SummitPost.org

Hi folks, first-time poster, long-time lurker.

So my wife and I have only ONE week this summer that we can get lost in the backcountry... the last week in June... and I am really bummed about the heavy snowpack.

Everyone tells me to go to the Lost Coast instead of the Sierras or Trinities, but I gotta satisfy my granite fix.

One thought I had was the Siskiyou Wilderness up near the Oregon border... pretty low but some nice granite-bound lakes, including Devil's Punchbowl, which should be mostly free of snow even in a year like this one.

But can anyone offer any other suggestions? Some snow is OK but my wife is uncomfortable with crampons.

Thanks!

alexjon3 wrote:Hi folks, first-time poster, long-time lurker.

So my wife and I have only ONE week this summer that we can get lost in the backcountry... the last week in June... and I am really bummed about the heavy snowpack.

Everyone tells me to go to the Lost Coast instead of the Sierras or Trinities, but I gotta satisfy my granite fix.

One thought I had was the Siskiyou Wilderness up near the Oregon border... pretty low but some nice granite-bound lakes, including Devil's Punchbowl, which should be mostly free of snow even in a year like this one.

But can anyone offer any other suggestions? Some snow is OK but my wife is uncomfortable with crampons.

Thanks!

I'm in the same boat. I've came to the reality that it's another 2 or 3 weeks before those 8,500 foot + peaks can be hit. I've spoke to a few, left PM's and emails and the response is the same........it's big snow year. So we wait. But next year I plan on learning and I will do snow hikes, my wife won't though.

Actually late June you should have many options. The Trinity Alps area has several peaks close in proximity and all around 8,000 feet. I've looked on SP at these peaks but haven't hiked them yet but they are on my list. Check- Red Mtn, Granite Pk, Silgio and Gibson Peak. There near Trinity Lake too so camping is easy

By late June the Emigrant Wilderness should be at least partly snow-free I would think --

http://www.amazon.com/Emigrant-Wilderne ... 0899971032



and SR108 (Sonora Pass) will be open. Contact the Summit Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest for more info.

A little bit lower elevation:

Snow Mountain area

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Mountain_East

Yolla Bolla

http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA!/?ss=110508&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003853&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=Mendocino%20National%20Forest-%20Home/recreation/wild/ybme/

Second the Trinity Alps

I've looked on SP at these peaks but haven't hiked them yet but they are on my list.

Suggestion: don't give advice on peaks you haven't climbed -- the beauty of SP is first-hand info.

btw Have you ever noticed how Bubba's peak pages never include YDS ratings ?

Emigrant is my choice in a heavy snow year. Lots of granite and plenty of great fishing!

Agree Snow Mountain is very nice... I enjoyed it a lot, but might not satisfy a granite fix.

If it was me I'd think of some stuff in the Cascades in the Lassen, Shasta, Lava Beds area, or Warner Mountains, but no granite there.

Trinity Alps is good, Thompson Peak. Been there from the south and the north. Both very scenic, I had way more solitude from the north, even though it's a little closer. The lake and waterfall on the north side are nice.

You've already got a good thought with Siskiyou. If you want to get lost that and Trinity might be best given your criteria. Bear Mountain/Devil's Punchbowl is a great spot. Near fantastic forests too. I've always wanted to go to Marble Mountains, for years. But since I haven't been there yet I guess I'm not allowed to recommend it...

It's a pretty heavy snow year in Lassen as well. Late June, most of the good stuff will still be under some decent snow. The trails out from Summit Lake could be decent by then though.

rhyang wrote:

I've looked on SP at these peaks but haven't hiked them yet but they are on my list.

Suggestion: don't give advice on peaks you haven't climbed -- the beauty of SP is first-hand info.

btw Have you ever noticed how Bubba's peak pages never include YDS ratings ?

I wasn't giving "advice", I was offering suggestions. And my suggestions did not offer any technical advice. I have seen pages here on SP that the authors have not signed the summit logs (Kilimanjaro1 author of K2) is an example, you should be calling them on their advice, not here with me. I would agree with you if I had given advice regarding technical issues but sorry, just suggesting some peaks based on elevation and possible snow depths doesn't fall into "needing first hand Information"

I think Rob's just a little grumpy today...

mrchad9 wrote: But since I haven't been there yet I guess I'm not allowed to recommend it...

+1 on can't recommend it because you haven't been there. Guess us "white folk" can't have an opinion or give advice against being prejudice against minorites either, since we're not black skinned or some other color. By his criteria

Neophiteat48 wrote:

mrchad9 wrote: But since I haven't been there yet I guess I'm not allowed to recommend it...

+1 on can't recommend it because you haven't been there. Guess us "white folk" can't have an opinion or give advice against being prejudice against minorites either, since we're not black skinned or some other color. By his criteria

Huh?

MoapaPk wrote:

Neophiteat48 wrote:

mrchad9 wrote: But since I haven't been there yet I guess I'm not allowed to recommend it...

+1 on can't recommend it because you haven't been there. Guess us "white folk" can't have an opinion or give advice against being prejudice against minorites either, since we're not black skinned or some other color. By his criteria

Huh?

I thought my comparison was obvious but I guess not. Rob has given me advice not to give suggestions on peaks I haven't climbed, that first hand information only be given. If that is logical, then white people could not have an opinion against racism due to we're not a minority, it's not first hand information. I was trying to show how absurd his comment was by being absurd myself. Guess that failed?

Whatever dude, didn't mean to make you defensive I know you're a bit new around here, so I was just trying to give ya some advice about how we roll. And yeah, maybe I should have had some more caffeine this morning Sorry to ruffle yer feathers.

Abraham Lincoln wrote:Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Anyway, if you had ever been to the Trinity Alps in early season, you would know that the higher elevations can hold snow late into the summer. Despite its elevation it's at a higher latitude, and treeline is lower. I remember hiking up Canyon Creek around that time once (late June) and the upper lake still being pretty snowy. Maybe not this year, or maybe so. It all depends ..

Another option for late June is the Yolla-Bolly Wilderness. I only spent 5 days there last decade, and while it doesn't have the great granite grandeur of the Emigrant domes, it's pretty remote and rugged. I've done a few trips in early season in the Emigrant and probably this year you will have some snowdrifts to contend with, but I kind of doubt you will need crampons or snowshoes. But I'd call ahead and ask closer to your trip anyway.