High Sierra Topix

A friend asked for advice about backpacking in Mid-march. since in my California days I was focused on skiing I really don't have a clue. He seems to want East of Sierra but Southern Ca could possibly work.

Thx

May not be what he is after, but I am planning on Henry Coe State Park for mid March. Ventana would be another possibilty, and there are other National Forest possibilities down that way. And desert stuff as well.

oldranger wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 4:58 pm He seems to want East of Sierra but Southern Ca could possibly work.

Weather is a concern, but not a bad time for the White or Inyo Mountains. Death Valley. Joshua Tree.

Might be a good time for the Lowest to Highest Route, save the Whitney summit. That said, these (very experienced) guys did it in April. https://www.thehikinglife.com/2018/07/a ... est-route/

We've backpacked both Henry Coe and Death Valley in March. The earliest we've actually tried a backpacking trip into the Sierra was April, during an extreme drought, hiking out of Bridalveil in Yosemite towards Chilnualna Creek and the Buena Vista Crest. There was little snow, but it was freezing cold, and we bailed after one night. My wife was not happy about the cold.

ive taken to dayhike the desert fall/winter/spring since I am not trying to carry all that water, and also not trying to rely on desert springs. Ive been thirsty bvefore....no thanks

but I hear the marble/cottonwood canyon loop in death valley is a premire backpack if they have 4wd https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/ ... te-map.pdf

I havnt dayhiked it yet but it looks really great and I cant get enough of DV canyons

Southern Utah.

In CA, PCT from the border could work at that time if the Socal snowpack stays low

Otherwise, agreed with sparky ^^ that in most CA desert locales, it's far easier to just carcamp-and-dayhike.

Grand Canyon is perfect weather in mid march.

chulavista wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:34 am Grand Canyon is perfect weather in mid march.

Sometimes. We've been caught in snowsotrms and found thick ice on the trails on the South Rim in March. North Rim is closed. And ice on those trails is no joking matter!

If we ever get rain down here the Los Padres national Forest has plenty of spring backpacking but right now it is still pretty dry. San Rafael wilderness, Dick Smith Wilderness, Sespe area as well as Ventana wilderness.

I am going to try out the trans Catalina trail in feb. a far cry from the Sierra but hopefully a fun couple days.