Dome Land Wilderness

“I for one do not hike fast. I have hiked/backpacked with a group, and found that people tend to hike at their own pace and seem to gravitate towards those at their speed. It works out as long as everyone has some idea of campsite and lunch stops together are nice.

Debra”

“MadeinTahoe - we can have up to 15 people, so sure, come along! I think someone on bp.com might be coming as well, SierraSnowbound.

I guess I hike at a moderate pace until I see some things to photograph (flowers, usually) and then I hike slower and stop often ;)

I have no problem with people hiking their own pace and having a camp spot picked out ahead of time so we all know where to stop for the night. I also have no problem with hiking as fast as the slowest member of the group.”

“The hike to Manter Mdw. is appox. 4 miles, so even the slowest hiker (me) will be able to enjoy the hike and get to camp in plenty of time to set up and enjoy the company.



That is if they drive in from the east side!
8^)”

“ok-I'm slow and I don't mean hiking! I JUST read the "east side part" and was thinking this was a hike from the west side. this looks like a really long drive for me- San Jose- is any one else coming from the bay area?”

“It is a hike from the west side, from the west side of Sherman Pass, as written - but I'm open for changing it if that's the conscensus.”

“I'm talking about the same HIKE, just different ways of DRIVING there.


Sorry for any confusion.”

“Guess what? I might get to join this trip afterall. The family trip we had planned may get canceled. If so then I'm with you guys. Do ya still have room for me?”

“Lots of different ways to drive to the trailhead...

- from the east via Hwy 395 and the Nine Mile Canyon Road (J-41) which takes you past Kennedy Meadows.

- from the west via either Hwy 190 to Springville and up and over the Western Divide Hwy and down to the Kern or M-56 to California Hot Springs then over Parker Pass and down to the Kern.

- from the south from Lake Isabella by driving up M-99 north of Kernville.
last edited: 4/22/05 3:14:43 PM”

“Here's a simple map...

Right about where the last "d" in Domeland is, that's where the trailhead is.



If you need more detailed directions, let me know!”

“Hello everyone, I think I can make it to this trip. Songbyrd/RobertA, if anybody wants to carpool.

maria”

“Cool, glad to have you along Maria :)”

“Thanks, Carol. I will need more info when we get closer (or give myself time to read the thread). Songbyrd is not going and if RobertR cannot carpool, I plan to drive alone. Is the actual trip on June 25, 26, 27?”

“Some folks are going for just Saturday night, I'm planning on going for Saturday and Sunday nights. I think the trail will accomodate both. It's basically a loop with a side trip. So the folks just doing one night will probably do just the loop. Those doing both nights will do the loop and the side trip.”

“Yeah, I might even do the loop this time, not just the out and back.”

“OK, I'm in, 2 nights sounds great. Where do we meet and when? Details? I'm coming from Santa Barbara.”

“Sorry I've held off on planning any more details... They have Sherman Pass open to one lane for employees only at this time, they had to plow it open. Soon, hopefully, it'll be open for the public, and then they'll work on getting the road open to the trailhead!”

“I plan on going for two nights too. I was thinking of driving there Friday after work which would put me there that night about 9pm or so and maybe sleep in my car. But that was when I was going alone but if ladymaritel wants to ride with me, maybe we can find a campsite to stay at that night?

Navi, when are you going down? Friday evening or Saturday morning?”

“Navi, when are you going down?
Never thought you'd ask!!!


Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself. 8^)

Are you going to drive down the eastside or the westside?
If you come down the eastside maybe we could meet at the Kennedy Mdw. Campground Friday night.


johndoe, maybe you could meet us there too.”

“Navi, sounds great. I'll be there early evening. Grey Toyota Tundra pick-up.”

“john, e-mail me & we can work on the details.”

“Sherman Pass still isn't open!! So, I'm still hoping it and the Cherry Hill Road be open in a week and a half, but in case they aren't... I'm looking for alternatives! The Jerkey Meadow Trailhead is open into the Golden Trout Wilderness and it's a nice overnight hike back to Trout Meadows and Grey Meadows. I've already been to Trout and I liked it :)”

“using the trailhead from the east side off of Chimney Peak road. Highway is open from 14 to Kennedy Meadows.

Debra”

“That could work for those of you coming from southern California - but those of us coming from the north and west would have to drive a longer distance. I may just reschedule the trip, bump it back a week or two. Lots of folks wanting to hike in the Sierra are having to do that this year!”

“Okay, I got the inside scoop for y'all...

Sherman Pass is closed, and it's not looking good to getting it open. So for those of you that were wanting to get to the trailhead from the east, from 395, it's not possible right now. There's still a possibility on it being opened by the 24th or 25th, but I wouldn't count on it. One of our engineers sent me a few pictures and there is still a lot of snow, a few big boulders, and rockslides to clear.

The good news is that from the west or south you can get to the trailhead. Sherman Pass Road is open from the west up to the Cherry Hill Road and the Cherry Hill Road is clear south to Big Meadow, which is where the trailhead for this trip is.

So... I'm still planning on doing this trip as planned as I'll be coming from Springville, cutting down to Fountain Springs and then going east through CA Hot Springs, then down to Johnsondale, then up the Sherman Pass Road to the Cherry Hill Road.

If you want to come from the south, taking M-99 from Lake Isabella then up Sherman Pass to the Cherry Hill Road, this will work as well.

But once again... Unless the snow melts and the landslides are cleared in the next week or so, you won't be able to get to the trailhead from 395.

