Olancha Pass snowshoe trip report

[jspeigl]

Last weekend, I and a friend backpacked up the Sage Flat trail to Olancha pass in the Southern Sierra Nevada. Unlike most trails in Southern California, we didn't see a single other person. There were some snowshoe tracks for the first mile up the trail, but after those, we didn't see any tracks left by other humans. So for those looking for wilderness solitude, this would be a good bet. Here are some pictures:

The cattle drive trail up to Olancha pass


Animal tracks were the only tracks on the trail


My friend approaching Olancha pass


Olancha Pass


Sunrise


Whitney and Langley


Olancha Peak


Animal tracks


Animal tracks close up. Momma and cub?


Monache Meadows

[hikehigh]

Nice! Did you camp at the wrangler camp? What were the snow depths beyond the pass?

[lilbitmo]

Great Trip Report, that sunrise picture is exactly why I go out, you cannot get that kind of beauty from your couch or your remote.

Thanks for sharing.

Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[jspeigl]

I camped in the trees just north of the middle of summit meadows. I didn't measure the snow depths, but I suppose they were somewhere around 3-4 feet.

[EnFuego]

Nice TR. Thanks for posting. Beautiful pictures.

[tomcat_rc]

thanks for the report - I love hiking in this area.
How was the snow bank conditions on the final gain to the summit - looks like just enough snow on the rocks to make for poor footing but not enough snow to use the snow shoes?
Your photos were great.

[jspeigl]

tomcat,

We only got close enough to view the peak from where the picture was taken. However, on an off-trail jaunt towards Olancha pass, we ran into a tallus area that was exactly how you described. There was just enough snow to cover and hide the tallus, but not enough to fully support our snowshoes. The result was very slow progress. At one point we covered about 1/4 mile in about 2 hours.

I figured that going for the peak could have taken 5 - 6 hours extra (even though it was only about 1.5 miles, 1500 feet more). Also there was a forcasted storm coming in that never really materialized. At a leisurely pace back down the mountain, we made the trailhead at 4:00 P.M. I have no regrets not going for the peak, though in hindsight we probably could have made it.

[KathyW]

J: Thanks so much for sharing your pictures - they are beautiful.