high sierra update July 2017: bugs, snow, shuttles

[Cameron M]

I just completed the first section of my off-trail SHR hike July 16, SOBO Twin Lakes to Tuolumne. Here is some current information that may be useful to you this unusual summer:

-there are not many people out there. I was told by Rebecca at the Toyiabe office that my SHR permit is only the second she has issued this year, and indeed I saw no people for the five days I was out.

-off-trail above 10,000, I needed crampons and an ice-axe in several places- micro-spikes won’t cut it. Lots of suncups. This will all probably change in two weeks.

-everyone confirmed that hiker traffic is anemic, business is way down. I saw only a few PCT hikers in Bishop. They told me that the JMT trails are clear- no spikes needed.

-the bugs were pretty bad only at the very beginning and end of my trip- like an 8 out of 10, out of Twin Lakes and near Tioga in Yosemite. Strangely, absolutely no bugs in the middle, floating between 9,500 to 11,500. For those planning JMT type trips this year, it seems likely that bugs will bloom into August and perhaps September? You may have to invest in some mosquito gear that you were not planning on.

-lots of water. Water everywhere. Rushing rivers, streams that don’t show up on maps, large marshy wet fields. My feet were damp or wet most of the time.

-The climber.org list of shuttles is pretty good. http://climber.org/data/shuttles.html. New entries: Lou Hill is a retired fireman operating out of Bridgeport, he is accommodating and his rates are super reasonable, email: [email protected]; (209) 329-4745. Chris at the Williamson Motel gave me this one: Max Furman, lives in Aberdeen. Email: [email protected]. (805) 341-6360. She also confirmed that she can shuttle if you stay at her motel, and she is also able to assist on resupply, contact her for details: [email protected]; (760) 878-2121. I like driving with Kurt Payer, who operates in Lone Pine: email: [email protected]. (760) 876-4811. Paul of East Side Serra Shuttle is in Independence, and as he has an actual shuttle business with several vehicles, he can do more complex trips, with larger vehicles or 4WD, so he must charge more than Lou or Kurt: web: eastsidesierrashuttle.com. (760) 878-2121.

-no reason to delay trips anymore, except perhaps for a few river crossing situations. I have found that anecdotal information from anyone who did not personally visit a place within the last week tends to be not reliable.

[W I S N E R !]

Thanks Cameron.  Going in August 5th.  I’m wagering the bugs will be out of control by then.

[Ken Thompson]

Fire a concern now too. Oh California.

Thanks for the info Cameron.

[Erik G]

Just took a 4 day hike through Humphreys Basin, and I’d agree with pretty much all of the above. We were fine without any additional traction devices, although our snow travel was mostly pretty flat. Also very surprised by the lack of bugs, hardly a bother.

THOSE SUN CUPS THOUGH!

[Jay Wilkerson]

Thanks for the info.

Jay Wilkerson

[RVP]

Thanks for the info!  This Friday July 28th, I’m heading out to Kings Canyon NP to do some high sierra off-trail travel.

I’m hoping that, at this point, microspikes will be sufficient for the fairly low-angle passes.

For those of you just returning — how are the conditions out there?

RVP

 

[Matthew / BPL]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>Not quite the right area but I was in Sabrina Basin last weekend and encountered broken fields of snow starting at 10,700′ and was surprised that the mosquitos were not bad at all. I encountered more intense bug pressure 52 weeks earlier at the same location.</p>

[Cameron M]

OK I just got back from my second stage of the SHR, Tuolumne to Red’s, July 23-27. Conditions mostly the same as described above. Almost no one off-trail at high-altitude, saw just four people doing NOBO. They told me at Tuolumne that they had issued no SHR permits going south. Tuolumne a ghost town, completely closed- store, gas, campgrounds, except for ranger office, although I was told that the store would open the 28th. Thru-hikers were taking YARTS down to the valley for resupply. Rangers expect a “deluge” of people in August. Strange experience- no people, summer weather, surrounded by snow. Lower trails I saw appeared completely snow-free. Wet feet every day, all day, just no way around it. Any flat area at the bottom of a hill is a giant extended wet marsh, at least in the higher altitude meadows. Snow easy to walk or kick-step but firm enough to hold, and there is still lots of it. I appreciated the crampons most places, allowing for faster movement and safer early mornings, but after another two weeks I might leave them at home. Lyell canyon river a bit intimidating to cross. Twin lakes crossing up to my waist. Some places zero mosquitos all day and night, like the back of Thousand Island Lake where the 36 degree night frost might be killing them, other places they were swarming but only 3/4 mature. There is really no reason for anyone of any skill level to not get out there, but the mosquito factor does degrade the experience somewhat, and with all the water and upcoming warmer weather, who knows how long they will remain, perhaps into September?

[Cameron M]

Two updates:

-I previously gave the home phone for shuttle driver Kurt Payer (Lone pine Kurt). It is currently down, please use his cell: (661) 972-9476

-I just learned about the “Bishop Creek Shuttle” that ferries people between Bishop and Lake Sabrina/South lake twice a day:

https://www.estransit.com/routes-schedule/community-routes/bishop-creek-shuttle/

 

[Cameron M]

I just completed the SHR NOBO between Bishop Pass and Mammoth August 15th. The JMT-PCT crowd is out there in force now, certainly less than previous years, but really for any trail people it feels just like a normal June or July, except that there are more wet creek crossings. Mosquitos are highly variable- oftentimes none above 11,000, in a few places swarming, but all young and not serious biters/welt producers. For the high off-trail people, I took microspikes and no axe this last time and they were all I needed. I am even considering leaving the spikes at home for my last portion next week- the snow is melting fast and it is warm. I used Max for a shuttle (see first post) this last time and can report that he is a good guy and very economical and accommodating. All is good-

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