. I'm looking at doing a trip in 2-3 weeks from now, and even with the low snow year I think I may encounter snow.

Comfortable with X-country, c3 and exposure. Comfortable on steep snow (will have ice axe and crampons). May or may not bring boots depending on conditions.

Does the chute in Echo col get choked with snow and vertical?

Looking at Haeckel on the topo and slope angle shading, it looks the best of the 3. Does it have a cornice early season?

Any insight much appreciated. Thanks!!

Funny, I had some of the same questions

Bluewater's descriptions are indeed very good, and it looks like Echo is the only one where there might be a small cornice, but from the photos I think it more likely to be a typical fairly vertical snow chute climb.

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I think in these cases my greater concern is snow consolidation. I really don't want to be doing post-holes on the way up. I got a report that Yosemite still has snow above 7000 this week.

Great minds think alike.

Agreed and given the terrain if it's posthole hell then wet slides may also be a concern. Go across early. I think in a couple of weeks with the temps things should change substantially.

Those are great descriptions and photos.

One advantage of Echo is that Wallace is in the same cirque.

I'm going that way in early June. Please post what you find!

@thegib will do.