Water crossing in the Sierras looked nothing like the map after snowmelt

I hiked the Rae Lakes loop last June and the ford near Arrow Creek was chest deep when the map showed it as a simple step over. The ranger in Fresno warned me to check the snowpack report, but I figured mid-season would be fine. Has anyone else had a mapped route become dangerous just from timing the melt wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.lisa24d ago

Remember hiking the JMT in July a few years back and the map showed a shallow creek crossing that turned out to be a raging river up to my waist. The snowpack was way above normal that year and I almost turned back. It taught me to always check the actual snow water equivalent numbers a week before heading out, not just the season.

margaret_gonzalez2523d ago

So @wright.lisa, you actually check snow water numbers before trips, or just after you almost get swept away?