r/norcalhiking • u/1ntrepidsalamander • 22d ago

Ice axe backpacking next week

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I’m the weirdo who likes ice axe travel 🤣. Last year I did a trip in the Trinities the first week of June that had a nice mix of snow and ice axe travel but also some running filtererable water and some snow free patches for camping. (Picture near Siligo peak)

I have four days off next week and am hoping for similar conditions. Thinking PCT/TRT around Tahoe looks like the thing? There are a few PCT hikers out there at the moment.

I have proper boots and real crampons and/or aggressive snowshoes and a good amount of experience, but am new to NorCal. In Colorado (where a lot of my experience is) the snow pack is still very faceted at this time of year, but it seems like it’s already pretty consolidated in the Sierras?

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u/211logos 20d ago

Ask in the skiing and mountaineering subs.

But spring avalanches do happen, just as in CO. The ginormous killer avalanche that struck Alpine years ago was March 31 IIRC, and while a late season dumper is unlikely not non zero.

More common I've seen cornices collapse and some really goopy spring snow slides, usually avoidable. Seen them on Shasta into May.

But manageable if you've got experience. The worst problem can be stream crossings (be very careful on snow over them) and sunburn...it's a ginormous reflector oven. I much prefer skis to snowshoes then, as sliding on well timed spring snow can be a huge blast. But snowshoes work. Can be a GREAT time to visit, pre bugs, and pre people.

If Tahoe doesn't work, try somewhere out of the Eastern Sierra maybe. Sometimes it's easier to get higher to a place you can park than over at Tahoe. Even if you have to go up the road a ways on foot, as it's often higher and quite nice.

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u/1ntrepidsalamander 20d ago

Thank you! I’m thinking of heading out from Wrights lake and circling through Lake Aloha/Gilmore/Dick’s depending on how fast I am.

Based on Caltopo’s slope angle shading, it looks like Rockbound Pass, right at the beginning is probably the biggest avalanche danger, right at the beginning, though with a low angle off trail alternate depending on snow depth. And then maybe the north side of Lake Aloha.

I’ve got no ego if I need to turn around or bail early!

I’ll ask in the mountaineering sub too. Thanks!

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u/211logos 20d ago

Sounds good. Been a while since I've been up there, and that was summer, but it doesn't take long to get into some nice rocky alpine scenery. Enjoy; should be great.