Hi all,

I am considering a late season trip next week or the week after - prefer next week.
Looks like the roads are open and permits can be had, no problem.
Besides bundling up, what else is to be considered? And recent trip reports?

Cheers,
Rick

Great time of year for it.? Check the wind forecast, it can get VERY windy up there.? Also the short days mean you'll be in your tent a lot.

Have a blast.

Ian

开云体育

Hiked from Woods Creek crossing to Onion Valley Sept 16-17.

There was still a section of snow/ice on the north side of Glen pass. There were a couple of boot paths through the snow, but they didn't line up with the trail so they required some rock scrambling to get to. There was some damage on the south side consisting of boulders and loose trail.

There is a large avalanche field with many downed trees a couple miles south of Woods Creek bridge. Hikers on trail suggested climbing high on the west slope to avoid it. I and others had trouble finding the route back down to the trail going SOBO so it took a lot of time to bypass. A couple of others just worked their way around the trees along the trail with good results.

Kearsarge Pass was fine. Pot hole lake was over half covered in ice, but the trail was good.

Lots of trail damage this year.

Frank

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Frank

Thanks all for the feedback and let’s hope my hiking buddy can make it and the weather is cooperative ;-)

Rick

I am curious to hear what you encounter on your journey. I hope you’ll leave a trip report upon your return!

Happy Hiking,

Shellie Sanchez

FYI , there is snow forecast in the mountains this weekend.

Hard to say how October will go for weather. I'm hoping for a NORMAL snowfall winter.

Late season Rae Lakes Loop trip report - departing from Onion Valley, via Kearsage Pass 10/4, ~6:30am.

I had such a great time out there, no regrets for backpacking in October at all.

Once off the PCT/JMT overlapping section of the trail, I have seen only two hikers but plenty of bears. Usually this is a heavily trafficked trail, I didn’t realize how much of a gem this trail is this year because of the road closure down in SEKI (road’s end).

The trail is overgrown quite a bit and there is plenty of blowdown and several sections have been washed out by last year’s winter. Glen Pass was so scenic, the recent storm dumped a few inches of snow.

Quite a few PCT south bounders and very few JMTers on the trail, somewhat short days & cold nights but a great time of the year to get out. Will touch up the time lapses and other media later on. Middle Rae Lakes campsite vista: