Will Horeseshoe Meadows be snowbound?

imported
#1

With all the snow the PCT is getting this year, do you think the road to the Horseshoe Meadows Campground will be accessible to a 4x4 truck on June 4?

The reason I ask is that if I start my thru hike on April 22, attend ADZPCTKO the next day and then hike at a conservative pace, I should reach the Trail Pass Trail exit (mile 744.8) on June 4. My plan is to then meet up with my wife (aka “Hot Chocolate”) at Horseshoe Meadows to get restocked, and if necessary wait a few days (a week or more?) until the snow melts enough for me to make it over the Sierra passes and swollen streams. If this snow-imposed lay over is likely to be more than one day, we will probably drive into Lone Pine …

We have a Ford F-250 4x4 truck, but my wife has little experience in driving in heavy snow, so any advice you can give on the likely road conditions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

FireBall

FireBall

#2

uh . . . . Horseshoe Meadows Campground on June 4 would mean leaving Kennedy Meadows around June 1-2. That is NOT advisable during a NORMAL year. And 2005 does not look normal.

—start the trail after the kickoff

—take a bunch of zeros in SoCal

—slow down

—or all of the above.

Whatever you do, stay south of Kennedy Meadows until at least June 10-15. You’re asking for trouble if you get there earlier.

yogi

www.pcthandbook.com

yogi

#3

Yogi is right and wrong on this one…YOU can get to horseshoe mdws perhaps by the 4th and the road will be plowed or snow free as well…As a rule of thumb th high campgrounds off 395 are plowed really early as they all lead to fishing spots. Fisherman are even more crazy then hikers so the roads will be open…By the time of the kickoff i will recheck with F/Game to be sure…
when yogi says stay south til 6/10 shes right for anything after trail pass…There is a lot more to see and do in Lonepine (more money is needed) The first major creek crosssing is north of T/P too.

Meadow ed

#4

yeah, meadow ed is right. The question was about Horseshoe Meadows and I converted it to a question about the Sierra in general. You could get to Horseshoe Meadows by June 4 PROBABLY with no problems. But to go north of Trail Pass or Cottonwood Pass by June 4 . . . . well, I think you’d have some interesting stories to tell!!!

yogi

www.pcthandbook.com

yogi

#5

Actually, this brings up a good point for those wishing to start the PCT at the Kickoff PLUS avoid major snow in the Sierra-------

Kennedy Meadows is a LOUSY place to spend 3-4-5-6-7 days waiting for the melt — there is NOTHING in KM except a store and a restaurant a few miles from the store. If you could get to Trail Pass or Cottonwood Pass AND get into Lone Pine, you could hang out in Lone Pine or Bishop (via bus) while waiting for the snow to melt.

bus info is here: http://www.inyocounty.us/transit/Lone%20Pine%20to%20Bishop%20page.htm

yogi

#6

Lone Pine was a fantastic place to hang out for a few days. There’s some good stores for re-supply, a great hotel with a pool, and if you head north on the main road just a couple blocks past all the main stores there’s a burger stand with awesome food. mmm, mmm, mmm! All on the main drag. :slight_smile:

toes

#7

I’ve been hanging out at Horseshoe Meadows for eighteen years. I don’t ever recall the road to Horseshoe being snowed in by Memorial Day.

Occaisionally Cottonwood Pass will be snow-covered, but Trail Pass and Mulkey Pass should be ok to get from the PCT to Horseshoe to Lone Pine.

Also, the PCT from KM to Trail Pass should be ok - except perhaps near the slopes of Olancha. If so, a reasonable bypass is Monache Meadows, Templeton Meadows, Bullfrrog Meadows, then up over Trail Pass and down into Horseshoe.

booger

#8

Thanks for all the helpful responses to my querry. I am especially grateful to Meadow Ed and booger for their assurances that the road to Horseshoe Meadows should be passable by June 4.

I’m sorry that I seemed to alarmed Yogi because I had no intention of trying to cross the Sierra’s starting on June 5 or 6 unless there is dramatic snow melt-off between now and then. I had already planned on taking 5 zero days (1 every 4-6 days) before I reach Kennedy and Horseshoe Meadows, but given the comments above, maybe I’ll take a couple of double zero’s and then a week or so of zero’s in and around Lone Pine (toe: thanks for the hints on where to go). I imagine there should be some decent day hiking opportunities for me and my wife to help pass the time.

Thanks again,

FireBall

FireBall

#9

When you get to kennedy meadows call the National Forrest service office in lone pine to find out what the road conditions are to Horse shoe meadow. I got a ride out of there last summer around June 10th and was lucky to get one, there weren’t alot of people driving in there. I would guess you would see snow this year getting to Horse shoe meadow even if the road is open once you get there. I would still go to Horseshoe meadow again and try to get a ride - it just might take a day possibly.

Pika