Re: snow at Young Lakes?

I'm taking my neighbor on a trip to Glenn Aulin next Thursday. He want an easy trip. I'd like to go up to Young Lake on the way back but wonder about snow around the lake. We wont be set up for snow camping. Any other year and it would be a foregone conclusion that there would be snow; this year, I wonder. I don't think that snow on the trail to the lake will be a deal killer. thoughts?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2014 03:59PM by hegel.

Take him down to Glen Aulin and waterwheelie...

Young Lakes will be frozen over. Well... that's my best guess from looking at Ten Lakes
from Colby and Z Overlook. Of course if you want the place to yourself...

Scary how little snow there really is... (well.. and has been all year) ...

Have fun

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Chick-on,
Do you have any pics of the Ten Lakes area showing the snow? Like an idiot, I had it in my pea brain that there was very little snow and planned a trip to Ten Lakes this coming weekend. I do not have a problem with snow or navigating in snow, but the Ten Lakes side of the pass has several steep and exposed areas that I might not be comfortable bringing my family down. It sounds like there might be many feet of snow from reading of some of the recent trail reports. It sounds like there is going to be a few more inches this week plus some possible ice build up.

We might go try and see how far we get, we can always stay in Half Moon Meadow.

Thanks!

Pictures forthcoming, but until then... there were only patches of snow to Half Moon Meadow, and no problem finding dry ground there. There was 100% coverage from the top of the switchbacks above Half Moon until the drop into Ten Lakes, although it was never more than a foot or so deep. The lower part of the switchbacks dropping into Ten Lakes looked dry, and there were definitely dry areas around the lakes, mostly to the north. All but the lowest (northernmost?) lake were at least partially ice covered. The north-facing slopes and cliffs south of the lakes were 100% covered with fairly thick snow.

We had a different destination in mind, and we passed several people who had turned back short of the lakes, but anyone familiar with snow travel and the correct trail route probably could have made it. On the other hand, we also saw several sets of footprints following our route, which wasn't toward the lakes, so don't blindly follow wherever the footprints lead...

Thanks!! That is great news. I really want the snow around the lakes, that is all good. I am just concerned about the trail down to the lakes. Thanks for the info and I look forward to your always great pictures.

Ten Lakes Basin as of Saturday, May 19: Photosynth You should be able to make out the trail along the grey area middle left, just below where you can see across the GCT.

Great picture...worth a thousand words! Allot less snow than what I was thinking. Now I am excited. Thank you.

Yep I think you're right. Young Lakes are at 10,000 feet...there's gonna be snow. (Actually it looks like there's going to be some fresh snow over the next few days!) Thanks for the reply and hello Waterwheel!

Pass is closed today... snowed.