If anybody wants to carpool from Springville, Fountain Springs, or CA Hot Springs, let me know! Also I can provide a place to crash if you want to drive to Springville on Friday night and then carpool with me to the trailhead on Saturday morning!

I'm thinking 10 am Saturday morning would be a good time to meet at the trailhead - what say you?”

“I'm getting off work at 10am that Friday morning. I work 6-10. So, I can be down there earlier and meet up with whomever on Friday night.

navi! You are sooo bad! But I still love ya!

So, how many are going on Friday night? It's me navi and johndoe so far for Friday.

How about you ladymaritel, mtnslady1, and mari?

songbyrd, are you going? I hope so!

and Mari I'm not fast or slow...I'm in the middle but I'll probably be slow because I take lots of pictures.”

“Well, after reading that I can't get there from 395 and have to drive from the west, that adds probably an extra two hours to my drive of already about 6 hrs! I don't like that. I'm not a happy camper.”

“HC, I don't have a lot of sympathy for you. Remember it was 9 hours from JVZ's house for me. 8^P”

“hi nav! Actually I was thinking of the more recent drive from our recent snowcamping trip. Wasn't that 6 hrs for you? But yes, that was a long trip for you to jvz's house for sure. God, I hope it doesn't take me 8 hrs to get there! Ah! I'm dreading the long ride. Hey, I got my new bearikade canister! I can't wait to "not feel it" in my pack! It feels a lot lighter than the garcia!

So, does anyone want to ride with me coming from the north?

man! it is storming here! The winds are about 20-30 miles with gusts up to 50 mph! Jeepers! Help! Cool clouds today! Forcast is snow tonight thru Sat night. Crazy weather!

In the Dome Land Wilderness website now reading the directions and trying to find how those roads are now but can't find it.”

“I'll be coming up Saturday morning. From the south. Ventura county actually. I work 12 hours on Friday, not going to feel like driving after.
I'll head up 99, over to Isabella then through Kernville and over. It is really unusual to have Sherman Pass open on the west end before the east end. At least all the times I've attempted in the past, when car camping on the Kern plateau.

Debra”

“Yeah, that was a long trip too.

Looking at the TOPO! map, I can't see a place that would be good for a meeting place Friday night. I know both of those roads (from the south and from the west) and I'd just as soon not do either at night. So I'll see ya'all at the trailhead Saturday. Or failing that at Manter Mdw.”

“Ah, I cannot take the time off :-( It's seniority in DMV :-( I'll just have to try another time :-(


maria”

“Well, I'm still up for a trip. If the Kennedy Meadows road is closed I'll come up through Kernville. I'm driving on Friday.”

“Good news! They swung the gates open on Sherman Pass last night - but only one lane is open, so go slow! There's still snow and also a big boulder on one section of the road that they're working on removing. Those going over the pass are also being warned about heavy logging truck traffic - they're doing a salvage sale up there.”

“Cool!!!
Kennedy Mdw. is back on!!!!

WooHoo!!

See ya there HC & JD”

“So, is anybody going who has been to this area before? I have driven over Sherman Pass a few times but have never driven down the Cherry Hill Road or hiked in Domelands.”

“I've been to Manter Mdw. twice.
As I recall Cherry Hill Rd. is paved for quite as ways then turns to good dirt.

Now mind you, this was before the fire. Things might have changed. 8^)”

“Sorry I am going to have to cancel on this trip. I have been gone almost every weekend in June and will be gone the first 3 in July. I have been training and will try to meet up with you on another trip.
My first backpack trip will be the 7/2 High Sierra trip. sure hope I make it. yikes!”

“I too have been on Cherry hill road and before the fire. The last time I was on it, was paved a portion then washboard the rest. I am trying to remember, you pass Horse Mdw campground (goes right of the road) and on to Big Meadow. The trailheads to Mather Mdw are on the east side of Big Meadow, can be access from the roads at the top and bottom of the Meadow. That's if I remember correctly. We want to meet at the South TH at 10am Right?”

“E-mail me if there are any spots left for this trip wsdavies@hotmail.com Cheers :)”

“dave, with the 2 dropouts we've had, I'd say there room. Plus I don't think there is a quota, just have to stop by the ranger station and get a permit.


As I recall there's even a street sign for Cherry Hill Rd.”

“I live here in Bakersfield and grew up in Glennville right over the hill from Lake Isabella..My family owns some property at Horse Shoe Meadows which is near there...I'd def. like to join up and get my 1st BP in for the summer”

“No permits needed for this trip! The only Wilderness Area on the Sequoia National Forest that requires them is the Golden Trout Wilderness.”

“wsdavies - sure, come along! The only limit is the group size limit for a Wilderness Area, which is 15...”

“One more guy will be joining us, from bp.com, Ray Estrella... He'll be hiking in later to meet up with us, hopefully :)
last edited: 6/21/05 3:37:22 PM”

“The Cherry Hill Road is paved, looks like for about 6 miles or so, then it's dirt for maybe 8 miles more. These are estimates from looking at the map.”

“Yup, the south Trailhead it is, at 10:00 am on Saturday :) There should be a sign for Trail 34E37”

“Looks like you take the Cherry Hill Road to Big Meadows then Road 23S07 which loops around the meadow to the southeast side.”

“You folks do understand that wsdavies can't even tie his own shoe laces, nonetheless, backpack!

Na, seriously, he's a good guy ... and navi you should bring a taste of your homebrew for steve. He's big into brewing also. Damn alkies! :)”

“What does he do wear loafer hiking boots?

Beer? I'll have to take an inventory.”

“I'll have my walkie talkie on channel 7.”