Re: Memorial Day Weekend

I have a few days off over Memorial Day Weekend. I would like to take the first backpacking trip of the year.
However it seems crazy to think that I could avoid the crowds. I'm not good in deep snow, and for this
trip I need to drive a passenger car (Subaru Impreza) to the trailhead. Also I prefer trails to cross country.

With all these conditions is there and hope? Or should I just stay home and paint the bathroom?

All right, I figured it out and applied for a permit reservation for Friday, May 27 for either Laurel Lake or Rancheria Falls.
Somehow I've never gotten around to doing the Laurel Lake-Lake Vernon-Rancheria
Falls Loop.

Advice or opinions?

Quote
lschaaf
All right, I figured it out and applied for a permit reservation for Friday, May 27 for either Laurel Lake or Rancheria Falls.
Somehow I've never gotten around to doing the Laurel Lake-Lake Vernon-Rancheria
Falls Loop.

Advice or opinions?

Tiltill Valley will be swampy so have dry socks. There could be snow on the ridge south of Vernon on the way to Tiltill.

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Old Dude

The area just north of Beehive can be very messy... a few swampy areas..
and Bridge of Falls Creek by Vernon... and get flooded and interesting.

It's all part of the game now tho.

Leslie, if you want more ideas can give you a few.
If you are happy with Vernon loop... then we'll leave it at that.

Hope you have fun... Love Vernon!

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Swampy, snow, flooding, maybe blackflies...
I will definitely bring extra socks.
I've never been to that area of the park...just down by the dam.
I have some time to contemplate my options.
Thank you both for you input.
L

Any strategy to going clockwise vs counter-clockwise?

I am considering this loop about a week later and was thinking of going the other way... but not really sure why...

With long days... I'd go Vernon on day 1.
Gives you option to simply enjoy Vernon if feel like and go back out Beehive...
skipping Gibson climb thru snow and Tiltill Valley.
Also if Falls Creek is VERY high ... you can go over the bridge in the morning
when the flooded area around it is down (the bridge near Vernon outlet
can get a little overflow... which may cause much pause... or pause to
why anyone would even mention)
If you go Rancheria first... then ... it depends... but you MAY want to continue
on b/c it's not that far to there... and then it's thru Tiltill you go...

Anywho... in winter... we go Rancheria/Tiltill/Vernon...
in summer ... other way around...
Only Vernon is a nice trip... that one is good year round...

It's spring ... you're gonna get your feet wet.... you're gonna have brush... you're gonna have deadfall.
Embrace it.

Have fun

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Beautiful country that. Followed a cinnamon (colored) black bear along the trail (really slow pace) for about 1/2 mile before Beehive. Watched him swat down rotten stumps like nothing. Afterwards went to test the wood myself and could not budge it!

If you stay on trail, I think that means you'll be hiking along Jack Main Canyon to get from Vernon to Tiltill. I was there Memorial weekend 2013. To this day, that experience remains in the top 5 all-time worst mosquito experiences. Funny thing is that it seems like predicting the weather - a month in advance. You can make general guesses but there's no way of knowing what you'll actually get. May be wonderful. Just be prepared, because it can get nasty.

The permit is Rancheria first. If that goes well then Vernon and Laurel.
I'm hoping for wind to keep the bugs down, but I will also be using bug spray and a head net.
I thought I'd take the rain gear too ,and the. Goretex lined boots, etc.

Remember, I was going to stay home and paint the bathroom.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2016 08:17PM by lschaaf.

Hi, I'll be doing this exact same loop in mid-June. We'll be interested to hear how your trip goes.
Mario

Mario- Mid June is probably a better time for this area.
I am starting to reconsider my options.
Might do something with a bike on the east side instead.
So- I'll be interested to hear how your hike goes.
L