MY fiance and I secured a wilderness permit for the Happy Isles - Illilouette Creek trailhead in mid-May. First glance at the map showed an enticing route starting at the HI-IC trailhead, going up Illilouette Creek towards Red Peak Pass, and then looping around the Clark Range, towards Merced Lake and then exiting through LYV. However, second, third, fourth, and fifth glances at the map (and subsequent research) had me thinking we will probably hit serious snow once we get close to the Ottoway lakes and the north side of Red Peak Pass could be very challenging. As experienced backpackers being inexperienced mountaineers, I would prefer to not risk conditions needing ice axes and possible self arrest. I am fine with route finding and micro-spike conditions.
Any chance RPP will be possible in mid-May? Just head up the trail and see?
Any route ideas from that trail head?