Well "Hello there!". I am toying with the idea of hiking point to point Road's End to Onion Valley Memorial Day weekend. Will definitely hit some peaks along the way. Any eyeballs out there on trail access and conditions from the west?
Pretty sure I have a ride to King's Cyn, guess I'll have to thumb a ride from Onion Valley to Temecula.
I see anywhere from 1 to 3 days to do this trip; I don't want to carry over 25lbs but still climb peaks; seems pretty doable and pleasant, doesn't it?

sounds like a good idea!have fun. most of the snow should be gone up to about 12000 feet.

Looking down Bubbs Creek drainage Saturday:



(OK, looking at the Kearsarge Lakes with Bubbs Creek on the left side...)

you probably know this already, and I'd call them just to make sure, but if they're now running you can get from Lone Pine, down to Lancaster and no doubt from there over to Temecula . . . and meanwhile, you can find yourself in the hot tub at the Dow Villa once you're in LP for the night . . . oh, if only . . .

http://www.estransit.com/CMS/content/395-routes

Laura,
Nice picture! Is it from Kearsarge Pass? So is the road snow free to Onion Valley?
Thanks,
Scott

Any recent ground conditions beta? I tagged Langley via Old Army Pass a couple of days ago and was astounded how little snow is on the east side....SeKi side looks much whiter.

Deb wrote:Any recent ground conditions beta? I tagged Langley via Old Army Pass a couple of days ago and was astounded how little snow is on the east side....SeKi side looks much whiter.

I've been doing day trips here on the westside and am pretty amazed at the lack of snow. Pretty much all southern aspects below 10K are melted out in SEKI. The good news - go out and get some!

ScottHanson wrote:Laura,
Nice picture! Is it from Kearsarge Pass? So is the road snow free to Onion Valley?
Thanks,
Scott

The road to Onion Valley and Onion Valley itself are snow free.

Thanks guys. I'm hoping to tagged Bago and the Videttes along the way....really don't want to bring crampons.
Permit secured - I can't believe that 56 out of the 60 permits are still available - for Memorial Day weekend?! Where is everyone going? Don't tell me - Whitney. Whitney/Schmitney..........dam

Deb, we used axes and crampons on the west side of Birch Mtn. last weekend. No snow until 10,000', and it was patchy. Snow was good, and maybe we could have gotten by just kicking steps in the early morning. Definitely aluminum crampons would have been fine.

I'm pulling this out of my ass, but I'm thinking you might want the crampons on East Vidette. Maybe not.

TheGeneral wrote:Deb, we used axes and crampons on the west side of Birch Mtn. last weekend. No snow until 10,000', and it was patchy. Snow was good, and maybe we could have gotten by just kicking steps in the early morning. Definitely aluminum crampons would have been fine.

I'm pulling this out of my ass, but I'm thinking you might want the crampons on East Vidette. Maybe not.

Thanks, Gen. I'm determined to not bring crampons, really want to keep the weight below 27lbs with 3 days food. I'm sure Rixford and Bago are "ascendable" without gear.
At this point, I am still trying to find transportation to Onion Valley. Anyone leaving SoCal THur (24th) night or super early Friday (25th)?

*bump*
Anyone recent conditions info?
Forecasting snow now?!?!? WTF?!?!?

I was hoping to day hike up to Kearsarge Pass from Onion Valley with the family this weekend and was also interested in the snow conditions. The kids are happy hiking in some snow but I haven't fitted them with crampons yet. Also, does anyone know the skeeter situation at the campground and higher? I'm guessing not too bad, but if they are fierce it will turn the weekend into a whine festival. Thanks!

There hasn't been snow on the upper part of the trail for weeks, and I assume the patches near the lakes will be minimal.

This was on 28 April:

MooseTracks wrote:There hasn't been snow on the upper part of the trail for weeks, and I assume the patches near the lakes will be minimal.

This was on 28 April:

Is that West Vidette im the middle?