Question:
Mt Eddy is superb. I’d actually suggest doing it with a snowpack though there was a nasty ridge cornice when we were there three years ago in July (big snow year). I checked it out from 37K ft recently on a Portland to Bay Area flight and there doesn’t seem to be much snow this year. Since it is so close to Shasta I bet one could figure out whether Mt Eddy had a beg snow year or not. Good info on the hike and camp can be found in Sullivans Southern Cascades book. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Tony Flanders wrote I am planning a trip to northern CA this August, and I am trying to figure out whether to visit the Trinity Alps or the Marble Mountains… Our Trinity Alps Hikes have been few and long. Seven Up Peak is a great, hard 8 mile trek but worth it. Big Bear and Little Bear lakes were a snow camp for us. Lovely but tough going in but they’d be snow free in August. Another thought for you are the Deadfall Lakes below Mt Eddy and across from Mt. Shasta. There is some snow on Mt. Eddy all year long and it is popular. The view from Eddy is unreal and a good morning climb for campers. Pretty easy into the Lakes and to the top of the Mtn. Probably crowded at the campsites. Not a terrific campsite but you won’t find a nicer view than from the top of Eddy. Maybe a day hike on the way out?
Response:
We drove down I5 yesterday. The snow on bo0th Shasta and Mt. Eddy were at late fall levels. In fact, the north-west face of Shasta was so bare taht you could pikc your way to almost the top and never touch snow. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mt Eddy is superb. I’d actually suggest doing it with a snowpack though there was a nasty ridge cornice when we were there three years ago in July (big snow year). I checked it out from 37K ft recently on a Portland to Bay Area flight and there doesn’t seem to be much snow this year. Since it is so close to Shasta I bet one could figure out whether Mt Eddy had a beg snow year or not. Good info on the hike and camp can be found in Sullivans Southern Cascades book. Tony Flanders wrote I am planning a trip to northern CA this August, and I am trying to figure out whether to visit the Trinity Alps or the Marble Mountains… Our Trinity Alps Hikes have been few and long. Seven Up Peak is a great, hard 8 mile trek but worth it. Big Bear and Little Bear lakes were a snow camp for us. Lovely but tough going in but they’d be snow free in August. Another thought for you are the Deadfall Lakes below Mt Eddy and across from Mt. Shasta. There is some snow on Mt. Eddy all year long and it is popular. The view from Eddy is unreal and a good morning climb for campers. Pretty easy into the Lakes and to the top of the Mtn. Probably crowded at the campsites. Not a terrific campsite but you won’t find a nicer view than from the top of Eddy. Maybe a day hike on the way out?
– Jeff Wilson "And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." …… Seek harmony and balance in the mountains. Find harmony and balance within…..
Response:
I am planning a trip to northern CA this August, and I am trying to figure out whether to visit the Trinity Alps or the Marble Mountains. My circumstances are slightly unusual; I will be travelling with my wife and my 7-year-old daughter. I am expecting to spend 2 or 3 nights in the backcountry, preferably camped at the same spot, and I need a relatively short hike in. We only started backpacking as a family last year, and I think that our longest hike in was about 4 miles, over easy terrain. No doubt we could go quite a bit farther given enough time and motivation, but I don’t want to push things too far! Obviously, I want a lovely spot to camp. As for crowds, that cuts two ways. If we were by ourselves, my wife and I would avoid them, but my daughter enjoys having people around — as long as there aren’t so many that it is a hassle. The other thing that I absolutely require is a "real" mountain to climb. You know, one that *looks* like a mountaintop, steep on all sides. Here in New England, that is not one of the options! I used to be a climber in a former life, I am planning to take a rope, and my daughter can easily second anything that I can lead without placing pro — which I am not planning to bring. Her stamina also increases in proportion to the difficulty of the route; easy trails bore her, but she gets revved up as soon as she needs to use her hands. I’m looking for something fun — something that would totally terrify your average flatlander — but nothing genuinely difficult, and certainly not dangerous. I am leaning towards the Trinity Alps simply because Moss’s guidebook gives me a pretty good idea of which mountains might be within reach. Granite Peak seems promising because of its relative accessibility. But I have no comparable info about the Marble Mountains, so maybe they would be even better. Anybody have any advice? – Tony Flanders
Response:
Tony Flanders wrote I am planning a trip to northern CA this August, and I am trying to figure out whether to visit the Trinity Alps or the Marble Mountains…
Tony, The key here to me is the word "August". That could be pretty hot. Also, is "fishing" something of interest? I recommend doing a high altitude cirque lake. We stayed at Sky High Lakes 3 weeks ago, Upper Wright Lake 2 weeks ago. Those two are highest on my list in the Marbles. Upper Wright is about 3 miles in via Big Meadows TH and is the closest, easiest access to this 7400′ high cirque. It has one magnificent campsite, 2-3 very good sites and a couple more that leave a lot to be desired. Access from Boulder Creek TH is 4+ miles and very steep but the views of Marble Mtn are excellant. That is a tough climb of over 3800′ in just 4 miles. Lower Wright lake is 500 feet below and an easy 30 minute hike. Fishing is in the 10"-15" class. Campsites exist there too. Upper Wright from Big Meadows Trail is my first choice for you. Sky High Lakes is far more interesting to me but it is 7 miles in from Lovers Camp TH and a moderately strenuous trek with 30-40 lb pack. The aspen are gorgeous, the place is simply wonderful. The PCT runs along the ridge. There are literally 50 campsites in this nearly 1 mile round basin of cirque lakes. Tony, send me your e-mail add and I’ll send you a few JPG’s of both locations. Maybe 7 miles is a bit long but at 6000′ elevation it will be cool even if it’s 90 in the valleys. A day fisherman told us that Shackleford TH is closed because the access road was destroyed by flooding. Check if you were thinking of doing Cliff Lake from the Shackleford TH. Our Trinity Alps Hikes have been few and long. Seven Up Peak is a great, hard 8 mile trek but worth it. Big Bear and Little Bear lakes were a snow camp for us. Lovely but tough going in but they’d be snow free in August. Another thought for you are the Deadfall Lakes below Mt Eddy and across from Mt. Shasta. There is some snow on Mt. Eddy all year long and it is popular. The view from Eddy is unreal and a good morning climb for campers. Pretty easy into the Lakes and to the top of the Mtn. Probably crowded at the campsites. Not a terrific campsite but you won’t find a nicer view than from the top of Eddy. Maybe a day hike on the way out? The ideal? If you had the endurance, do Lovers Camp TH to Sky High Lakes. Leave early on the last day and go up to the PCT. Head for Marble Mtn. In about 2 miles you will come to the junction where you can either continue up on to Marble Mtn for views or go down to Lovers Camp TH. I’d go up the Marble Mtn trail a couple miles, turn around and return to the junction and head down hill to Marble Cabin and then back down to rejoin the Lovers Camp Trail making a great loop. The hike out is about 10 miles+ excursions, but with an early start you can make a few stops along the way. You won’t regret it and you will be able to bag a little of the PCT!!! Bill
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