High Sierra Topix

Unlike my trip here in the spring, this time I had no trouble at all with river crossings-- all the challenges were about water availability. Several times on our 10 day trip we had to haul water (onerous task) boil snow, and search long and hard for water sources. After the weather we've experienced (we had two short snow storms), I reckon there will be little trouble finding water. On our way out on 10/19, we were already benefitting from the run-off from the snow that fell on 10/17, which was 4" plus. [* I had the date of the snowfall off- it was the night of 10/17, and into the early morning-10/18.]

For future reference in a draught year, the stretch up to Woodchuck Lake was very dry. We searched and found a clean pool, barely big enough to get water from, and we camped by it. That was about 3 miles south of Woodchuck Lake on the northern trail under Loper Pk. So fill up at the lower Woodchuck Cr. crossings, and plan to make it all the way to the lake.

Other than that, it is great out there!

What about smoke and air quality when you were out?

On Crown Pass, date 10/12, the smoky haze was evident to the south from the KNP fire. The views were nice and clear everywhere else.
After the weather system that blew in hard from the south on 10/11, it was all clear everywhere for the rest of the trip.