Weminuche Wilderness conditions
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 12:40 amThinking of a possible backpacking trip up in those parts over the 4th. Any recent info such as snow levels, snow conditions, creek crossings, etc. would be appreciated! Thanks! AD
I just got back from 5 days there. I started from Molas Pass and mostly did day hikes from around the pond by Vestal Creek. I went as far as Kite Lake, Vestal Basin, and some off trail lakes above the mine on Elk Creek.
All that said: Creek crossings weren't too bad. I had planned on going up to Trinity Lake by going cross country from Elk Creek. Elk Creek was a little too high to cross where I needed but was able to cross about 1/2 mile upstream. None of the crossing on the trail were any problem. I did not hit any snow that was an issue at all except for going up Hunchback Pass above Kite Lake. This was passable but sketchy and I probably would have done it if I wasn't solo. Would not have been a problem at all with crampons and shouldn't be a problem next week.
A couple other notes: I saw a total of 3 groups of people over the 5 days. This included nobody in Vestal Basin. There were also almost no bugs. I never used repellent, got 1 mosquito bite and picked up one blood-sucking hitchhiker (tick). Wild flowers were amazing. Definitely at their peak this past week.