Tahoe/Northern Sierra recommendations? (summer)

[adamschneider]

I've decided that I need to go spend a week or two hiking in the Sierra Nevada this summer — most likely in late June, since California's meager snowpack will probably be gone by then. With the exception of one outing to Yosemite back in college, I'm a Sierra newbie.

I'll probably start near Lake Tahoe, and so far the one hike that's definitely on my list is the Glen Alpine to Lake Aloha loop (~14 miles) in the Desolation Wilderness, and I'd also like to explore the area around SR 88 (Carson Pass). South of that — but still north of Yosemite — are SR 4 (Ebbetts Pass) and SR 108 (Sonora Pass). But I don't know if I should even try going beyond Carson Pass; it's a HUGE area to explore, and I'll never see all of it. In fact, I might just set up a "base camp" in a South Lake Tahoe motel and then do day trips from there.

So I'm looking for both trail suggestions and general advice about hanging out in the Sierras, and whether y'all think I'll have plenty to do and see even if I just stick to South Tahoe.

(Oh, and I should point out that I'm looking for day hikes, not backpacking routes!)

[retired jerry]

I've been to South Tahoe several times. Gambling, if you're into that. Restaurants. Ski lift up to some mountain for those people that want to get into alpine area without much hiking. I've done a little hiking, which was fairly good. I've also read other places that Tahoe isn't the best of the Sierras.

I've been eyeing this area myself for a backpack. I think JMT South of Yosemite might be better.

Like drive to Roads End on the west side and go up to Rae Lakes, and then some loop on JMT. Busier because it's closer to the Bay area?

or Lake Sabrina on the east side http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... =8&t=12931.

Or arundodonax http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/vie ... f=8&t=9125

[adamschneider]

I don't give a rip about gambling, but I'm pretty stoked about being able to cool my jets in a motel room — with a fridge and a shower — for $33/night on weekdays. (And on the California side of the border, so no smoking.)

[arundodonax]

This isn't what you asked for, but if you have a week or two, I'd bite the bullet and drive a bit farther south and do the stuff along the Eastern Sierra Highway.

As far as day hikes go, just about every trailhead from Mammoth Lakes to Lone Pine offers something in terms of a great dayhike.

Some good trailheads to start from, starting with Lone Pine and going north:
Cottonwood Lakes http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.49057 ... o=r&n=0.25
Onion Valley http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.76372 ... o=r&n=0.25
Bishop - South Lake http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.1499, ... o=r&n=0.25
Rock Creek Cirque http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.41487 ... o=r&n=0.25
Mammoth - Duck Lake and beyond http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.5401, ... o=r&n=0.25
Ansel Adams Wilderness http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.728,- ... o=r&n=0.25
Tuolumne Meadows http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.90209 ... o=r&n=0.25

[forestkeeper]

You might want to check out the Half Dome. TFF Glenn and I are planning a 1 week trip down there in mid May. It's a 16 mile round trip hike with an EG of 4,800'. Check it out on YouTube and on this California National Park website.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/halfdome.htm

Glenn's been there once before. He says it is a three day trip. 1st day= hiking to the base of Half Dome
2nd day= ascending/descending the 4,800' peak, 3rd day= return trip to TH. Loonies and hikers that are in excellent shape could probably do this in a day, but old fart/ lollidogger/ photographing anything that you see through the lens- hikers like us, it will take a few days. We're the "Wild Hogs" of hiking.

[adamschneider]

So apparently, the answer is: No, no one has any Lake Tahoe suggestions.

(By the way, when I was in Yosemite ages ago, my girlfriend and I went up Half Dome in the afternoon/evening, slept on top, and hiked down in the morning. 3 days seems excessive! The "base" of Half Dome, if you're talking about what I think you're talking about, is only 1000 vertical feet from the summit.)

[forestkeeper]

I've never been there and just going off what the National Park Service website says. But since you experienced it first hand, it's good that the Park Service is WRONG, now I won't have to work so hard getting to the summit. Thanks And like I mentioned earlier, compared to someone as mighty and knowledgeable as you, I'm a recliner hiker that takes his time. Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[Excursionista]

I stayed in South Lake Tahoe for a few days last summer. I was there for some concerts, but wanted to get a hike in with my brother. He has a bad back, and we didn't want to over-exert before a show, so we went to Lake Margaret, south of Lake Tahoe. Only a few miles RT, and flat, but a gorgeous hike and a gorgeous lake, and we saw a marmot. I could spend a few hiking around Tahoe and not get tired of it.

I looked at a few "moderate" hikes and Meiss Meadows hit the top of my list, along with many of the hikes in Desolation. Grab Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe, by Mike White, and feast on it.

Whatever you do, skip any easy-to-moderate TH/hike starting around the lake itself. Those tend to be swamped with people and parking may simply be impossible. Once you leave the lake, the crowds thin out fast. If you want a 2k climb and/or an 8+ mile hike, there tons of options.

[retired jerry]

Take highway 50 west to the pass where the PCT crosses. Take the PCT north. Nice scenery, Sierras granite, but I've only hiked a few miles.

Go to the end of Falling Leaf Lake. Trail goes up from the far end of the lake. I've only hiked a short diatance.

Take that lift to the top of the ski area south of South Tahoe. Nice hiking from there and you don't have to do all the elvation gain. A few miles from the lift there aren't too many people. You can probably get expensive beer or whatever right at the lift, I forget

[adamschneider]

Whatever you do, skip any easy-to-moderate TH/hike starting around the lake itself. Those tend to be swamped with people and parking may simply be impossible. Once you leave the lake, the crowds thin out fast. If you want a 2k climb and/or an 8+ mile hike, there tons of options. ...I looked at a few "moderate" hikes and Meiss Meadows hit the top of my list, along with many of the hikes in Desolation.

Don't worry, I'm not driving 10+ hours just to do easy hikes with no elevation gain! Meiss Lake is on my list of possibilities; apparently you can get there from the north (Big Meadow) or the south (Carson Pass/Meiss Meadow).

...so we went to Lake Margaret, south of Lake Tahoe. Only a few miles RT, and flat, but a gorgeous hike and a gorgeous lake, and we saw a marmot.

Cool, Lake Margaret is on my list for a possible off-day/driving-around hike. Supposedly it's famous for wildflowers.

Go to the end of Falling Leaf Lake. Trail goes up from the far end of the lake. I've only hiked a short diatance.

That's the hike I mentioned in my original post: you start from the Glen Alpine trailhead and work your way southwest up a greenish valley to Lake Aloha, then go southeast on the PCT and return north on a semi-sketchy trail that climbs down some steep stuff. Here it is in Google Earth (Lake Tahoe is behind you in this view):

Grab Afoot & Afield Reno-Tahoe, by Mike White, and feast on it.

Thanks... not sure how I missed that one!