High Sierra Topix

I’ve hiked mostly eastern Sierra areas and I know this area is a lot lower in elevation. Is a loop from Crabtree going to be doable this June? I think there are a couple of water crossings on this trail, which may be entertaining, but provided it’s a warm spring/summer, go for it or plan further south??

maybe not. snow melt will be the main issue about river/stream crossing.

Dodge Ridge ski resort by Pinecrest has more snow than Mammoth so this year its a NO for sure. Try first week in August. I have been in Emigrant too many times and this year you need to wait and see how the snow melts. The creeks will be swollen in June with runoff for sure.

Texan

hansenb25 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 7:40 pm I’ve hiked mostly eastern Sierra areas and I know this area is a lot lower in elevation. Is a loop from Crabtree going to be doable this June? I think there are a couple of water crossings on this trail, which may be entertaining, but provided it’s a warm spring/summer, go for it or plan further south??

The major problem is crossing W Fork Cherry Creek. Usually you can get over Lily and Piute Creek. So if you go in via Crabtree you might want to plan not to go too far east. I'm mulling this over too, and while last year I hiked out of Crabtree before Memorial Day, this year it will probably be a month later at best.

A similar area is hiking out of Shingle Springs to the Boundary Lake area. No stream crossings on that route, and the destination could be Lord Meadows where you can see the spectacular white water of Cherry Creek. The whole hike in is below 8000.

After this winter's storms, assume there will be many, many trees down across the trails until deep into the season when trail crews can get out there.

Good advice here. There's a ton of snow in the Sierra, and more on the way. It will take months for it to melt out, and the streams will be rocking and rolling while it does.

From Crabtree, you might be able to get up to Granite Lake, and then back through Y Meadow and Toe Jam, but all of that is a big question with this much snow. I would absolutely have a backup plan.

there is also the question of when crabtree itself might open. i can’t remember when it did in 2017?

frozenintime wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:01 am there is also the question of when crabtree itself might open. i can’t remember when it did in 2017?

I've never actually skied there myself, but folks ski out of there in the winter. Not sure if the road would be open all the way to the summer TH at 7100', but it's a south facing aspect so it should be good.

Gianelli is the one that doesn't open until later.

And for the aforementioned reasons of stream crossings, Crabtree wouldn't be my first thought when thinking of early season trailheads. Kennedy Meadows with its abundance of bridges is what I think of first when thinking of the Emigrant. Or heading out towards Kibbie Lake.

Here's a couple of photos taken on July 7th 2017. West Fork of Cherry Creek a little below Louse Canyon. We went in from Bourland Meadow TH at 7500ish ft. There was a bit of snow until we dropped into Cherry Creek Canyon. We had intended to hike into Hyatt Lake but chose not to cross the creek with our packs. We could have at a wide spot but didn't consider it worth the risk. We stayed in the canyon instead and enjoyed the high water and solitude.

Wow, Mschnaidt, those photos capture the power of the creek. Those springtime hikes get you up close to whitewater, and it is not just the depth, the width, or the speed, or the froth, you can feel the power of the stream in the vibrations in the air. Definitely not something to take lightly.

WIth regard to c9h13no3's suggestion of Kennedy Meadows, there are a couple of problems, although the bridges down low are great. Summit Creek won't be crossable at the inlet end of Relief Reservoir, and so there is only the one way to go--up toward Sheep Camp. But Sheep Camp is at 8800 while most of western Emigrant is a 1000 feet lower. I think of W Emigrant as opening up 2-3 weeks earlier than N Emigrant.