Need advice on easy winter snow camping in northern california.

It’s been a long while since I lived/worked in NorCal, so I don’t remember much about winter venues. But I would recommend calling up any local outfitter stores in the areas that you are interested in checking out.

There are always at least a few employees who have both favorite places to go, and winter experience.

(In the days before Internet, us outdoor retail folk were always asked about where to go. I assume this is still the case)

There might also be some local backpacking Meetup groups that have good knowledge.

Justin

There is good snow camping in the valley on the other side of Castle Peak.  Since it is so accessible, you will see lots of other folks, snow campers and  day trippers. You can even book the Peter Grubbe Hut is you do not want to camp outside. :-))  Most of the summer trail signs are buried and the trails are often routed through terrain you would not want to snow shoe or ski over.  The SnowLands web site I referenced in my post shows you ski trails which are “signed/posted” by volunteers who work with the USFS with colored dots on the trees. I re-posted a longish answer to your earlier posting (which disappeared into the BPL ether) here:

http://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/lost-post-locations-for-beginner-snow-camping-close-to-sf-bay-area/

Justin there are fantastic winter snowcamping locations you can access in Northern California within easy reach of the greater SF Bay Area. I highly recommend you check out the Sierra Club Snowcamping Section of the San Francisco Bay Chapter. They run beginner snow backpacking weekend trips for only $20 that just require a short orientation. They hike in just a few miles at locations such as Alpine Lake in Bear Valley, Yosemite and Tahoe. They also offer alumni trips to anyone who has done a beginner trip or has an equivalent experience level, and one or two of these trips are specifically photography focused if you are so inclined. The Loma Prieta Chapter in Palo Alto also offers snow trips but the snow section of the SF chapter is much larger and more active.

http://www.snowcamping.org/calendar.php

Even if you don’t do a trip with them, you can check out their list of easy hike-in locations which are specifically vetted for beginners.

I also recall a thread here a few years back in which a member recommended another winter skills course in the Tahoe area by an experienced guide and that area was open to public camping.

Heading toward Castle Peak is one of the simpler options and doesn’t require paperwork beyond the ubiquitous campfire permit for your stove and a SnoPark for your car.  (It’s our default for quick & easy snow camping.)  Call the local Ranger office with questions.

I believe Carson Pass is in the middle of the Mokelumne Wilderness and you’ll want to pick up a wilderness permit from the Amador ranger station.  Details on that area can be found at http://www.sierrawild.gov/wilderness/mokelumne.

Thank you all for the info! This is all incredibly helpful. I’m thinking we will do the castle peak area since I’ve hiked there in winter and it’s familiar to me, I also like that it’s more heavily traveled for safety reasons.
Bruce, I originally saw your post but forgot to read through it before it disappeared. Thank you for the very detailed post.

Justin,

The SF Bay Chapter of Sierra Club does snow camping training trips near Castle Peak. When often camp up in Round Valley to get up out of the wind. Round Valley is labeled on the USGS topo map. I sleep like a baby underneath my MLD Duomid. Note that since the access trail gets so much foot traffic it can be kind of icey early in the morning. I once took off my microspikes a bit too early.:-((  You can drop off gear near the trailhead on the North side of the freeway but the SnoPark is off the frontage road on the South side of the freeway.  You can buy a SnoPark pass at the Boreal Lodge if you do not have one already.

Have a great trip!/Bruce

Justin,
Bruce has it just right. Can drop off gear on north side of Hwy. 80 at turnoff/trailhead but you need to buy the pass at Boreal Inn and park on south side of freeway. (It’s also easy just to carry your gear for the short distance). I have seen cars with tickets from CHP when parked on the north side. Don’t be tempted. Be sure to park in marked Sno-park spaces by Boreal Inn.
When snowshoeing or walking up the snow-covered road to Castle Peak area and then going down to Round Valley look up on trees for trail markers. Markers are usually high up to still be seen with high snow levels.

Some of the trail into Round Valley should still be quite visible/usable after weekenders have used it.
Check Wednesday’s weather forecast for Soda Springs for possible wind/snow issues. Have a great trip.
Jane

Regarding the Castle Peak area, the trail itself has always been very easy to follow, but there is weather coming in.  Storms start arriving Wednesday and continue into the weekend; you can also get weather details at http://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe.  It doesn’t look like huge amounts of snow, just enough to cover the trail if the crowds stay home (6-9″/day; 18-29″ by the weekend).  I’d be more concerned about the winds.

Just as an FYI, there’s still some instability in the snowpack, but that’s more of a concern if you’re going off trail.  I’ve pasted some of the details below.

Unusual avalanche conditions persist with pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger in open areas at and below treeline on N-NE-E-SE aspects on slopes 35 degrees and steeper. Persistent slabs associated with the Jan 5 buried surface hoar layer exist in some areas. Where this weak layer is absent, LOW avalanche danger exists. Avoid steep terrain adjacent to areas of recent avalanche activity, even if the crown and debris are covered under a couple inches of new snow and now look old.

…

The Jan 5 surface hoar layer buried 1 to 1.5 feet deep in the snowpack has been reactive since Tuesday in the areas where it exists. Buried surface hoar is an uncommon weak layer for this region. This weak layer has been very slow to stabilize. It is now one week old and day to day snowpit data continues to identify ongoing problems.

http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/advisory

-J

So it looks like there is some weather coming in that could dump up to a foot. We are bailing on this. We really needed a calm weather trip to practice skills. Going to big sur instead. But now I have plenty of ideas for another snow trip later this month. Thanks guys!

Lassen Vol NP may be further than you want to go.  I was there a couple weeks ago.  I live on the Plumas NF, so can leave right from my door.