July 2012: Tahoe Nat'l Forest Grouse Ridge

[E.A.Y.]

(the poll thread was here)

Friday, July 13th - Sunday July 15th 2012

Hiking from Grouse Ridge Trailhead north-ish on the Grouse Ridge trail to the Glacier Lake trail (east-ish) to Glacier Lake (about 5, 6 miles total) on Friday, hanging around the area exploring (Buttes to climb! Lakes to find!) or loafing on Saturday, hiking back out via Sand Ridge trail (parallels Glacier Lake trail) on Sunday.

Grouse Ridge trailhead is OPEN. Yay!

Carpool
I'm driving the SUV so I can take other people and their gear.

I can pick up 4 other people (gRaFFiX is one of those 4 unless he tells me otherwise) along the I-80 corridor in the Sacto area (Douglas and east of there) Friday morning.

We can arrange carpools by private message (plan on being cc'd on all carpool plans).

So if you have not asked for Friday off, do it now!

Random Notes
There is no water available at the trailhead: don't expect to fill up there.
There is a fire lookout to climb near the trailhead. We can do that before we hit the trail.

Maps

English Mountain is the USGS topo map for the area. On the usgs.gov site, there are several downloadable maps of different dates available.

The 2012 does not seem to show hiking trails.
The 2000 map shows Glacier Lakes Trail, but not Sand Ridge trail.
The 1983 shows the Sand Ridge trail, but not the Glacier Lakes Trail.

Other Notes
I have not personally hiked this route. I believe gRaFFiX has.
Be responsible and bring maps or GPS to keep yourself un-lost.

Glacier Lake is about 7500 feet elevation. It will get cold at night. It may be windy. There is usually a chance of rain. Be prepared.

I will contact the ranger station and get fire updates and so on as we get closer to the 13th.

[meld]

I'll be there.

[cardo]

Dumb question #1: Bear canisters required?

[E.A.Y.]

Dumb question #1: Bear canisters required?

No, bear cans are not required.

You will want to hang or otherwise protect your food. I'm going to give my Ursack a spin.

You will need a campfire permit if you plan to use any stove or build a fire: free and available for the asking at BLM, Cal Fire, and Forest Service offices.

I will check on fire restrictions (for campfires) before we leave.

[cardo]

Quid, me anxious sum? (What, me worry? Alfred E Neuman)

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum...pic_id=1294379

[gRaFFiX]

Yeah, I'm interested. I'll run the dates by my boss (wife) to see if they work fine. Honestly I forgot all about it, but it should be fun.



The large version of the map can be viewed here.

The road to Grouse Ridge is an unpaved, rocky, and washboarded road, so low clearance vehicles should use caution, and drive slow. There is a campground at the top of Grouse Ridge - right by the parking lot and trailhead. The firelookout has some great views, and was open to climb last time I was there. It's up the road that forks left at the perking lot and up to the top of the ridge. The trail is well marked with little wooden signs so you shouldn't get lost, and there are lots of little lakes in the area for sturdy hikers looking for a day trip. The Sand Ridge trail is there, and has some great scenery, though I remember it being less strenuous if you take it coming back. The uphill portion back to the car from the milk lake trail junction is a killer, so you should know that up front. The best campsites for glacier lake are right where the trail dumps you at the lake, they don't get any better if you try to walk around the backside. If those campsites are full, take the sand ridge trail away from glacier lake and down to the five lakes basin. The trail doesn't take long to find some small ponds, and even skirts around one of the five lakes. To get to the top of the Black Buttes is really starightforward. You'll see the way up when your at the lake, and you have to go up the last portion from the back. The last bit is basic scrambling, but if you are afraid of heights or rock climbing you wont like it. There was a log book at the top last time I was there from the Sierra club, so that was pretty cool. Just make sure to go up the highest one, since there are multiple pinnicles. Dress warm and bring your fire permits because the lake is at 7600' elevation, and it gets cold at night - sometimes during the day if the wind blows over the crest of the buttes. Other than that it is an easy, and short, hike with only the last bit, coming back, being that strenuous.

Also, are tent campers ok to come? My brother just sent me a text last night and asked if I'd be down for a hike soon, so I thought of bringing him along too, but I thought I'd ask the group first. He just bought a whole bunch of gear recently so I think he wants to get out. I have a feeling he'll look like an advertisement for REI.

[E.A.Y.]

Yeah, I'm interested. I'll run the dates by my boss (wife) to see if they work fine. Honestly I forgot all about it, but it should be fun.
...
Also, are tent campers ok to come? My brother just sent me a text last night and asked if I'd be down for a hike soon, ... I have a feeling he'll look like an advertisement for REI.

I'm fine with tenters. More trees for the rest of us.
I'll be the 'can't find the REI' advertisement.

You FORGOT!!!!??? The SHAME.

[Sidewinder]

I was out at Milk lake for an overnighter the weekend before last during the last heat wave. Never got below 65 that night. Lots of mosquitos and people around the lake. I was surprised at how popular that area is. I think if you could stake out an area before the weekend starts that would give best chance to grab the spots graffix mentions.

I'm trying to get those days off of work. If so, you'll see me and the dog. ThinkIng of doing some pack rafting and fishing. Saw a bunch of trout at the lake.

S

[gRaFFiX]

You FORGOT!!!!???

Yeah, guilty.

[gRaFFiX]

I made sure the dates worked and we had nothing going on that weekend, and my wife is actually gonna come with me. I talked to my brother and he wants to come to, but they just bought a house so they may be in the middle of moving. I don't know how that's gonna play out but I'll keep you posted. So for now it's just us two.