High Sierra Topix

I hate to come in here needing last minute advice, but my July 1 trip to Thousand Island Lake/Ediza got canceled due to remaining snow. Now my wife and I are looking for a shorter trip. We are hoping to find a walk-in spot at a campground on Saturday, and then score a walk-in backpacking permit the next day. Looking for non-national park, as we have a dog.

My initial thought was to camp near 2nd Lake on N. Fork of Big Pine Creek, a place we've been and both love. BUT, while we've spent many nights in the Eastern Sierra, neither of us has been to the Western Sierra. We'd love to give it a shot (driving up from Santa Barbara). After reading several other posts on HST, I thought Dinkey Lakes or Lost Lake might be good destinations. But I'm not sure Dinkey is accessible at this point. I don't know much about Lost, but it looks nice. I'm having a bit of trouble telling what is and isn't in SEKI (which we need to avoid due to the dog).

Any advice is much appreciated. TL;DR - Looking for Western Sierra - one night at a campground and the second (maybe third) night backpacking, covering 5-8 miles per day backpacking. Thanks!

I'm having a bit of trouble telling what is and isn't in SEKI (which we need to avoid due to the dog).

Lost Lake is in SEKI. West side is going to be a problem, not only with the snow, but also the access roads. You could go to Golden Trout Wilderness or the Cottonwoods Lake area just south of SEKI.

Thank you for the input. I will take a look at those two areas. Option B, we may just end up at Big Pine Creek again, and check out the Western Sierra later this summer.

I agree with Maverick that the Cottonwoods are a potential option.

The below are west-side options:
A possibility, but check on road and trailhead conditions (Sierra National Forest), would be the southwestern Ansel Adams Wilderness which would be the likes of Lady, Madera, Lillian Lake et al. The eastern of this region (Clover Meadow area to Cora L. and beyond) are compromised by the fact that there is a key stream crossing downstream of Cora that I suspect is a no-go for awhile.

Apparently the road to Courtright Res. is open which leads to the possibility of the SE Dinkey Lakes Wilderness (Cliff Lake and vicinity).

Weaver Lake of Jennie Lakes Wilderness is probably OK, but I don't know about going further to Jennie Lake.

The Twin Lakes area of Kaiser Wilderness via Potter Pass may be an option too.

giantbrookie wrote:
Apparently the road to Courtright Res. is open which leads to the possibility of the SE Dinkey Lakes Wilderness (Cliff Lake and vicinity).

Weaver Lake of Jennie Lakes Wilderness is probably OK, but I don't know about going further to Jennie Lake.

The Twin Lakes area of Kaiser Wilderness via Potter Pass may be an option too.

Neither of the regular Dinkey trailheads is accessible just yet. The Willow Meadow road is gated - apparently waiting for boggy parts to un-bog. The road between the boat ramp and Trapper Springs is closed so Cliff Lake trailhead is still a no go. Flooding, probably in that area where the road dips through a little stream -- we call it the car wash -- but not passable to cars yet.

Twin Lakes is under snow as of last week.

Weaver is not -- there is lingering snow on Poop Out Pass but Jennie should be fairly melted out by now as well. Both are being hit pretty hard by desparate backpackers looking for places to go. We day hiked and saw groups of girls and boys in illegal numbers.... Must have been 30 kids struggling out of there, looking tired.... But none of the stream crossings are dangerous.

Maxson Trailhead, on the other hand, is open -- so go out to Hobler Lake, or over to Post Corral. Depending on the creek at Post Corral you may be able to get to the North Fork of the Kings -- I bet the river is very impressive right now. But Hobler is fine, no major stream crossings.

For a non permitted option -- go to Maxson at Courtright, hike the Dusy Ershem. The four wheelers probably aren't hitting it yet. It's a corridor through the wilderness that is not wilderness. You can stop at Voyager Rock, continue on the DE, or even just walk around Courtright itself and camp on the north end of the lake.

Thanks for your input everyone. I'll look into the places you've mentioned. Excited for the mountains.