If you are northbound on the JMT and need to avoid the several difficult Mono Creek crossings, the detour is to swing out west toward VVR, then turn north and go over Goodale Pass. Soon that intersects with the JMT so that you can continue north.
The detour is about 5-8 miles longer, but there are no difficult crossings. There could be a steep snow pile on the north side of Goodale Pass. If a hiker missed a step there, it could be all over.
I dropped friends off at VVR last year so they could continue with their JMT section hike. I stayed with them for the first day (1/2 day hiking) and until lunch time on day two after we went over Silver Pass. I took the left turn towards Goodale to head back to my truck and promptly got lost in snow on top of the pass. During a light snow year. I can only imagine that it could be a lot worse this year.......................................DUG
