Current Conditions in High Sierra

Because of a server crash, the PCT_List forum is down for a few weeks so there’s no current who’s where up-dates readily available. Just before it went down last week, the first thruhikers had reached Mammoth Lakes (Red’s Meadow).

For JMT weather reports, see http://www.thru-hiker.com/JMTWeatherReport.asp

Kaiser Pass is open, and Vermillion Valley Resort opened June 09. You might call Bill Richardson at Vermillion Valley Resort for current conditions and hiker up-dates. 559-259-4000 or use the forum http://www.edisonlake.com/messageboards/index.php

I did a weird mostly out-and-back in Yosemite last week (mild injury to hiking partner cancelled our loop).

When I set out on the 17th from Taniya lake, there was tons of snow. We couldn’t see the trail, and when we got onto north-facing slopes above 8500′ we were marching up and down 12′ – 20′ snow drifts, although snow crust was pretty solid and we rarely post-holed.

When we got to Cathedral Creek and then to lower elevations in the Tuolomne valley, stream crossings were pretty rough at the beginning of the week. (We spent the night by Cathedral Creek waiting for it to fall).

We came out at Tuolumne meadows a little less than a week ago. There were patches of snow above 8500 feet, but we didn’t cross any more fields of snow or snow drifts. Stream crossings were all very tame, but it was my first time on the trail, so I don’t know what’s normal up there.

Hope that helps.

Casey,

Try calling the nearby ranger stations. They usually have a pretty good idea of the current snow conditions.

Near Mt. Whitney last week monday the snow wasn’t a problem until a little over 11,000 ft.

Roy

Check this site out:
http://www.nps.gov/seki/trailcdt.htm

I was up there to climb Kaiser Pk two weekends ago. Conditions there are probably similar to the middle section of the JMT.

Patches of snow began above 8000′. Trails on North/East slopes had some snow coverage above 8500′, solid above 9000′. Similar conditions in shadier sections of South/West slopes, at about +500′ elevation. Exposed S/W slopes clear all the way to above 10K’. It was hot and snow was melting fast.

Stream crossings were no problem; may require some wading across rather than the usual rock-hopping.

Snow was easily traversed (I think I post-holed one time). I climbed a steep north-facing slope at the top of Kaiser Ridge and the snow was ideal for kicking steps.

Few mosquitoes.

One other thing: lakes at 8600 were free of ice, upstream at 9000′ was half iced over. Lakes at 9700′ were just puddles on top of solid ice.

Pictures: http://pictures.aol.com/ap/viewShare.do?shareInfo=1uXYxRKKm4SuiOcuoGPiJ1ZZ6OyumEokOkz%2f6qkzukFWGd%2bBXiXp6w%3d%3d

You can read the data from the California Dept. of Water Resources’ snow sensors here…not the same as trail conditions, but it’ll give you an idea of not only how much snow exists in certain areas, but how fast it’s been melting. Usually accurate to within 24 hours.

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

Too late for your trip but maybe others will find it useful.

Best,
-Atomick