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2015
Updated
2015 High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar
2014 INDEX
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
January 2014
North Desolation Wilderness
View North across Dicks and Fontanillis Lakes. Phipps Peak and Pass are the prominent peak in the middle-Right background. Note Middle Velma Lake nestled in below Phipps Peak. Our route from Meeks Bay on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe crossed Phipps Peak to join the Pacific Crest Trail in the Desolation Wilderness just a bit North of Middle Velma Lake.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
January 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
FULL WINTER CONDITIONS
The Fall Gear has been stowed or complimented by the heavy Gear of Winter.
Reserved permits for June 2014 now available from Yosemite NP and Desolation Wilderness. |
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1
Permits
Permits for JUNE 18 2014 available from Yosemite TODAY.
New Year's Day
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2 |
3
Backpackers
Full Winter Gear and precautions
REQUIRED
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4 |
5
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6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12
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13 |
14 |
15
SNOW CAMPERS
Track snow, storms, and temps to determine character of Winter. |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19
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20
M L King Day |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25
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27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
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NOTES: 2014’s weather is forming up for an early start for both the Spring and Summer Hiking Seasons. This can change. Last year was one of the earliest openings of the high trails I remember. The year before was one of the latest. Extremes have become the new normal.
At this point I put the chances of any Southern Storms blowing up to relieve our drought at less than 1 in 3. The Northern Storm Gate has been blocked most of 2013, and the heat blocking it has not brought tropical moisture to replace the lost Northern Storms. Time will tell, but my money is on continuing cold and dry conditions bringing an early opening of High Sierra Trails.
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Permits
Yosemite National Park and Desolation Wilderness accept reservations six months in advance for Summer backpacking dates.
June 2014 reservations are available in January, July in February, and so on.
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The cold and snows of January provide both excellent backpacking experiences and establish the terms, a baseline for this year’s transition into Spring Conditions.
Deep snows, regular storm activity, and cold temps indicate a long Winter into Spring transition. Not this year, so far.
Light snows and irregular storms may indicate a quick and early transition into Spring conditions.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
February 2014
Summit City Canyon
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
The full length of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route through Summit City Canyon in the Mokelumne Wilderness. Note The Sisters in the upper Right hand corner, and Horse Canyon in the upper-middle of the image. At the middle-bottom we can see the North Mokelumne river passing through its narrow gorge just above where it runs past Camp Irene, where we began this climb up the NW flank of Mount Reba. That is the narrow section where the catastrophic Spring Thaw of 1997 pushed up a massive log jam, causing massive destruction in the surging pool of timber behind it, and which swept away all in its path when it broke.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
February 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
PRECAUTIONS AND OPPERTUNITY
Backpackers are observing patterns and trajectory of Winter storms and temps to find Hiking Windows into the
Winter Wonderland.
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1 |
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3 |
4 |
5 |
6
Winter Gear
Be geared for sub-freezing and sub-zero temps with wind chill
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7 |
8 |
9
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10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14
Valentine's Day |
15 |
16
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17
Presidents' Day |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23
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24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
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NOTES: Short days and long cold nights are the bookends within which we plan our trips.
High Sierra hiking trips can be followed up with exciting trips into the moderate Winter Climate of Death Valley.
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Are Weather Conditions
Moderating?
Accelerating?
March can be Great for Snow Backpacking. |
Piercing Cold this month or just “Normal Cold?
Heavy Snow Storms or None at All?
Our Observations of how this series of Unusual Seasons works out determines our Range of Hiking Possibilities and the Gear Necessary to Explore them.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
March 2014
The Tahoe to Yosemite Tral across Emigrant Wilderness
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
View across the High Emigrant Meadow with Emigrant Meadow Lake of Emigrant Wilderness below, Grizzly Peak in the middle distance, and Tower Peak in the distance. Note the three ridges between Grizzly Peak and Tower Peak. Crossing the second ridge brings us through Bond Pass into the top of Yosemite's Jack Main Canyon, where we will rejoin the Pacific Crest Trail. Tower Peak sits at the head of Tilden Canyon, which is the last variant of the TYT from the PCT route on our way South across the North Yosemite Backcountry to Tuolumne Meadows.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
March 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
OBSERVE
The Winter and its Snowpack.
