2021 River / Stream Crossing Reports

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
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erutan
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Pine Creek > Seldon > Pine Creek

Post by erutan »

2021-07-15 to 2021-07-24: Pine Creek TH > Pine Creek Pass > Hutchinson Meadow > Pinnacles Basins > Lower Turret Lake (via Old Squaw to Middle Turret) > PCJMT a few minutes below Senger Creek > Seldon Pass > Rosemarie Meadow to Orchid & Apollo Lakes > Hilgard Fork of Bear Creek > Ursula Pass (lol) > Bear Lakes Basin > Dancing Bear Pass > Italy Pass > Pine Creek TH

No issues, all streams easily hoppable or had bridges. The one between the Pine Creek lakes is still degrading, but was stable if slanty.
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erutan
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8/1-7 Rush Creek TH > North Glacier Pass > Vernon Pass > Sluggo Pass > Merced River > Happy Isles TH

Post by erutan »

No stream crossing issues.

The guard rails of one of the bridges over lewis creek had been busted by a tree, but they sufficiently cushioned the bridge itself and there was no sign of damage.

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We skipped the wade of the outlet of the lower twin island lake (and didn't get eyes on it). The water flowing into that lake was a little low but still strong, so I imagine it'll still be a wade but not the full 3 feet of depth.

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aaron_in_sf
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7/23-8/14 SOBO JMT (Goodale, on Silver/Selden pass section)

Post by aaron_in_sf »

7/23-8/14 SOBO JMT (Goodale, on Silver/Selden pass section)

Got back yesterday from JMT. The single time I removed my boots for a crossing was Evolution Creek at the bottom of the Valley. The primary ford was low flow and safe. All other crossings on rocks.

The only time I got my boots wet was an unstable rock in the last crossing below Donahue.

Stunning to see the differences vs. e.g. 2019. Looking like troubled times.
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Wandering Daisy
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Re: 2021 River / Streams/water quality

Post by Wandering Daisy »

Route: Rafferty Creek-Townsley Lake-Vogalsang Pass-Florence Lake-Hutchings Creek upper lakes-Lyell Fork of the Merced, Bernice Lake. 9/6-15

Some puddles in Rafferty Creek at 9300 feet (where it bends SW), pond on Tuloumne Pass has water but it is not great, inflow to Fletcher Lake, inflow to Townsley Lake (but water quality worse than what is in the lake), ponds on bench between Evelyn Lake and Townsley have water but low with significant mud flats, flow from Fletcher Lake below high camp, but dubious because of high camp impact. Small flow from Vogalsang Lake and you can step across on rocks. Good flow and water quality in all of Lewis Creek although significantly lower than usual- can step across. Florence Creek falls flowing but not much. Bernice Lake and all upstream lakes pretty good with water, as well as Gallison Lake. Florence Lake a bit low but not bad.

Parallel trail to the trail down at Merced and Washburn Lake: fair flow in the stream just down after you climb up the hill from Lewis Creek, flow in creek south of Cony Crags, flow in creek just before you drop down to Lyell Fork of the Merced which has some flow and waterfalls, but also some sections of still water. Hutchings Creek flowing- can step across rocks, waterfall below Lake 10211 flowing. All shallow lakes in the upper basin have extensive mud flats but flow from upper lakes below Sluggo Pass in the main creeks.

Upper Hutchings basin lakes are low but good water. The smaller of the numerous small ponds (there are dozens) are dry but about half have water which have clear water. Streams from the uppermost lakes still flowing but significantly reduced volume.

Big storm 9/9 but did not significantly increase stream flow.

Lots of wind, so the larger lakes that get a lot of use had soapy suds at the down-wind end, usually the inlet/east to northeast ends.
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