According to rangers, snow level has been around 8000', and the main constraint in the Sierras right now is road access to trailheads. Desolation Wilderness and the Donner Summit region both have easy access from highways. One place I've been interested in just below Donner Summit is the Loch Leven Lakes, which are supposed to be gorgeous but crowded in summer–good place to beat the rush. They're a short hike in and could be a good base camp for a couple nights with some cross-country exploration in between. The Echo Lake trailhead in Desolation is sure to be accessible and gives access to a number of nice options, and other trailheads may be accessible as well but more dependent on up-to-the-minute reports on snow and mud.
For me, this is a weather-contingent trip since I have neither the gear nor the skills for winter storm weather, which is still a possibility. (I wouldn't normally be thinking about the Sierras in March, but hey, might as well get *some* benefit from this drought.) I've been looking at the long-range forecasts on Accuweather, and they're different every time I check–too soon to tell.
I have Mondays off by default and could get Friday off by arrangement since I know a lot of folks can get Fridays more easily than Mondays, interested in going out for at least two nights.
So, who wants to go run around on the granite ahead of schedule?
