Posted by John W. Wall on October 12, 2010 at 12:48 PM
I'm looking for the best possible short trip to do either this weekend or next. I'll be with a non-photographer, but I'd like to go somewhere photogenic for my own sake. I've never hiked the Lost Coast and am leaning toward that one. But, a 3-day hike through the late fall color would also be dynamite. I'm just not sure about traveling to the Eastside or being up real high if a hairy weather system rolls through. Any thoughts?
Posted by Paul Duval on October 12, 2010 at 9:53 PM
John it looks like from the Noaa site that there will be no storm system moving into the Sierras this weekend. In fact from the Satellite image it looks like that all of the snow out of that last round of weather has already melted out of the high country.
Paul
Posted by Tony Siciliano on October 12, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Weather forecasts are correct most of the time, but personally if I were going into the high country of the Eastern Sierra this time of year I would be prepared for snow with the proper gear. I got snowed on at 10,500 feet 9 miles up from the North Lake Trailhead the end of last August!! Another thing to keep in mind is that if it is color you are lookin for, it is very variable from location to location right now. Much of the color is from aspen trees, which start to thin out around 10,000 feet. Most of the eastern sierra trailheads start at 9,000 feet or above and climb to passes of 11,000 feet and above, so aspen color will be limited as you get higher.
Posted by Anish Desai on October 13, 2010 at 5:53 PM
John,
I'm not sure where you'll be driving from, but if you want fall colors, Southern Utah might provide some options this time of year (Zion high country, Escalante...).
Tony's right about the Eastern Sierra. Most backpacking routes will take you above the fall color action. And indeed the weather can be unpredictable.
If you are equipped for bad weather, and don't put a high pass between you and escape, the Sierra high country will be breathtaking this time of year. There are less people, no bugs, and the low sun angle makes for nice light. The grasses will be golden, willow may still have some nice yellow, and heather will be reddish. Although the eye-popping color will be largely absent, the softer hues can be very pleasing.
If I were to suggest an East Side short trip I would go to Sabrina Basin, i.e. from Lake Sabrina hike up toward Blue Lake, Donkey Lake, or Baboon Lakes. In the same area, you could wander up to Hungry Packer Lake below Picture Peak.
On the West Side, you could go to Kings Canyon NP at Cedar Grove and hike the along Kings River to Junction Meadow, hang a left at Vidette Creek and go east into the higher country. It's beautiful.
Have fun!
--P
Posted by Steve Sieren on October 14, 2010 at 11:25 AM
John, I've done the Lost Coast hike just this past August. It was such an amazing experience spending the days on a one way trip. The scenerery changes quite a bit from black sand beaches, high bluffs, forrested creeks and rocky alcoves. You'll just have to time it with the tides if you go. You don't want to be there if there is a storm because of the powerful waves don't mix well with the low tide warning areas. It's an extreme change from the normal mountain backpacking I'm used to.
Posted by John W. Wall on October 14, 2010 at 3:42 PM
I just took a look at the tide tables -- of course next week is a full moon, so it's 6-foot high tides every day. Plus it looks to be a 6-hour drive to Mattole. King's Canyon is starting to look like a nice Plan B.
Discussion
6 repliesPaul
I'm not sure where you'll be driving from, but if you want fall colors, Southern Utah might provide some options this time of year (Zion high country, Escalante...).
Tony's right about the Eastern Sierra. Most backpacking routes will take you above the fall color action. And indeed the weather can be unpredictable.
If you are equipped for bad weather, and don't put a high pass between you and escape, the Sierra high country will be breathtaking this time of year. There are less people, no bugs, and the low sun angle makes for nice light. The grasses will be golden, willow may still have some nice yellow, and heather will be reddish. Although the eye-popping color will be largely absent, the softer hues can be very pleasing.
If I were to suggest an East Side short trip I would go to Sabrina Basin, i.e. from Lake Sabrina hike up toward Blue Lake, Donkey Lake, or Baboon Lakes. In the same area, you could wander up to Hungry Packer Lake below Picture Peak.
On the West Side, you could go to Kings Canyon NP at Cedar Grove and hike the along Kings River to Junction Meadow, hang a left at Vidette Creek and go east into the higher country. It's beautiful.
Have fun!
--P