HEAVY? LIGHT?
Character and Sources of Storms?
Are Spring Conditions arriving with Spring?
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1
Summer Hiking
Plans
In agreement with the progress of Spring?
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2
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5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9
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10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15
Tahoe to Whitney & PCT--JMT hikers
Order food, prep resupply packages, and repair gear.
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16
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17
The Big Green One
Saint Pat's Day
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18 |
19 |
20
First Day of Spring
The Vernal Equinox
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21 |
22 |
23
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24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30
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31 |
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NOTES: Are heavy storms rolling in? From the North or South? Is a pattern forming?
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THE QUESTION
Have temps risen enough to start shifting into lighter Spring Gear from our heavy Winter Gear?
Correct Layering is Vital. |
The nature of our Snow Backpacking trips are determined by the character of the snow.
Deep, soft, wet snow makes for rough going, as does fresh powder.
Cold hard well-packed snow can be faster than good trail.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
April 2014
Tropical Thunderstorm climbs the East Sierra
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
A beautiful and powerful cell of tropical weather out of the Sea of Cortez slams the steep East Sierra flank with heavy lightening and downpours. The storm sucked up red, yellow and golden colors of the sands it crossed from the intervening deserts between our high mountain position in the Emigrant Wilderness and warm tropical seas far to our South.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
April 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Spring Conditions?
It Depends.
Conditions on the ground, NOT a date on the calendar determines our gear and skills requirements.
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5 |
6
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14 |
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Backpacking
Plans?
Are our hiking plans and conditions on the ground in agreement?
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17 |
18 |
19 |
20
Easter |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25
Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, Highway 108,
OPENS
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26
ADZPCTKO.org
Annual PCT kickoff event.
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27
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28 |
29 |
30 |
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Conditions vs Plans
Is there a huge snowpack?
Have you Late Spring or Early Summer Hiking Plans?
Current conditions will tell you if your early season hiking plans are possible.
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NOTES:
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It is TIME
Consult with Resupply Location Information to assure resupply buckets are mailed in a timely fashion.
Some will go early, some will be mailed later...
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RESUPPLY TIPS
Always use plastic buckets to ship your resupply: Any container a mouse can chew through or water can penetrate is at risk.
Think about what you'd like, as well as what you need in your resupply bucket. A bottle of wine or whiskey is a nice thing on a cold Sierra night at the resupply.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
May 2014
Forsyth Peak
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
A glimpse at Forsyth Peak in the very Northwest corner of Yosemite National Park under the soft but fierce pastel clouds of a thunderstorm dying as sunset approaches.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
May 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Last Spring Snow Trips?
Once the Spring Thaw gets going the rivers and creeks will rage, making fording very dangerous.
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1
WHAT’S UP??
Heavy Spring Snow pushes Summer back,
No Snow brings Summer early.
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3 |
4
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5
Spring Gear
Lighter than Winter, Heavier than Summer Gear. Maybe Now?
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7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11
Mother's Day |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15
Permits
Make Sure we have our long distance Summer permit information worked out.
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18
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21 |
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24 |
25
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Memorial Day
Echo Lake Chalet
and
Lake Alpine Lodge
OPEN
Depending on Weather
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28 |
29 |
30
Sno-Park Permits
End of permit restrictions for us of Sno-Park parking lots.
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NOTES: |
May gives us a good indication of the unfolding trajectory of Spring.
Thin snows on the Sierra Crest and light Storm Activity indicates an early opening of the High Trails across Mountain Passes.
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May marks the center-point of openings of our High Sierra Resupply facilities
Kennedy Meadows Pack Station opened last month.
