Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Kearsarge Pass Conditions?

Anybody have recent trail conditions for Kearsarge Pass? Thanks!

I was up there two weeks ago and there was still a ton of snow. I was postholing somewhere from a quarter mile to half mile from trail head.

I was up there on the 19-may doing PM-2.5 sampling; the trail to about 1/2 mile from Lower Pothole lake is fine then snow covered off and on to that lake; from Lower Pothole to Gilbert Lake again fine until about 1/4 mile to Gilbert where once again it is snow covered to the lake. Only went to Gilbert so can't tell you from there, but we can assume there is at least as much snow on the trail from there. Things are melting really fast up there right now.

dmatt

Thanks for the updates!

Any updates from early June? I'm planning to go over Kearsarge from Onion Valley and down Bubbs Creek starting next weekend, if conditions permit.

Thanks!

I was up there on 6/7. There are still patches of snow to deal with, but it is well consolidated. Snow shoes, crampons and ice axe are unnecessary.

Thanks! Any information on the ice breaking up at Kearsarge lakes would be great, if anybody was there in the last week.

On Saturday June 7, I went across Kearsarge Pass, down by Bullfrog Lake and on to the JMT. The ice is breaking up at Kearsarge Lakes significantly with the first lake mostly ice-free. Bullfrog Lake was ice-free as shown in the photos but there is still snow in the basin. It's melting fast and should not hinder your trip at all.
Kearsarge Pass 6-7-08

Thanks!

Was there alot of wind at Bullfrog Lake and what permits did you need? Nice pictures Rockyroad.Liked the Deer.

Thanks JungleJim. I did a very long dayhike so no permit was required. I believe you would have to have a wilderness permit for any overnight trips into the area. Regarding wind, there was very little even at Kearsarge Pass. The only time I noticed any was on the descent from the Pass to Bullfrog and even then it was light.