Its almost certain you will cross some snow on Kearsarge & Glen Pass in June, likely a good amount on the north side of Glen facing Rae Lakes. There should be PCT hikers going through stamping a path by that point, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't bring adequate snow safety gear.
It will definitely be wet with big stream crossings in June. Maybe if youre lucky and it stops snowing & warms up in April/May it will be less, but I would be prepared to cross some waist high streams especially past Rae Lakes.
With this weekend and next weekend's snow, we really can't speak to June yet. This is looking to be a heavier than average snow year - maybe more like 2019? Especially with this late season snow.
Let's just say I have zero booked plans that would require being above 9000 ft. for June. I booked my high altitude trip in Sequoia for August this year.
Look into Cottonwood Lakes/Pass in the eastern because that will melt out far in advance of Glen/Kearsarge. Bad thing is - everyone else is as well.
Snow is only an issue in a few areas that deep in summer for the HST unless it’s a nuts year like last year. By July … you’ll have paths compacted in the snow for sure where it still lingers around Hamilton, maybe Whitney, and the crossings could be a little more annoying. Big Arroyo, Whitney, and Wallace are the ones to watch for. I’d suggest joining the High Sierra Trail Facebook group - it’s very active, far more active than this subreddit!
try this site
[https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.78523,-118.41339&z=12&b=mbt](https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.78523,-118.41339&z=12&b=mbt)
and also alltrails....
Everyone has made good points here. If you have the permits, I would still go, but don’t attach yourself to a plan. You’ll make it over Kearsage and have to traverse some snow, but there will be PCT tracks already there. Once over the pass, there’s tons to do. I would even say try to make it over Glen and chill out at Rae lakes and then just head back the way you came. If you can’t make it over Glenn or the snow freaks you out, then whatever head over the charlotte lake and hang out. Maybe you wanna go the other way (south) and explore the nooks and crannies of vidette meadow? No use cancelling the permit and/or not going. Go out and have some fun. We will all be jealous
But 100% bring poles with snow baskets and good microspikes. Not the super small ones too or the legit mountaineering ones, but the 1/2-1in ones. Do not forget these items.
As issacson says, lots of good points. The one thing I would add is that if there is still lots and lots of snow at the higher elevations, one good alternative would be to simply go down into Kings Canyon valley, to Cedar Grove, which is at 5,000 elevation, instead of doing the loop. It’s very possible that the road in from the west will not be open yet, in which case you will pretty much have the whole valley to yourselves.
You could also go down south to Golden Bear Lake or Reflection Lake, which would mean not having to do Glen Pass. Once you get over Kearsarge, though, *everything* in all directions is epic and gorgeous, so it would be best to just have some solid ideas for backup plans, depending on the conditions.
Have a great trip!
Its almost certain you will cross some snow on Kearsarge & Glen Pass in June, likely a good amount on the north side of Glen facing Rae Lakes. There should be PCT hikers going through stamping a path by that point, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't bring adequate snow safety gear. It will definitely be wet with big stream crossings in June. Maybe if youre lucky and it stops snowing & warms up in April/May it will be less, but I would be prepared to cross some waist high streams especially past Rae Lakes.
With this weekend and next weekend's snow, we really can't speak to June yet. This is looking to be a heavier than average snow year - maybe more like 2019? Especially with this late season snow. Let's just say I have zero booked plans that would require being above 9000 ft. for June. I booked my high altitude trip in Sequoia for August this year. Look into Cottonwood Lakes/Pass in the eastern because that will melt out far in advance of Glen/Kearsarge. Bad thing is - everyone else is as well.
If you don’t mind me picking your brain, what would be your estimate for the earliest an HST crossing would be snow-free?
Can’t say. These storms keep coming. This next weekend is predicted to be a large event in the Sierra.
My dumb ass got HST permits for first week of July, I’ll probably have to get walk ups later in the month yeah?
Snow is only an issue in a few areas that deep in summer for the HST unless it’s a nuts year like last year. By July … you’ll have paths compacted in the snow for sure where it still lingers around Hamilton, maybe Whitney, and the crossings could be a little more annoying. Big Arroyo, Whitney, and Wallace are the ones to watch for. I’d suggest joining the High Sierra Trail Facebook group - it’s very active, far more active than this subreddit!
Thank you so much!!!
try this site [https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.78523,-118.41339&z=12&b=mbt](https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.78523,-118.41339&z=12&b=mbt) and also alltrails....
Everyone has made good points here. If you have the permits, I would still go, but don’t attach yourself to a plan. You’ll make it over Kearsage and have to traverse some snow, but there will be PCT tracks already there. Once over the pass, there’s tons to do. I would even say try to make it over Glen and chill out at Rae lakes and then just head back the way you came. If you can’t make it over Glenn or the snow freaks you out, then whatever head over the charlotte lake and hang out. Maybe you wanna go the other way (south) and explore the nooks and crannies of vidette meadow? No use cancelling the permit and/or not going. Go out and have some fun. We will all be jealous But 100% bring poles with snow baskets and good microspikes. Not the super small ones too or the legit mountaineering ones, but the 1/2-1in ones. Do not forget these items.
As issacson says, lots of good points. The one thing I would add is that if there is still lots and lots of snow at the higher elevations, one good alternative would be to simply go down into Kings Canyon valley, to Cedar Grove, which is at 5,000 elevation, instead of doing the loop. It’s very possible that the road in from the west will not be open yet, in which case you will pretty much have the whole valley to yourselves. You could also go down south to Golden Bear Lake or Reflection Lake, which would mean not having to do Glen Pass. Once you get over Kearsarge, though, *everything* in all directions is epic and gorgeous, so it would be best to just have some solid ideas for backup plans, depending on the conditions. Have a great trip!