I took a short trip this weekend to Lake Vernon and Rancheria Falls. I started from the Beehive Meadow trail and hiked to Vernon where I spent the night. Saturday I hiked south to Tiltill Meadow and then Rancheria Falls. I planned on a second night at Rancheria but got there at about 2pm so I just hiked back to the dam. Saw nobody from the rim of the valley to Lake Vernon. There were two other groups camped at Vernon but saw nobody else until Tiltill Meadow. Trails were followable but overgrown in places and lots of downed trees, I would guess from the wind storm back in November. A few snow patches on north facing slopes but mostly snow free.
Here is a link to a few pics (taken via cell phone)
https://picasaweb.google.com/117025886482845091325/VernonMay2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIzCwO_SgImPsQE&feat=directlink
Anyone have a guess as to snow conditions in Jack Main Canyon? It looks to be mostly below 8000 ft.
Chris