High Sierra Topix

I'm considering a hike up to the top of Kibbie Ridge (38.08993, -119.83643) this spring and I've gathered from these forums that the "trail" is not very distinct and full of thorny bushes and rattlesnakes. My prior April experience in the area is hiking from Lake Eleanor to Kibbie Lake via the trail from the south (not eager to try that Kibbie Creek crossing in spring again!) where the ridge south of the lake was all under snow.

Given the past conditions, and reports from the rangers that the road to the Shingle Springs trailhead should be on schedule to open April 15, do you think I'll be better off getting up there while the ridge is still covered in snow? I'm comfortable hiking in snowshoes or microspikes, but no training in using an ice axe for self-arresting.

Question two is whether hiking XC from around 38.06439, -119.86547 down to Kibbie Lake to camp is going to be a good idea?

Thanks everyone!

I have only hiked that trail without snow. I imagine it would be hard to follow if snow covered the trail. The trail route is not obvious.

Meanwhile, getting down to Kibbie Lake from the ridge might be quite the bushwhack. I have not done it, and in this case the snow might help, but I remember both trees and impenetratable manzanita...

I've hiked from near your 2nd pin down to Kibbie. It was a rough bushwack in spots with no use trail to be found. It's doable but I wouldn't call it pleasant. It will be wet and muddy in April. I don't think rattlesnakes will be an issue that time of year.

The Copernicus browser can give you up to date sat photos of the area which is helpful with decision making. The attached is from April 10th.

https://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu ... ode=SINGLE

I’ve hiked Kibbie Ridge in May with snow cover. At that time of year, the snow rarely refreezes and can be a post-holing mess. I’d either snow hike it in April (skipping the lake) after a cold snap, spend a lovely day or two at Kibbie Lake in April/May when it’s warm, or just do it all in dry conditions.

You’ll never need crampons or axe, unless you’re purposefully making stupid route finding decisions. There is no steep terrain required.

This is one of my trip reports to that area from a few years back. I diagram the route I took from Kibbie up to the ridge on the last page.

viewtopic.php?t=18289&hilit=kibbie

I went back a few years later and descended from the ridge to Kibbie. I swore I would never do it again. The brush and jackstraw had proliferated to the point that it was a very unpleasant and somewhat dangerous slog. I wound up walking on logs to get through the brush. If it were covered in deep snow, it would probably be easier.

I'm curious about what's driving your interest in this trip. Guess I've regarded Kibbie ridge as more of a conduit than a destination.

Canyon views? Early season itch? Really thinking about the lake and figure to make a loop out of it?

I'm curious about what's driving your interest in this trip. Guess I've regarded Kibbie ridge as more of a conduit than a destination.

Canyon views? Early season itch? Really thinking about the lake and figure to make a loop out of it?

My interest is based on an amateur radio "contest" called Summits On The Air where you hike up to one of about 100,000 designated summits around the world, make at least four radio contacts and get credit for having "activated" the summit. Two hobbies that go together well (if you can keep the radio equipment to a minimum).

I've enjoyed spring backpacking in the Kibbie Lake / Lake Eleanor area in the past, and want to spend more time in Emigrant, and noticed that a few of the summits there have never been activated.

Thanks to everybody's feedback, I'm starting to understand why they've never been activated!

I'm also contemplating a trip that goes up and over Kibbie Ridge then camp near the creek and summit Cherry Ridge, but what I've gleaned about Cherry Creek leads me to think that's not a wise choice in the spring due to challenging water crossings. Maybe in the late summer or fall (perhaps with a car staged at Bourland Meadow TH)?

randydarden wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:16 am My interest is based on an amateur radio "contest" called Summits On The Air...

Ah, makes sense. Cool hobby and subculture that’s always struck me as interesting. Seems like another good excuse to visit lots of great places. I’m glad you’ve made me aware of that challenge.

Funny, but I briefly shared the trail out of Kenedy Meadows with a HAM enthusiast. This was a few summers back. He was heading to the Iceland Lake area. Looking at the map you linked, the dates match with the most recent activation of Granite Dome by KF6SML. I can’t remember his name, though recall him being a science teacher. Nice guy.

randydarden wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 8:16 am ...summit Cherry Ridge...Maybe in the late summer or fall (perhaps with a car staged at Bourland Meadow TH)?

Yes, easier by a wide margin. And you’ll find no shortage of information in other posts on this forum about how to do it.

If you’re looking for an odyssey though, using Kibbie to that end would make for quite an adventure! Dropping into the canyon directly from the ridge is no insignificant undertaking, save everything after.

Hitting that Kibbie summit seems like it would be a nice stop on the way to something after Styx Pass or one of those Yosemite lakes further east. My two cents.

Hello randydarden,

As you'll see in the attached TR, we had a fine, pretty dry time along Kibbie Ridge in May, beginning our trip from Cherry Lake. Are you relegated strictly to the April dates?
Cool project, though only for the tech-savvy sort-- not me. I wondered if you had considered either Mercur, or Bartlett Peaks for your cause? Both are pretty easy walk-ups, and have fine views.... or have they already been activated? If you have time, the trip over to Boundary Lake is nice too. All the best, good luck Randy.
TR: viewtopic.php?t=22341

re. rattlers, just stomp your foot a bit to alert them of your coming-- they want to get out of the way of big animals who might step on them. I was just photographing a nice rattlesnake in the Carrizo Plain the day before yesterday, and it was pretty docile. We saw 4-5 of them along Kibbie Ridge on our trip (see photos), and the thing that impressed me was the great size of them! Four of them were of the 4 foot size, and as thick or thicker than my wrist. Non were at all aggressive, only in that they warned us by buzzing their rattles. As for the trail, it was pretty easy to follow, and only a bit overgrown by buckbrush ceanothus in 2 or 3 spots. Has it gotten a lot worse since then? Again, good luck Randy.

recent rattler in the Carrizo:
Small guy, about 2.5'


Kibbie Ridge big guys: