Day hike at walupt lake info needed

[ruttnbuck]

Not sure if it's even worth trying to plan a day hike up there but i'm trying to get info on snow conditions at walupt lake ,I want to do loop hike to sheep lake for the day in the next week but ranger station is closed from Gov. Shutdown. Anyone attempted to go up there within the last wk to walupt lake camp ground area?? I know there's snow up there but I wanted to make sure I could actually get to trailhead which begins at lake.  10 day forecast calls for snow and rain on and off .

[Mudman]

Snowmobile..

[birddogdad]

even if closed road, you can park lower and walk in i would think. i don't see any warning on NF webpages

[ruttnbuck]

even if closed road, you can park lower and walk in i would think. i don't see any warning on NF webpages

Ya good point,  I've had to park below  before and walk in in June to access lake for fishing . I'll keep trying ranger station and maybe they'll update they'r automated message.  Thanks birddogdad

[Mudman]

Have not tried to go up there once snow gets deep so dunno.  I do know road is steep and elevation is high so it has to be horrible to drive up by now.  Walking would be quite the hike imop in 2' of snow...

[ruttnbuck]

Have not tried to go up there once snow gets deep so dunno.  I do know road is steep and elevation is high so it has to be horrible to drive up by now.  Walking would be quite the hike imop in 2' of snow...

Dang really?? You think there's that much snow up there by now? The elevation at the lake is 4000 and its 6000 at  sheep lake, But I guess it probably been snowing up there since Oct off and on...  I was hoping to beat the really heavy snow fall season and get a good winter hike in.  Might have to go to plan B , or break out the snow shoes and go for it. 

[jackelope]

A little SW of there at 4510' elevation, there is 42" of snow on the ground. The road to Walupt Lake is not maintained in the winter as far as I know. I don't think you'd be able to get there without a crap ton of walking in a lot of snow.

https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/702:WA:SNTL%7cid=%22%22%7cname/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value?fitToScreen=false

Northeast of there a little. 55" of snow at almost 6k'

https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/692:WA:SNTL%7cid=%22%22%7cname/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value?fitToScreen=false

[Fl0und3rz]

Have not tried to go up there once snow gets deep so dunno.  I do know road is steep and elevation is high so it has to be horrible to drive up by now.  Walking would be quite the hike imop in 2' of snow...

Dang really?? You think there's that much snow up there by now? The elevation at the lake is 4000 and its 6000 at  sheep lake, But I guess it probably been snowing up there since Oct off and on...  I was hoping to beat the really heavy snow fall season and get a good winter hike in.  Might have to go to plan B , or break out the snow shoes and go for it. 

Snow can be as low as 1500 feet and vehicle impassable at about 3000 feet or less during late modern deer.   

[ruttnbuck]

A little SW of there at 4510' elevation, there is 42" of snow on the ground. The road to Walupt Lake is not maintained in the winter as far as I know. I don't think you'd be able to get there without a crap ton of walking in a lot of snow.

https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/702:WA:SNTL%7cid=%22%22%7cname/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value?fitToScreen=false

Northeast of there a little. 55" of snow at almost 6k'

https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/reportGenerator/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/692:WA:SNTL%7cid=%22%22%7cname/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value?fitToScreen=false

Thanks jackalope, I guess I was being  a little too optimistic.

[jackelope]

No worries. This is October 14, 2017 in that country. There was a legit 3' of snow on the ground in that basin. Granted it all melted by 2 weeks later, but you get the idea.

[Fl0und3rz]

Were you floating on 3'? Or was that drive pic before you got to 3'?

I was dragging center after about a foot or so on 33s.

[jackelope]

Were you floating on 3'? Or was that drive pic before you got to 3'?

I was dragging center after about a foot or so on 33s.

There was a foot or so on some of the road in the deepest spots. The 3' was up high in that basin at 5000-6000' 4 miles from the road.  I was definitely not floating That's my fully extended trekking pole submerged in the snow. I'm 6'4" for reference. The pole was pretty much extended all the way out.
My little Jeep was hating life on that road.

[Fl0und3rz]

Got you.