The Tuolumne Meadows Post Office, Reds Meadow Pack Station, VVR, and Muir will all open next month
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
June 2014
Magical pond on the South end of Seavy Pass
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
 Seavy Pass is the high point in a wide bowl filled with beautiful ponds atop the ridge separating Bensen Lake from Kerrick Canyon along the combined TYT-PCT routes through the North Yosemite Backcountry. Above we are passing around the Southernmost pond before beginning the great descent to Bensen Lake.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
June 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
1
VVR Opens
Depending on Weather |
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3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8
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9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15
Reds Meadow
Accepts resupply packages on
Father's Day |
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18 |
19 |
20 |
21
First Day
of
Summer |
22
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23 |
24
Muir Ranch
Begins offering resupply package pickup
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26 |
27 |
28
Ramadan Begins |
29
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NOTES: The Snowpack on the Sierra, storm activity, and temps during June are going to allow us to get a bead on when the Sierra Trails across the High Passes will start opening up, as well as the trails approaching them.
When the snows melt millions of mosquitoes rise from the saturated soils. It starts low down the mountain early in Spring and rises up the mountainside as Spring progresses. Be ready for the rising clouds of mosquitoes.
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Permits
Only remnants of reserved permits are available out of Yosemite, Mount Whitney Zone, and Desolation Wilderness.
Through-hiker permits into or across these areas are still available. |
The real danger of June is found between the swollen banks of rivers and even normally small placid creeks, surging with the power of the Spring Thaw.
During heavy Spring Thaws one can hear the grinding of unseen great granite boulders as supercharged river flows easily roll them downstream.
Carefully assess all river crossings, have contingency plans for being knocked down and losing your pack, and turn around if the dangers are too great.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
July 2014
Volunteer and Double Peaks
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
Descending towards Bensen Lake we observe the massive climb following our descent when we continue South from Bensen. This is one of the hardest sections of the whole Tahoe to Whitney hike.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
July 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Backpackers
Shift to Summer Gear well under way. Be ready for last bursts of Spring Weather.
Ignore the Calendar.
Gear up for the Conditions on the Ground, not a Date on the Calendar.
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1
Tuolumne Meadows Post Office
OPEN
Depending on Weather
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3 |
4
All Parks, Forests, Wilderness, Campgrounds and Trails are
BUSY
Independence Day
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MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes rise when the snows melt.
Mosquitoes are THICK.
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25 |
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Ramadan Ends |
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NOTES: I’ve seen years when the snowpack sticks through the Summer, and years where the snowpack clears by mid-June. The past four decades the average annual snowpack has radically declined and the date the snow clears has gotten earlier and earlier.
Independent of the long term trends our trip planning and gear selection are guided by careful observations of the character of each season’s weather. This year is no different.
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DANGERS
Monitor weather for afternoon Thunderstorms
Beware of dangerous fording conditions
Mosquito conditions are going Hog Wild |
July brings the peak of the Summer Thunderstorm Season in the High Sierra. These are local weather, caused by heat waves in the San Joaquin Valley swept up the West Sierra Flank.
Hot wet air on a fast ride up the West Sierra flank to high elevations squeezes out what can be substantial daily rain and lightening activity lasting between 2 pm and sunset.
Don’t cross open ground under one of these storms. They are deadly. Lightening and Fording are the leading causes of High Sierra backpacker deaths.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
August 2014
View down Tuolumne River from Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
View down the Tuolumne River while hiking across the footbridge just South of Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp at morning sunlight lighting up the canyon.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations
August 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Prime Time Backpacking
Mosquitoes diminishing to irrelevance.
Hot Temps moderate into cool backpacking.
Lowering Sun brings increasing contrasts to terrain.
Hiker Traffic Decreasing.
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3
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Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes die as terrain dries.
August 15 is the drop-dead date during “normal” Years
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Cold Evenings
August evenings are getting colder and colder.
Begin adding layers as Fall conditions emerge.
