need advice on where to go in CA

http://www.backpackthesierra.com/home/destinations/early-season-hikes

check it out. Also, Yuba river.

Dan,

I have been eying a trip out of Cherry Lake as an early season hike. The trailhead is within the Yosemite Park boundaries and goes north into the Emigrant Wilderness. You would start out at less than 6k ft. and go up in elevation from there. I was up in this area of the sierras a few weeks back and there were scattered patches of snow at 6,500 ft. There are some great lakes that supposed to be excellent fishing and are below 8k ft. I think this area could keep you busy for a week if the snow doesn’t both halt your progress below 8k ft. If you are able to make it to the Huckleberry Lake area (7,800 ft) which is about 20 mi from the trailhead, there are dozens of lakes nearby that are supposed to be some of the best fishing in the sierras.

On the way to the trailhead you stop alongside the road and fish the south and middle fork of the Tuolumne River if you’re interested. Cherry Lake itself is also a popular spot for anglers.

Here is a map of the area that will give you feel for the trail. The trail labeled CL-1 could be the ticket for you. Cherry Creek Canyon would make a great loop but I think it could be dicey with all the snow runoff.

Map

I highly recommend this book for more info: http://www.booktopia.com.au/emigrant-wilderness-and-northwestern-yosemite-2-e/prod9780899973302.html

Enjoy your trip!

David

hey…sorry I didnt reply earlier..I was up in Yosemite all last week and didnt have internet.

I have been calling around to a lot of spots to get trail conditions and what not….but I cant seem to get any legitimate info. However, I did look into the Huckleberry Lake area out of Cherry Lake and it seemed like it might be possible to make it up there this early, but the rangers just arent sure. Has anyone been up there within the last few weeks that knows what the trail conditions are like?

Thanks!

Hi Dan,

I've gone into Huckleberry from Cherry Lake via Kibbie Ridge, but late season, not spring. If the snowpack there is anything like in the Tahoe-American River drainage there will be many feet of snow left on that route. I was at 6+k today and snow ranged from clear to four feet with probably 80% coverage. As a bonus, the blackflies are out.

I spoke with a Forest Service ranger who guessed some of the area roads wouldn't clear until July.

Rick

I talked to the ranger and they said there is a good chance it might be open though…just not sure. The ranger said that the trail to Kibble lake was completely clear. I was in Little Yosemite Valley and Lake Merced just last week which are between 6,000-7,500 and they were clear of snow and just a little south of Emigrant.

So have been making more phone calls to ranger offices. Has anyone been to Kings Canyon, up the cedar grove trail and to Paradise valley? The ranger says its clear through paradise valley…but after that they arent sure. I was thinking of maybe getting over to Ray Lakes but I would have to get over Glen Pass and I think it might be covered. Anyone been up that way recently?

Dan, the Rae Lakes Loop is a standard route to backpack, but I haven't been there since August 2009. It should not be that hard getting up to Paradise Valley, but then the dense wooded area might have a lot of snow to cross. As you get up closer to Woods Crossing, the woods are thinner, so it ought to melt off soon. Glen Pass might be the tricky part. Routinely there is a big ice cornice over the south side that lasts until early summer.

Unfortunately, you may have to depend on NPS for trail condition reports. They get trail patrols going up there as soon as they can, and that information gets back to Roads End or else HQ.

–B.G.–

Ya its tricky getting trail reports from the rangers because I feel they always give reports on the conservative side…so ya just really never know. Not to mention when ya call the office its normally some retired person who hasnt been back into the wilderness in years haha. But from what they told me paradise valley is clear untill you hit the junction of Woods creek and the South Fork of the Kings River. SO…I think I will be able to get a little past that ….or maybe down Bubbs creel…what do ya think? Ive never had this much trouble finding a spot to go…SOOO MUCH SNOW! haha I also thought of maybe going out of the Wishon Resivor and out to Wood Chuck Lake area….but the ranger had NO idea on trail conditions out to there…

Ive got 5 days to figure this out and I am really struggling.

If you can get all the way up to the Woods Crossing Bridge without a snow problem, this is good. From there, clockwise around the loop to Rae Lakes, it is not so steep, so there shouldn't be much dangerous snow. The one awkward spot will be getting over Glen Pass. The north side is more shaded and steep, then there is the cornice at the top. Once you are on the south side of the pass, it is a south-facing slope that ought to melt off early. Then there will be more shady/snowy spots getting down to Vidette Meadow, and maybe a couple of spots getting down to Junction Meadow. Once below there, it ought to be OK again. Part of the problem is that there are lots of tricky little slippery patches due to mud, snow, or gravel. I've had ankle sprains on upper Bubbs Creek, and that was when the conditions were normal. Good luck.

An alternative trail would be to start closer to Cedar Grove, go up the Lewis Creek Trail, then east through the lakes to Granite Pass, and then down the Copper Creek Trail. It is lower in elevation, but (unfortunately) not as scenic as Rae Lakes.

–B.G.–

Where exactly is the woods crossing bridge on the trail? I have a few maps but none have that marked.

Did the Rae Lakes loop the weekend before memorial day, trip report pending. The trail was virtually snow free all the way up Woods Creek till the suspension bridge. There was small patches of snow and it was a little mucky up at Paradise Valley. Bubbs Creek was snow free up to Junction Meadow. Between there and the suspension bridge it was heavy snow in most places.

The bridge is at Woods Creeks where the JMT crosses.

Send me a PM if you want to talk live.

Greg…thanks for the reply…you sound like just the person I need to talk to. I sent ya a PM.

How are the trail conditions at this time of year? I was planning on going up next week but wasn't sure if Glen pass is hike-able due to the snow cap. Can someone provide some insight?

I made it over in snowshoes in mid may. Based on the CDEC data for Charlotte Lake it looks like you would be snow free below about 10,500 which means only the pass and bowl below the south side will have snow. There have been at least some PCT hikers that have made it over the pass so there could be a pretty good "trail." Whether it is hikable depends on how intimidated you get when you see the "white wall" in front of you as well as the time of day. I would also go northbound over the pass. This will allow you to glissade down the steeper more snow covered side.

hey all!
Just got back from here a few days ago. I was with a beginner friend so we didnt get as far as we hoped…Anyhow…we went through Paradise valley and up woods creek to the suspension bridge crossing. There was no snow…and even after the crossing we had to work to find a patch of snow. We saw several people that were doing the whole loop. The big problem isnt snow…its the amount o water running and river crossings get a little tricky, and some of the trail is flooded out. I was told Glen Pass is very passable and that enough people have been over it that the snow is packed down and easy to walk on…no post holing or anything.

Thanks for the speedy replies. I was hoping to do the whole loop clockwise. I guess I'll have to hope for the best when it comes to stream crossing time.

I'll take any other words of advice if you guys have any!