Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Monarch and Crystal Lakes

Anyone have any beta on current trail conditions on the Monarch Lakes and/or Crystal Lakes trails from the Sawtooth Trailhead in Kings Canyon? Info on the SEKI website is 2+ weeks old and probably no longer representative of conditions on the ground.

Cheers.

I don't have direct beta, but I have been to Monarch Lake several times around July 1 during normal snowpack years. Those times there were a few patches of snow above the crossing of Monarch Creek at Groundhog Meadow, and then the entire section where the trail traverses the north face of Mineral Peak is one solid snowfield. It is easily crossed if you are good at kick-stepping across a steep snowfield, but don't try it if such things make you nervous or you don't have an ice axe. The flat areas around Monarch Lake were more than 50% snow covered; some years lower Monarch was pretty clear but Upper Monarch was still completely iced in. Past that, it was pretty much clear all the way to the summit of Sawtooth.

This is a heavy snow pack so it may be worse than that right now. Since the trail to Crystal Lakes traverses a south-facing slope as it gets close to the lakes, I would imagine that it would be pretty clear. But the lakes may still be iced over with good snow cover on the ground.

That's actually very helpful lambertiana. Thanks much for the info. Much appreciated.

-Rico

From the current conditions of other areas this week, it looks like there is a lot more snow than what I typically saw around July 1:

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/trailcond.htm

lambertiana-was out a Mineral King yesterday. Update on conditions there. Monarch Lakes trail is dry and clear to the meadow. There is a snow bridge across Monarch Creek which will be gone shortly. Beyond the meadow, the swithcbacks become difficult to follow because of snow. Route finding abilities are helpful. Still a good amount of snow in the bowl below the outflow of lower Monarch Lake and the creek is really flowing. Lots of water but minimal skeeters. The old trail (that skirts the south facing slope above the meadow) is mostly dry but very rough.

The trail north to Timber Gap looked dry from the junction.

Thanks again for the beta above.

-Rico