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24
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NOTES: Wet years extends the mosquitoes’ reign past the 15th, Dry years shorten it.
Wet basins and lakes that hold water on vast sheets of solid granite below their green-grass coverings feed the mosquitoes later into the season than terrain that drains.
Thus we will find “holdout zones” where local mosquito populations remain high long after the surrounding terrain has dried out. My advice when you encounter one of these zones: RUN!
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Stay Alert
Though August is wonderful, it also potentially puts us into range of early-season storms and temp plunges.
It’s getting time to start supplementing our Summer gear with bits of our thicker Fall Gear. |
The diminishing heat of Summer days are intermixing with the deepening chill of cold nights warning of approaching Fall conditions.
The Summer “high season” is now over, and trail traffic diminishes. The PCT hikers are long gone, and the JMT hikers are down to a trickle by the end of August.
The normal unpredictability of Sierra temp changes and storms are increasing, and so too should our gear selection start thickening up with bits of extra Fall insulation, to match the rising potential of cold conditions as the seasons change.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
September 2014
Stunning colors of sunset in the John Muir Wilderness
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
Massif under Blacktop Peak from unnamed lake in Island Pass. Donohue Pass and Peak are to the Left out of the image.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations: Not yet online
September 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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Echo Chalet Closes
Labor Day
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5 |
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11 |
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Muir Ranch
Resupply Service stops accepting resupply buckets
Call Muir for Exact Date
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Tuolumne
Meadows
Store, Café, Post Office
Approaching closing date.
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19 |
20 |
21
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23
First day of Fall
Cooler Temps!
Shorter Days!
Note Weather Changes.
Thicker Gear for Fall
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26 |
27
Galactic
Boo-Day
Happy Boo Day!
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28
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29 |
30
Muir Ranch
Last day to pickup resupply buckets.
Call Muir for Exact Date
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The Season is Tapering Down
Labor Day marks the beginning of the end of the Summer Backpacking Season in the High Sierra.
Resupply Facilities begin closing up for the Season.
Danger
The potential for low temps is increased. Early season storm possibilities rise significantly.
Carefully begin monitoring weather conditions while
considering Fall additions to Insulation and Gear.
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NOTES: The chances of early season cold and even an unexpected snow storm require we gear-up for the expected and the unexpected.
Though each month is getting colder, and the rising potential for some serious unexpected early snow as each month passes, hiking the Fall conditons of August, September and October offer some of the most spectacular views and beautiful experiences the High Sierra Nevada Mountain Range offers.
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September brings the full palet of Fall beauty and cold conditions to the High Sierra.
From the golden grasses around diminished lakes to the great sweeps of bright yellow aspens cutting through the uniform evergreen canopy, beauty is bursting forth even as life slows into its Winter sleep.
The weight of the bear-proof can be left behind, but the pack gets heavier as the necessity of thicker gear demands we carry greater weight.
Tahoe to Whitney
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October 2014
Black Giant rises in pinks of setting sun beyond Muir Pass with Wanda Lake in the foreground
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
The Black Giant backdrops Muir Pass from our campsite on a rise above Lake Wanda.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations: Not yet online
October 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Danger
Every couple of years late season backpackers are surprised by an Early-Season Snowstorm.
Two feet of unexpected snow strands backpackers.
ARE WE READY for the UNEXPECTED?
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1
Reds Meadow
Stops
accepting Resupply Packages
Tuolumne Meadows
Facilities closed for sure!
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2
Deploy Fall Gear
With the elements of Winter gear to survive unexpected events
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4 |
5
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9 |
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11 |
12
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14
Kennedy Meadows Pack Station
Highway 108,
Closes Today
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15
VVR Closes
Depending on Weather
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19
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26
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31
Halloween |
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NOTES: Cold conditions are a reality, even without unexpected snow and storms. Nighttime temps are cold and can PLUNGE.
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The Tweener
October is the last month we can almost rely on great backpacking weather.
