High Sierra Topix

comfygoodness wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 8:04 pm I am planning on heading to overnight backpack the Middle Fork Trail in Sequoia National Park on 1/14-1/16 and am wondering if I'll need microspikes/crampons? Given the lower elevation in the foothills I'm hoping I won't need foot traction. I do hike with trekking poles, so I will have those as needed. The plan is to hike from the trailhead to where the Middle Fork Trail intersects with Buck Creek and spend the night there. The following day hike to Redwood Meadows and perhaps a little further before heading back to the Middle Fork Trail junction area to spend the second night. From there I'll hike back to my car at Hospital Rock Picnic Area.

I understand a big storm just hit the Sierra this past week and I'll be sure to see if the roads are open come time for the trip, but I'm more curious I can get by with winter boats and a winter backpacking set up. I won't be alone and my group of 3 are fairly experienced backpackers.

Any information is highly appreciated. Thanks!

-Sean

wildhiker wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:54 pm Is that trail even open? I thought the KNP complex fire burned through a lot of that area this past summer.
-Phil

c9h13no3 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:37 pm

comfygoodness wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 8:04 pm I am planning on heading to overnight backpack the Middle Fork Trail in Sequoia National Park on 1/14-1/16 and am wondering if I'll need microspikes/crampons? Given the lower elevation in the foothills I'm hoping I won't need foot traction. I do hike with trekking poles, so I will have those as needed. The plan is to hike from the trailhead to where the Middle Fork Trail intersects with Buck Creek and spend the night there. The following day hike to Redwood Meadows and perhaps a little further before heading back to the Middle Fork Trail junction area to spend the second night. From there I'll hike back to my car at Hospital Rock Picnic Area.

I understand a big storm just hit the Sierra this past week and I'll be sure to see if the roads are open come time for the trip, but I'm more curious I can get by with winter boats and a winter backpacking set up. I won't be alone and my group of 3 are fairly experienced backpackers.

Any information is highly appreciated. Thanks!

-Sean

3 good ways to check snow conditions:

1) Satellite images: Put the GPS coordinates for say Redwood Meadow (36.53102, -118.63616) into the search bar on the top right at this website. Snowline looks like it's around 4000-5000 ft as of today. This will change in 2 weeks.

2) Modeling. This a bunch of data and comes up with a decent map. The Forest Service version can be found here. The NOAA version can be found here.

3) Webcams. Go to Windy.com, and in the bottom right, click the little webcam button. That's probably the easiest way to see all the various webcams to get an idea of what conditions are like. While there may not be webcams on the Middle Fork, you can often find something at a similar elevation around the range.

Also, whether you'll need pons and an ice axe depends on the slope steepness and the snow conditions. Loose, dry powder or flat slopes don't require additional traction. But if the snow has melted & refrozen a bunch of times and you wanna walk up a 40 degree grade, bring the pointy stuff. If I was hiking, I'd just bring a pair of really tall waterproof boots and trekking poles.

The Middle Fork Trail is open for day use and  overnight backpacking. Self-registration  wilderness permits  are available at Foothills Visitor Center, not at the trailhead. To reach the Middle Fork Trailhead, park at Hospital Rock and walk toward Buckeye Campground. Turn left at the junction with the road to the trailhead and walk uphill along the dirt road. Please enter and exit at trailheads only in open areas. Trailheads in the Mineral King and Lodgepole areas are closed.