1 week in May 16 – June 12 timeframe

"Any recommendations?"

If you're not a bunch of Sierra-phobes, this is shaping up to be another very low snow year there. I am confident enough about low to no snow conditions to be going in over a 12,000' pass in mid June, as I did last year under similar conditions on June 6th. You should have no trouble entering from either the east or west sides, and there are many, many really quality hikes to be had that offer something for just about everyone.

I'm not a Sierra-phobe, Tom, but admit that I know little about the region. For some reason I always got the impression that California hikes tend to be crowded, so I've been staying a bit east of there.

And, of course, it's California…

That last was just for you. :)

Can you think of any nice 5-9 day loops? Not needing permits would be nice. (I dare to dream.)

My researches thus far reveal that late-May is in fact a great time to hit Zion.

The Emigrant Wilderness is a really nice place. Lots of big granite, lots of lakes, close to yosemite. But it's at a much lower elevation so a lot less snow.

This was from late may:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=91615

I'll second Justin's recommendation for Emigrant Wilderness. I spent a week out there in early June last year. We went over 3 days without seeing another hiker at one point. We didn't encounter lots of snow, but had clouds of Mosquitos at some lakes. There's a permit, but they're free and unlimited – you just tell a ranger your route and he says have a good time

Some of the higher stuff in southern Utah might be good, weather wise, in late May. Dark Canyon or Grand Gulch, for example. Could still be darn hot at times.

Unless the rest of March is very snowy, the northern Rockies will see an early summer. Snow coverage is already at mid to late April levels in Glacier and the Bob. The way things are going one could probably do an early June loop in the Bob without too much postholing, but the risk of gnarly stream crossings would probably still be not inconsiderable.

I was looking for a hike in late May and I was suggested Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico.

Thanks for the ideas. GLAC and the Bob were on the short list before my buddies sprang the no-snow requirement on me. Is it really that low of snow, there? I found this map:

It seems to imply only slightly lower than average snow in the region. Is that enough to make this difference that you describe, Dave? What would bugs be like in early June?

Also, regarding the map, it certainly implies that the Wonderland Trail might be more of a possibility. Does anyone have ground truth from the region? Or is the Wonderland Trail in early June just crazy talk no matter what the snow is like this year?

As it turns out, Pecos Wilderness is one I'm looking into already, but haven't quite gotten to it yet.

And I have put Emigrant Wilderness on the list for my buddies to consider. (For various reasons, I am no longer allowed a vote on the final decision- I only get to make the list of proposals.)

Keep 'em coming!

For a variety of reasons this winter is one where the SNOTEL projections will generalize less well than usual.

We got a good amount of snow in the end of 2014, and a few massive storms in January, and for the last two months it's mostly been dry, sunny, and fairly warm (20s and 30s). Warm enough to melt the lowest elevations out (places with no SNOTEL sites), and to consolidate but not melt snow in the middle elevations. The snowpack hasn't lost water volume since January, but it has shrunk. This more solid snow/ice will take a while to melt, but when it passes the tipping point it will go fast.

Short version; the North Fork of the Sun River is currently at 120 cfs, which is twice the average for this date and an all-time high flow. I'm sure the lower 10 miles of that valley are hikeable right now.

Barring an April miracle, this seems like a great time to head into the High Sierra early. A little bit of snow just makes it fun and beautiful, and hopefully ensures the mosquitoes are not out in full force yet. I defer to Tom for timing, but I'd be trying to get into the High Sierra! (Of course, there are lots of great places to go in the west.)

"For some reason I always got the impression that California hikes tend to be crowded, so I've been staying a bit east of there."

That depends on where you hike, and also which pass you choose to enter over, particularly on the East Side. The popular East Side passes, like Bishop, Piute, Cottonwood/New Army, Kearsarge, to name a few, will likely be crowded because they offer relatively easy access to some very pretty country. Others, like Taboose, Shepherd, and Sawmill are fairly strenuous, and as a result see a lot less traffic. If you are reasonably fit, and not overly sensitive to altitude, I'd recommend going in over Taboose and hike up into Upper Basin, then over to Bench Lake for a nice 5 day trip. You could easily extend it to 7-9 days by using two cars or a car/shuttle to position a car at the Sawmill Pass TH. then you could exit by following the JMT over Pinchot Pass to the Sawmill Pass turnoff and hike out over Sawmill Pass. This would allow you to spend a layover day up around gorgeous Woods Lake. That route would give you a great introduction to some of the Sierra's finest country without worrying about crowds except along the JMT. Even there it's not all that bad early in the season. Bench Lake has a lot of large fish and is not crowded. PM me for details if this kind of trip interests you. To get an idea of the scenery, check out the pictures in the two trip report links below. Start with day 7 of the second report for an idea of what you will see on the JMT over Pinchot and the Woods Lake/Sawmill Pass section of the trip. Ignore the "prose", as it is boring.

Taboose Pass/Bench Lake

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=92440

Woods Lake/Sawmill Pass exit

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=83051

Another good 8-9 day trip would be to go in over Cottonwood Pass to Miter Basin, then over Crabtree Pass to Crabtree Lakes, the JMT to the Tyndall Creek trail, and out over Shepherd Pass. Again, you will see some spectacular country. The southern Sierra is, IMO, the most beautiful part of the entire range. This route would offer an opportunity for easy side trips to Wallace Lake and Wright Lakes Basins, both of which I highly recommend. Wallace has a lot of very large fish, and smaller ones in Wallace Creek and at the outlet. Again, 2 cars or a car shuttle would be needed.

I could give you many more recommendations, but this should be enough to find out if you might be interested in a Sierra trip.

I haven't gone in from the West Side in many years, precisely because the trails start lower and are more crowded.

"And, of course, it's California…

That last was just for you. :)"

Of course. ;0)) Let it be noted I moved out of California 30 years ago, probably for some of the reasons you entertain. But the Sierra has continued to draw me back year after year. It's that good. IMO, of course.

You're SOL regarding permits. They're required everywhere. Taboose should not be a problem. Cottonwood is popular, but a lot of permits are issued, and early in the season should be easy.

Thanks for the ideas. However, I have received new instructions from my hiking partners. They prefer not to risk the possibility of snow (however low) and/or exsanguination from insects, so they favor somewhere in the southwest in late May.

Frankly, they're killing me.

My list so far is:

Zion Traverse. We'd need to walk in, though, as the West Ridge online campsites are full.

Canyonlands NP, Needles Loop, with side-hikes. Might be crowded, and the permit I have is a bit of a kludge.

Thunder River in GRCA. I know that I said we were done with GRCA for a while, but this looks like it may tempt my partners. I'm putting in a hail-Mary application, maybe I'll get lucky.

Grand Staircase-Escalante and/or Glenn Canyon, though I haven't researched exactly where yet. Some ideas above that I have to look into. Not sure how my partners would feel about actual canyoneering.

Colorado National Monument area- again, I haven't researched yet.

What we may do is try for the Zion walk-in, and if we are rebuffed fall back on something else in the region. (Zion is JUST BARELY within a one day drive from my house in Colorado Springs.) I got a permit for the Needles Loop for the sake of being sure that opportunity doesn't disappear, but I would write off the $30 to do Zion, I think. I've been to Canyonlands before, though my partners haven't.

But more to the point, am I missing any great ideas in the region? Loops are preferred, but not required if there's decent shuttle opportunities.

Ok, my hiking partners have finally decided on a preferred location- Dark Canyon, UT.

Since this thread is sort of pointless given it's title, I made a new one:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=101167&skip_to_post=856343#856343