Headed to Long Valley from Tram 4/23/24 - conditions?

[lesbert]

We are headed up for a overnight to try out a night of backpacking with families (first time for boys 11-14). Curious if snow has melted for the hike that goes from upper tram to long valley campsite. With first time backpackers, we don't want to deal with sliding around on icy trails. Seems that weather will be good. Anyone been up recently?

Thanks for any feedback you can all offer.

[SoCalJim]

Guess you mean camp at Round Valley; Long Valley is where the upper tram station is located. Trail is almost completely snow-free to the first stream crossing (about one-half mile), then expect anywhere from no snow to a couple of feet in places after that. However, with current warmer temps, ice shouldn't be a problem.

[lesbert]

Hi,

Thanks so much for the reply. Are you saying we should anticipate actually walking through 2 feet of snow on the trail or is it packed down?
When were you last up? Yes - we are going to round valley - sorry - not been yet. We are newbies to backpack camping. Leslie

[leaftye]

It's not going to be powder. With the time that has passed since the last storm and the temperatures in the 60's today, powder is long gone. If it's a couple feet deep, then you may post hole later in the day....although that trail is probably traveled enough that you wouldn't sink far. If you start in the morning, you can time things so that the surface becomes soft enough that you can get good traction, but not so soft that you sink into it. Just keep an eye on the weather. There are very warm days like today, and then there was the weather like a week ago where the temps stayed in the teens all day.

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Went up from the tram to summit with Indie Jack yesterday. It was warm -- I wore shorts and t-shirt and didn't add any clothing. We took the main trail (which is really chewed up after the stream crossing) then crossed over to Tamarack Valley and up to the base of the Miller Saddle. We ran into Donald on the way up. The snow has melted substantially since last Sun -- large areas of brush are visible. We zig zagged around the brush to get to solid snow for climbing.

We wore snowshoes from about 10 K up and Donald donned crampons. Even with snowshoes we post holed on the ridge several times. It was beautiful on top -- about 55 degrees with a 10 mph wind. On the way down from Miller Saddle we opted to glissade since we kept ending up on our butts trying to walk down This trip I acheived two firsts -- glissading with shorts (ouch!) and snow shoeing while wearing shorts and t-shirt

Great hike after doing Skyline the day before.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[MumbledStumbles]

Thanks everyone for posting the trail conditions. I hope the weather holds up for my group. We'll be hitting Round Valley in a week. I'm taking some newbies on thier first trip. Can't wait to get back up there!