Sierra Nevada Early July

[atodor]

I am planning a trip to Sierra Nevada around July 4-6 and I am wondering how much snow will be left on my routes, given the current state of the snowpack, seemingly above average. I would like to include the Twenty Lakes Basin; Thousand Island & Ediza lake; Minaret, Iceberg & Cecile; Hungry Packer, Moonlight & Midnight Lake, Brainard & Finger.
Specifically I am concerned, besides the ability to reach the destinations, whether the lakes will be melted, so that I can get the best views. I find that the lakes covered in ice and snow diminish the scenery.
I posted something similar last year, but hopefully I can get some specific insights for this year's conditions. Opinions from climbers/hikers familiar with the area greatly appreciated.

[Scott P]

It depends on how May goes, but there will be snow and likely some frozen lakes left.

[Teresa Gergen]

You will get experienced opinions if you ask your question here:
https://www.highsierratopix.com/community/index.php?

There is significantly less snow than last year, but it's still above average. Lower elevations will be snow-free on your hikes in, then you'll reach snow-line rather suddenly. Good odds of some snow remaining at higher camp/lake elevations and some frozen lakes left then.

Charts to keep an eye on:
https://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index.h ... rra_Nevada
https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snowapp/swcchart.action

User-submitted trail conditions for later when people start getting out (occasionally gets enough use to be helpful):
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/trailcond.htm

[seano]

I second what Scott says -- it's too early to know. I'd guess some of the higher, shadier, and/or smaller lakes (e.g. Finger, Midnight) will still be at least partially frozen in early July, but that really depends upon how warm it gets in the next couple months. The snowpack is about average, so unlike last year you won't have giant suncups and sketchy stream crossings everywhere, but it's still early season, so it'll be boggy with plenty of mosquitos.

[Marmot72]

I packed into finger lake solo last July 9- a bigger snow year for sure- and had spotty snow below treeline past the stream crossing where you leave the meadow for the woods. The stream was waist high and fast; I was using only one trucking pole and got swept off my feet. The snow was not problematic for walking, but did obscure the trail quite a bit. I camped about a quarter mile from Finger Lake and the snow was steep enough and hard enough to warrant my spikes in the am, and just sliding with a pole in one hand, ax in the other in the descent from Middle Palisade.

Terrain above Finger Lake was made possibly more agreeable with the snow cover, as I understand it’s mostly talus in the basin from late summer trip reports.

[Codyhill1991]

Definitely depends on how May goes.
I did Thousand Island, Garnet, Ediza, Iceberg and Minaret over July 4 weekend in 2021 - no snow anywhere, no ice even on Iceberg and the pass between Iceberg and Minaret, perfect summer conditions. I skipped the range entirely last year because I didn't think my late July permits would even be safe from snow and ice in the places I want to go. Definitely the High Sierra Topix site is a great place for info and folks have always been very kind and helpful when I've used it.