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I'm in Washington, PA, planning to fly my plane into Inyokern sometime in early July to do aircraft maintenance then head into Sierra out of Horseshoe Meadow on a solo 14-day loop. Time away from PA is constrained so I don't want to head to CA until the Horseshoe Meadow road is opened.
Anyone know current status - or heard a good rumor?
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As of yesterday it was open to the gate just before the campground.
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The Inyo County Road Department is only responsible to the gate. Their roadway is open, the Forest Service may still have their gate closed. The page sited is for 6/22, a day after which Hill Fan reports the gate as still closed. Posters might consider reviewing their references to understand what nebulous terms they use like "all the way" might mean in context to avoid confusion. "All the way" was not used by Inyo County. Dale B. Dalrymple
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Unless it takes me all day to climb and descend Wanoga...
I'll post a photo of the (stated by a Lone Piner) locked gate by tonight...
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Good point Dale.....
I am driving up today for a couple days of day hiking with the dog. I'll be back Wednesday, and unless someone else posts about the gate, I will.
paul
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I just called the Visitor's Center about the Horseshoe Meadows Road conditions.
According to the Visitor's Center, the road is open to the last gate. So, I stand corrected. Both Dale and Hill Fan are correct.
I will still give an update as to the conditions after the gate.
Paul
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Forest Service must have too much going on...ain't no reason I can see for why the Trailhead isn't open...parking lots are clear...water isn't on...
Gate is locked...there seems to be a good deal of parking down below the gate...guess is at least 15 vehicles down there...
A few comments:
I wore myself out hiking up to Cottonwood Pass and a little bit beyond...my assessment...it sucked...still lots of snow in the forest and lots of water running down the trails...the west side was so sun-cupped, I headed back down instead of trying for Trail Pass...
There is a cornice at Cottonwood Pass...good track up...could have used some gear to make it safer...
The log bridge is gone, so an afternoon crossing is going to be tough if you don't get to the north side of the streams well before getting down to the meadow...I ended up all the way down at the Mulkey Pass Trail before I felt comfortable with a crossing (a little above knee deep and moving fairly fast...)(stupid me decided I wanted to walk the meadow and I didn't want to hike back up...)
The meadow is a marsh, so your boots are going to be muddy and wet, even on the trails...
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Your update is much appreciated. I'm going from Cottonwood Pass to Onion Valley in 3 weeks. Looks like it is going to be long stretches of snow. I've been following assorted YouTube channels and it looks like snow bridges are failing. Tyndall Creek looks to be the one of most concern. It seems similar to early 2017.
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I called the Visitor Center yesterday about the Horseshoe Meadow Road. Talked to a very friendly guy who said the current delay is due to work that has to be done on the campgrounds. A few more days.
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Inyo National Forest website still has 06.30 as the anticipated opening date...anyone know if it happened?
I'm too lazy to walk the extra distance, so I'll be on a bike, rather than a car if it's not opened yet...
(More snide comments) I'd find it hard to believe they wouldn't get it open for the 4th...
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Jim F reported yesterday gate open and did a hike to the lakes.
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Anybody have any updates on onion valley road and campground, Inyo site is calling it closed, 3 weeks to go for our trip from onion valley to cottonwood lakes, hopefully for some more melt but concerns about stream crossing, taking my daughter on her first sierra backpack, will be interesting either way,lol.
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I was at Onion Valley on Monday, June 26th. The road is open and snow free to the trailhead. As for the campgrounds, closed. Walking through the campsites, a few patches of snow, a few fallen trees, runoff on the dirt road through the campsites caused erosion.
The gate is closed at the campground with water, 2 to 3 inches flowing over the road from the creek.
There are some campers, mainly trail crew preparing to work and a few PCT hikers.
Paul
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