Shoutout to the guy who told me to take the Sierra route in June

Everyone said go in July to avoid snow but I hit the trail near Bishop in early June and got slammed by a freak storm at 10,000 feet. Had to dig my tent out of 2 feet of powder at midnight and bail to the nearest ranger station the next morning. Anyone else ignore the standard timing advice and regret it?

2 comments

2 Comments

joel_martinez5d ago

Yeah, that "hit the trail early to beat the crowds" logic can backfire hard. I've seen enough folks get hammered by surprise storms in the Sierra to know you always pack for full winter conditions even in June. Next time stash an extra set of dry sacks and a lighter shovel just in case.

hannahsingh5d ago

Got trapped in a similar June storm near Whitney, had to bushwhack out soaking wet and freezing.