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Two quick questions

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:25 pm
by BadPepsi
Hi there,

I'm planning a quick trip this weekend (June 14-15) with some friends. We're still undecided about where we'll hike, so I've got two questions.

1) Has anyone done the Lyell Canyon-Ireland Lake-Rafferty Creek loop yet this year? I'm hoping for info on snow conditions in that area.

2) Can anyone confirm or deny the existence of previously impacted stealth campsites along the Sunrise Trail to Clouds Rest, specifically in the area about 1 or 1.5 miles from the trailhead, just before the climb gets steep?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:04 am
by frankutchen
Next weekend we are going to do the same loop. How was the snow? Any mosquitoes yet?

THanks for any input.

Frank.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:11 am
by BadPepsi
Hi Frank,

The hike was awesome. Snowmelt is everywhere, the creeks are rushing, the lakes are still covered in a blanket of ice and snow. Beautiful!

There are significant snowpatches and snowfields that obscure sections of the trail beginning before the spur trail to Ireland Lake, and ending about halfway down the meadows of Rafferty Creek. There are occasionally footprints to follow, particularly on the Rafferty Creek side of the loop. If you're familiar with the loop, you should be able to follow the general direction of the trail, but if it's your first time in the area, you will want a detailed topo map.

We were devoured by bugs about halfway up the climb out of Lyell Canyon, but we soon climbed above the mosquito belt and had no trouble at the higher elevations.