Thread: Sonora Pass - Spring 2012

funny - I just got a text from a buddy yesterday asking the same exact thing for his sister

road is open and dry, but it's pretty rugged after about the first mile or so - haven't seen the creek crossings for a while, but those can be iffy - clearance is usually an issue out thataway

people do it, but I can't recommend it in good conscience

I scouted it this morning before hiking out to Stanislaus Peak.

It's dodgy. Not good for a car after the creek crossing at mile 1.

I was still on the ridge when all hell broke loose. Thunder, lightning, hail, rain. Temp was 49 when I left the pass. It's 97 at 4000'

Agreed. A high clearance subie might make it (Forrester maybe) with careful driving and a few scratches on the bottom. There's a long uphill stretch of rough rutted road after the 1st creek. If you can get to the 2nd creek, the rd gets better. We stopped at the 1st creek and added 2 miles to our backpack.

There's a couple patches out there past Leavitt Lake.

I was out at Leavitt Lake a few weeks back, and was surprised to see a two wheel drive car parked at the lake, not a particularly high clearance car either. I'm not really sure how they did it, whether it was finesse or shear determination, but it happened.

Sonora Pass closed due to snow today!

Originally Posted by telemike

Sonora Pass closed due to snow today!

Either good news, or a pain in the ass. Here's to hoping the snow keeps coming.

Originally Posted by davieboot

Either good news, or a pain in the ass. Here's to hoping the snow keeps coming.

It's both. bring it.

Tioga closed too.

Sonora Pass = my way to the East Walker. It's definitely a PIA given the fact that it won't amount to anything but a good waterin'.

But bring it anyway.

Last year, I drove over the pass the day after Christmas, which was kind of eerie. Glad to see it back to it's regular schedule, and hope it stays closed... for good reason.

Which is the best way to approach Leavitt? Up Leavitt lake drainage? Thanks

It took me forever to realize this is last year's thread.

Anyway, I generally access it from the top of the pass, via No Name shoulder and then side hill to a point, ski down to the flats below the Y and then ski up.

this year,i would skin from the first switchback w of the pass.

Originally Posted by rod9301

this year,i would skin from the first switchback w of the pass.

OK, thanks. that is sort of what I was thinking looking at it from google earth. Head up Blue Canyon Lake drainage and about halfway up start veering east.

Tried coming up directly from the pass yesterday. The traverse along the ridge near 10,800' is melted out and there would have been a *lot* of hiking. Right now I think blue canyon is the way to go.

niiice!!!! thanx for the realtime intel. i hate that fucking traverse anyway

Originally Posted by Ottime

It took me forever to realize this is last year's thread.

LOL me too.

we were there on Saturday - counted 22 other people!! there was a group of sierra club or something that was like ~12 of them...
did two laps on no-name - it was gettin slushy but then clouds rolled in and kept it nice. fun turns, skiing to the car w like two little dirt areas.

Originally Posted by gimpy

niiice!!!! thanx for the realtime intel. i hate that fucking traverse anyway

That traverse sucks and every time I donut it I wonder if skinning up from the switchback would actually conserve energy.