Help Please - 2025 Snow & Trip Timing - Roper Route & Ladder Lake

[SkyPilotSky]

Hello All. Provided the permit gods smile upon me two weeks before start-dates (a big gamble I know), I'd like to do the following 2 trips:

1) Roper Route - Piute to Twin Lakes/Bridgeport
2) Ladder Lake Trip -- Bishop Pass - Ladder Lake - Palisade Lk - Cirque - Potluck - Knapsack - Bishop Pass

I'd like to go out as early as possible to reduce chances of being smoked out. I was thinking mid July, but then there's the snow and the Middle F Kings River crossing to consider. I will be working some wildland fire incidents later in Aug and Sept so I don't want to go too awfully late, though I do have some flexibility there. I find I'm having difficulty landing on the right window. I'm familiar sentinal data and copernicus. The Ladder trip is with an inexperienced but capable friend. The Roper route is with a great, experienced and proven partner, but we want to maximize the fun factor and minimize the risk as our years add up. We are both very experienced with off trail Sierra travel.

QUESTIONS
LADDER LAKE - when might it be reasonable to cross the MFKR this year? Is mid July too early? What might an early-optimal time be?

ROPER - we won't be carrying ice axes or crampons - when is the earliest 'safe' time to begin?

Curious what the experienced folks think about timing for each of these itineraries this particular year. I'd like to hit it when conditions are pretty optimal if possible.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[thegib]

Crossing the MF in mid-July, in a normal year, to access Ladder lake is reasonable to me. It's a flat-ish zone so you'll find a place where the water spreads out some. You don't mention whether you're 6' and 200lbs or 5' and 120'. That matters. If it's at all sketch just keep your boots on, use poles, and consider a liner inside your pack. And if you look at it and say "nope" then just turn around and spend more time in the basin east of palisade lakes. I really like the Cirque pass route.

[SkyPilotSky]

Thanks Gib. I appreciate your input and you make a good point - I am 5'5" and of a thin build...so yeah, all the precautions you mentioned are usually in play.

Any thoughts about optimal timing for the Roper route?

[Gazelle]

crossing to ladder

this was july 19th 2022. I went across in my shoes before him I am 5foot 10 about 125 pounds. Didnt have any difficulties, maybe up to bottom of knees just be careful

[SkyPilotSky]

Well that's a reassuring photo. Thanks Gazelle!

Does anyone have thoughts on start date given snow conditions?

Thanks again!

[isaacr]

How are you getting to Ladder Lake anyways? I'm keeping an eye on this thread since it's very relevant for my trip as well (starting late July and probably getting to Ladder right at the start of August), but I'd be coming down from Ladder Pass and fording the MFKR to get back onto the JMT.

[SkyPilotSky]

Hello Isaacr. We'll be coming in from the JMT and leaving the same way. I've been wanting to incorporate Ladder Pass into a route as well, but not this time. Good luck to you!