So maybe not the Sierras this July

[Matthew / BPL]

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that I may not be visiting the Sierras this July. I have a great friend wants to try backpacking and is excited to see the Sierras. I want to start thinking of an equally awesome backup plan.

I thought of going to the Unitas but I understand Utah has had quite a winter so far this year.

I’m looking for areas that I can start researching and learning about now.

Constraints:

1. I teach and have to be back in Phoenix on July 31.
2. Three or four nights on trail.
3. Lower mileage. I was planning on maybe 7–8 miles per day in the Sierras. I think my friend would be fine at 10-12 miles on easier terrain at a more moderate altitude.
4. Drivable in 10 or 12 hours from Phoenix.
5. Cooler temps. My friend strongly prefers hiking in the 50-75° range.
6. Stunning beauty.

I think this means CO or NM. I suppose the Lost Coast Trail or part of the trail that goes from Crescent City to Trinidad, CA could work. Those are a bit far and require the complication of shuttling.

Any ideas?

[Matthew / BPL]

I’m not sure it matters but I’m holding permits for Lyell Canyon with a Donahue exit the first week of July and Piute Pass during the last week of July. I suppose an early melt is possible but my assumption is the conditions will be challenging for a first timer with scary water crossings and lots of travel over snow.

[DWR D]

My guess… from big snow years past, the first week of July is likely to be generally a snow adventure in the Sierra… Lyell Canyon I would think will still have snow and the melted out parts will be muddy.

Paiute Pass might work the last week of July… I don’t recall any major river crossings to get into that area from North Lake… at minimum the north side of the pass will likely have snow… maybe the whole hike in… but well boot tracked by then.. Paiute Basin has so much granite and few trees, I would expect a lot to be melted out… but… my guess is prime time for mosquitoes the last week of July… but… open country with breezes may make it tolerable.. I would check trail reports before committing to that drive…

[Matthew / BPL]

I should add that we could go any time in June or July. Perhaps an alternate area would make more sense in June. I’m currently reading this thread which is talking about June trips and there are many mentions of the Pecos Wilderness in June.

[John S.]

I was gonna say Pecos Wilderness.

[Amy Lauterbach]

If you decide on Lyell Canyon in June, check ahead of time as to whether the Tioga Pass Road is open. With the huge amounts of snow the Sierra has had this year, the Park Service may not have been able to plow the road by then.

Expect the mosquitos to be fierce anywhere the snow has melted out until mid to late August.

[Matthew / BPL]

Agreed, Amy. I haven’t looked at your site in a while but it’s a great resource. I’ll poke around.

Any ideas of other spots for us to go backpacking in either June or July?

Constraints:

1. I have to be back in Phoenix on July 31.
2. Three or four nights on trail.
3. Lower mileage. I was planning on maybe 7–8 miles per day in the Sierras. I think my friend would be fine at 10-12 miles on easier terrain at a more moderate altitude.
4. Drivable in 10 or 12 hours from Phoenix.
5. Cooler temps. My friend strongly prefers hiking in the 50-75° range.
6. Stunning beauty.

[jscott]

Actually, if you can do that Lyell canyon/Donahue route at the end of July, it’s a good solution.  there are no real river crossings all the way to Reds Meadows, which you won’t do. You could make a sort of loop by camping at the trail junction with Marie Lakes on day 2, then backtracking to the trail junction with Vogelsang pass back in Lyell canyon and camping up there. then its an easy downhill hike out to the car. Or just do a straight in and out. All of the Lyell/Donahue hike is spectacular in different ways. Even the long canyon has its charms. And there are no big obstacles for a beginner.

Taking a day to go exploring with day packs on day 3 could be nice. There are easy off trail possibilities, or going to 1000 island lake and back, etc.

[Alex Wallace]

I feel for you. I’m scrambling right now to reschedule all of my big trips in the Sierra this summer due to the likely lingering snow & ice; plotting new routes to avoid likely problematic routes/passes; cancelling and re-reserving permits; changing my vacation requests with work; coordinating the dates with my wife; changing bus/train tickets, etc.

I have a really awesome 7-day high route planned in Ansel Adams/Yosemite this year that’s currently scheduled to start on August 22, but even then may be too early.

[Jerry Adams]

if there’s twice as much snow it doesn’t take twice as long to melt

when it gets hot, like in July, it melts off fast

March has been very cold.  Maybe we’ll start having warmer than normal months

[Matthew / BPL]

Thanks fellas.

Got any ideas for June or July trips in Colorado?

[Chris K]

Search here for trips in the Weminuche Wilderness.

The San Juans in mid to late-July would satisfy most of your criteria. It’s under 12 hours drive from Phoenix, stunningly beautiful and high enough to get lower temps (~8-12k’). A potential downside would be the monsoon.

General overview

Forgot to mention – I say July because they are at 139% of normal snowpack. Not California levels, but a decent amount of snow (Red Mountain Pass report).

 

[Matthew / BPL]

Thanks, Chris. I’ll start looking for trip reports.

[John S.]

Paul Mags has some Colorado trip posts.

https://pmags.com/tag/colorado-tip

[Matthew / BPL]

Thanks! I had already looked at Paul’s site but not that tag. That unlocked some content I hadn’t seen yet.

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