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Easy access to snowline in Sierra?


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Home Forums Off Piste Mountaineering & Alpinism Easy access to snowline in Sierra?

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Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #1236239
    Graeme Finley
    Member

    @gfinley001

    Locale: SF Bay Area

    Does anybody have suggestions on ways to get to the snowline in the Sierra around the end of May that won't require 4WD or too many miles of hiking in from a trailhead? I'm looking to test out some crampons and an ice ax and will be driving from the SF Bay area.

    #1500585
    Rick Dreher
    BPL Member

    @halfturbo

    Locale: Northernish California

    Hi Graeme,

    Tioga Pass is a likely candidate. You can following the plowing schedule here:

    http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm

    Carson Pass and Echo Summit are always open and will give access to snowfields nearby. Sonora Pass and Ebbets passes are plowed annually and if open will definitely get you to the snow you crave :-)

    Crunchy in the morning, moosh in the afternoon.

    Cheers,

    Rick

    #1500594
    Dave T
    Member

    @davet

    .

    #1500647
    Klas Eklof
    BPL Member

    @klaseklof

    Locale: Northern California

    Ellery Bowl.

    Just on the east side of Tioga, above Ellery Lake.
    You can park at the lake, walk across the dam, and your approach is complete.
    Faces northeast, so the snow will be there well into June.
    The slope ramps up gently, so you can go as steep or not steep as you feel comfortable.
    It is sometimes used for beginner snow-mountaineering instruction.

    Here's some pictures:
    http://yosemiteexplorer.com/photos/v/ski/ellery-bowl/

    Dave's idea is real good too.

    – Klas

    (who hasn't skiied ellery yet…)

    #1500653
    Jay Wilkerson
    BPL Member

    @creachen

    Locale: East Bay

    How is the snow melting? Anybody have info? When can we start hiking? I am looking at June 13th maybe first hike.

    -Jay

    #1500657
    Ken Helwig
    BPL Member

    @kennyhel77

    Locale: Scotts Valley CA via San Jose, CA

    They're supposed to open Hwy's 4 & 108 this week or was it last week. Hwy 120 is not too far off either

    #1500668
    Rick Dreher
    BPL Member

    @halfturbo

    Locale: Northernish California

    You'll be able to follow the snowpack by watching here:

    http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/index2.html

    It's a 66% (average across the ranges) snowpack this year, so will be an early season. Again.

    Rick

    #1500675
    Jay Wilkerson
    BPL Member

    @creachen

    Locale: East Bay

    Thanks Ken and Rick!!!

    #1500699
    Robert Blean
    BPL Member

    @blean

    Locale: San Jose -- too far from Sierras

    I just looked at the Tioga pass web page (cited in a previous message in this thread) and it says:

    "There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road, although it usually opens in late May or early June, conditions permitting."

    #1502185
    Peter Burke
    Member

    @fishmonger

    Locale: Midwest

    should open on May 22

    and if you come from the east side, it's open anyway, you can drive right ot the top. See webcam:

    http://tenaya.ucsd.edu/tioga/

    #1502188
    Peter Burke
    Member

    @fishmonger

    Locale: Midwest

    Looks like the snow is on decline faster than last year. Very hot days in the last 10 days have really hit the snow cover. Look at the graph compared to last year, which was the warmest spring in record (the third one on the bottom is probably the most relevant)

    http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/PLOT_SWC

    #1502189
    Peter Burke
    Member

    @fishmonger

    Locale: Midwest

    just announced

    #1502192
    cary bertoncini
    Spectator

    @cbert

    Locale: N. California

    if this pace continues, there will be some pretty high, pretty open places before june

    charlotte lake's (elev 10,500 ft) snow gauge reports ~6 inches of snow today & had ~16 inches a week ago

    crabtree meadow (10,700 ft) already reports no snow

    Virginia Lakes (9300 ft) at 1.7 inches today, ~8 inches a week ago

    fast melt!

    #1502214
    Jay Wilkerson
    BPL Member

    @creachen

    Locale: East Bay

    Let the games begin!! It is officially Backpacking season in the Sierras. The only upside of three years of drought is a sooner and easier access to the Sierras.. Darn-

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