We can bank on serious early-season storms every few years. Don’t get stuck out without the gear necessary to survive, keep traveling, and enjoy it. |
October in the High Sierra is stunningly beautiful, but potentially very dangerous.
Every few years a strong unexpected Winter Storm comes in early and dumps a couple of unexpected feet of snow on the High Sierra.
Leaving detailed trip plans with an outside monitor is required. Packing Winter Gear elements, knowing how to survive and travel in the snow, and having contingency plans is REQUIRED.
Tahoe to Whitney
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November 2014
Looking back at the two Pallisades Lakes below, with the Pallisades Mountains rising to their Right as we climb through shattered rock to Mather Pass
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
Turning around to take a last look at the Pallisade Lakes below, the Pallisades Range surrounding them on the Right, and us hiking through the shattered rock leading South to Mather Pass.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations: Not yet online
November 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Deploy Winter Gear
Our “base” layers are brought to Winter Standards.
Our insulation layers are thickened to Winter Standards as well.
Winter Shell, boots, socks, and camp gear comes into play. I love my down snow-camp booties!
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Sno-Park Permits
Required for use of Sno-Park parking lots through May 30.
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9
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Veterans Day |
12 |
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15
Full Winter Gear
All Fall Gear elements replaced by Winter Gear.
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23
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27
Thanksgiving Day |
28 |
29 |
30
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NOTES: Highways 120 and 4 close with the first heavy snowfall. |
Date Vs. Conditions on the Ground
The calendar says Winter Conditions, but what are the conditions on the ground?
Late season clarity can quickly shift to blizzard conditions.
Hope for the best, pack gear for the worse. |
With or without snow on the Sierra, November brings very cold temps, and clear skies can turn dark and unleash heavy snow very quickly.
Summertime backpackers are tracking the trajectory of Winter conditions to guess-timate the date snows will clear from the high trails during Spring.
Wintertime backpackers are carefully tracking conditions to determine the best times to access the Winter Wonderland, if and when Winter comes in 2014.
Tahoe to Whitney
Top of Page |
December 2014
Iconic sawtooth ridgeline on Mount Whitney South of the final gentle climb to the Mount Whitney plateau
January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
Hiking past the iconic sawtooth ridge on our last steps to the great almost-flat plateau that is the crest of Mount Whitney.
Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations: Not yet online
December 2014
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Full Winter Gear
Time to pull out the full Winter Gear. A thick base layer with thick insulation and shell layers necessary.
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3
Observe
Storm, Temp and Weather Patterns to properly time upcoming Winter Trips.
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14
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First Day of Winter
Cold & Dark Equinox
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25
Christmas |
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28
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30 |
31
Backpackers
Time again to begin observing Winter transitioning into Spring.
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The Winter Backpacker
Very short days and long cold nights makes Winter hiking trips very different than Summer.
I’m hopeful the trails will be buried under yards of snow by December 2014…
If so, our goals, our speed, and our expectations have fully shifted into Winter Mode.
Our changing inner perspective ideally matches external environmental changes.
May your perspective always complement your environment, and visa-versa. |
NOTES:
Alex at Tahoe to Whitney hopes you had a killer backpacking year, that you’ve seen amazing things and met incredible folks on the long trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney. Woo Hooo!
November is the time to reserve permits in Desolation Wilderness or Yosemite National Park for next June. Half of each ‘s Wilderness Permits at these heavily used areas are available six months before the start date of the backpacking trip.
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I am hoping my frostbite/heart is recovered enough to resume my annual Christmas-New Year Snow Camping Triangle at the end of 2014.
From Meyers to Round Lake to Showers Lake to Round Top Lake and back to Meyers is my traditional December 25 Christmas present to myself.
The terrain, the joy of navigation and route finding the snow-covered beauty of the High Sierra during Winter is a special experience well worth the efforts and hazards.
2015
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January Februrary March April May June July August September October November December
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