Re: Sonora Pass Hikes

I have heard that there are some very fine hikes along Route 108, in particular around Sonora Pass.

Anyone know of good day hikes in there?

RobE,

The Pacific Crest Trail goes right thru Sonora Pass so you can go either way on the PCT for as far as you wish and then return.

There is a trail 2.7 miles east of the pass at Sardine Meadow on the right. It's a 2-mile round trip to Sardine Falls near Leavitt Peak, easy to moderate, 400' gain in elevation.

There is a trail to St. Mary's Pass from Rt. 108 on the left that begins .8 mile before Sonora Pass. It is 5 miles round trip, strenuous, 2,000' gain in elevation.

Other options you might look into:

The loop trail around Pinecrest Lake
The Kennedy Meadow to Relief Reservoir trail

Jim

How many miles you want?
I've done Granite Dome from Kennedy Meadows in a day (18+ miles). That was really nice...
luckily there had just been a rain which washed away alot of the horse apples.
If you have 4 wheel drive Vehicle you can drive all the way to Leavitt Lake and head up towards Big Sam.
Emigrant Meadow Lakes are really pretty...

Not a huge fan of the Emigrant though due to the inordinate amount of horse and cattle dookie.

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bill-e-g
How many miles you want?

More like 5-10, given some of the group may be a limiting factor.

Has anyone tried some of these ex- logging railroad trails? They are shorter and flatter
than I'd like.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/miwok/hiking.shtml

Eagle Creek sounds good. We could skip the shuttle.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/summit/hiking.shtml

Thanks for the info!

Here is another trail along 108. It's an old trail to see dwarf trees.

http://www.uniondemocrat.com/2009082197612/News/Local-News/Dwarfs-good-hiking-companions

I remember my mom taking me there when I was 12-13. I laughed my butt off - half a mile and some little trees growing out of rocks, like there weren't a whole bunch of those all over the mountains. I was such a cynical little thing.

They filmed Little House all over town - including down the street from my high school. We talked every teacher into going down to watch them film, just to get out of class. Michael Landon was a total jerk, wouldn't even look at us, stood around smoking and refusing autographs. Victor French was cool. Some of my classmates got to be extras.

Blue Canyon is on my do list. Haven't done any hikes off 108, AAMOF.

I went up to the PCT at Leavitt Pass: I thought it was pretty nice, and from a quick look at the map, a day hike between Sonora Pass and Leavitt Pass looked like a nice route.

Here's a pic I took:



And um... yeah, ... horses. (Though these were the only ones we saw all day)

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Gary Crabbe
Enlightened Images

"Nearness to Nature keeps the Spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt, and in touch with unseen powers." - Oyihesa; Santee Dakota indian, from his book, Soul of the Indian (1911)

This is a two year old thread.... but on 108 west of Sonora Pass is this gem:
Column of the Giants

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28379

Takes about an hour enjoying it from my recollection.

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bill-e-g
This is a two year old thread.... but on 108 west of Sonora Pass is this gem:
Column of the Giants

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28379

Takes about an hour enjoying it from my recollection.

Is it considered bad forum etiquette to bring back threads from the catacombs?

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Ohnivy-Drak

Quote
bill-e-g
This is a two year old thread.... but on 108 west of Sonora Pass is this gem:
Column of the Giants

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28379

Takes about an hour enjoying it from my recollection.

Is it considered bad forum etiquette to bring back threads from the catacombs?

Huh? Its hard for me to read this recently revived thread:

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,7451

and draw that conclusion.

You were able to read that thread?



(of course it's not... we just pointing it out... that's all)

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Ohnivy-Drak

Quote
bill-e-g
This is a two year old thread.... but on 108 west of Sonora Pass is this gem:
Column of the Giants

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28379

Takes about an hour enjoying it from my recollection.

Is it considered bad forum etiquette to bring back threads from the catacombs?

Not at all.

Doh! Remind me to check dates.... *Slaps forehead*

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Gary Crabbe
Enlightened Images

"Nearness to Nature keeps the Spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt, and in touch with unseen powers." - Oyihesa; Santee Dakota indian, from his book, Soul of the Indian (1911)

Thanks for all the suggestions. Your responses are still relevant and helpful.

Just an FYI...Catching up now that we are back from rainy Alaska

OUr website has a lot of hikes, all listed by state highway.

So if you go to our side, click destinations, and then click Hwy 108, you'll see lots of options!

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

I did Kennedy Lake a few weeks back ... beautiful hike ... nice campsites (some with fire rings) near the creek, before you get to the lake itself.

This website describes it: http://www.sonorapassvacations.com/hikes/kennedy_lake_hike.html

Oops, sorry, you wanted dayhikes. This would be doable but a little long (maybe 14 miles RT).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2011 10:00PM by Akichow.

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Akichow
I did Kennedy Lake a few weeks back ... beautiful hike ... nice campsites (some with fire rings) near the creek, before you get to the lake itself.

This website describes it: http://www.sonorapassvacations.com/hikes/kennedy_lake_hike.html

Oops, sorry, you wanted dayhikes. This would be doable but a little long (maybe 14 miles RT).

You did it at a good time. (many times ... timing is everything)

I've sworn off KM TH unless it is early in the year...

due to:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28235

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Ah, the maniacal, pooping cows, yes indeed.

This one fixed on me with an intense stare from a hundred yards away. She started to walk towards me, and then started to charge me. I yelled "No," as if I was disciplining my dog or something. Surprisingly, she stopped running. I then started walking down the trail, not looking at her. She got on the trail in back of me, and followed (stalked) me for a quarter of a mile, keeping a steady distance of about 20 yards away. I stopped when I met some people, and she stopped. Then she went off trail to join the rest of the herd, but kept staring.



But, there were a lot of payoffs to the hike...

Meadow with late afternoon sun



Kennedy Lake



My pooped pup at the end of the trip. Yeah, I know dogs in the wilderness are controversial. For what it is worth, mine is always leashed, and practices leave-no-trace principles (hence the doggie backpack). She complies with all laws. And she is a looker...

The cows are harmless...

Maybe they just wanted to sniff your pup?

Kennedy Lake is beautiful...
(on that trip we actually dropped down from Lost Lake)

The area between Kennedy Lake and Lost Lake was REALLY spectacular.
If you got time and go back... worth checking out...
def. class 3 stuff if you want to go the entire way though...

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See, this is one (of many) reasons why I admire the Chick-on.

Because the Chick-on goes where I fear to tread. And takes amazing pictures.

I'm not yet comfy with navigating and class 3 off-trail. Was doing a solo backpack (albeit with pup), also a new thing to me. Though I read "the area between Kennedy Lake and Lost Lake was REALLY spectacular," and I salivate.