Killer Sunset at The Sisters near Carson Pass
Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail
Need a Map? Lost Al near Lost Keys Lake
Emigrant Wilderness under Tropical Thunderstorm, September.
Round Top Lake
Whitebarks and Grizzly Peak in Emigrant Wilderness under Tropical Clouds during September 2013
Lost Keys Lake
 

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney
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HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKER'S
Calendar

 

April
2019

 

Important Seasonal Happenings, Transitions, Events, & Dates
for
High Sierra Backpackers

 

Road Conditions, Resupply, Seasonal Transition Concerns, Permit Dates, Weather, Water, and Mosquitoes

 

 

 

Previous Years
2018

2017

THIS YEAR
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2019
High Sierra
News
Spring
of
2019
2019
Natural Meltdown

 

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2018
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Spring
of
2018
2018
Natural Meltdown

 

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2019
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

2019 INDEX

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October         November         December

 

April
2019

Last Week of March

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

TRAILHEAD

Last Year

2017

 

April Snowstorm climbs the East Sierra
over
Carson Falls

Sitting below the Pacific Crest Trail on the Eastern Edge of Carson Iceberg Wilderness-Stanislaus National Forest

East Carson River just below PCT under April Snow.

Looking back, Northwest by the compass, as we climb South up into the East Carson River up towards the PCT under a light Snow in April of 2000. The PCT runs the ridge in the background. We'll get up there soon. At the position above we are climbing up to Carson Falls on our way following the East Carson River a bit short of nine miles up to the PCT. Entry was through Rodriquez Flat, above the town of Walker on Highway 395.

Trail Forum            Map           Miles and Elevations (PCT)

End of March

 

April 2019

January       February     March       April       May       June     July     August     September       October       November       December

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

April 2019


"Open"
Spring Conditions
?

Typically,
Access Depends on Conditions.
Conditions on the ground, NOT a date on the calendar determines our gear and skills requirements.

Spring has been clearing mountain trails earlier and earlier over the the last twenty-five years, and especially the previous seven years, before the Massive 2017 Snowpack.

Short Winters & Early Thaws, such as 2015, 16, and 18, have been offset by the massive snow years of '17 & '19 .

"Open"
Spring Conditions?
in
2019

Not a Chance.
Spring Conditions are, & will be, Epic.

NOT 2019
HUGE PACK ON THE CREST

We're going to use our 2017 readings to give us some context & insight as to how this year's snow, similar to the levels of 2017, could melt-out:

March 27

April 20

May 2

 

Tracking
SPRING THAW 2019

 

2018

A Weak Snow Pack as of April 1

Spring of 2018

Danger
We've seen a long trend of earlier and earlier Spring Openings of Sierra Crest Trails, creating expectations of early openings. This year was following trend until our wet March, bringing a quarter of normal snowpack up to half.

Though this still bodes well for early starts on the PCT & JMT, the die is not yet cast.

Warm Torrential Tropical Rains could yet scour the snow from the Sierra Crest, while a cold version of Tropical Rains could still deposit many more feet along the Sierra Crest and Flanks.

Both would be "tail" events, with the most likely outcome being a quick Spring Thaw under warm conditions, and an earlier than "average" opening of Sierra Crest Trails.

 

 

2017
"Open"
Spring Conditions?

NOT 2017:
HUGE PACK ON THE CREST


The 2017 Spring Thaw was Under
WINTER SNOW CONDITIONS

 

 

2016
A slightly below average snowpack

 

More
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Backpacker Information

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GEAR FORUMS

GEAR LIST

 


26 MARCH

Cloudy Overcast
Clearing Middle AM

Spring Showers

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
March 26.

N Sierra: 155%
+4% in 5 days

Cen. Sierra:161%
-1% in 5 days

S Sierra: 154%
=% in 5 days

Ca State: 157%
+1% in 5 days

Last Reading
March 21

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

2019
MARCH 26
HIGH SIERRA

--Spring--
3rd
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
March 25th, 2019

Next Report:
March 28, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after this day of light to moderate precip, preceeded by a full day of showers, preceeded by a dry day....

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & =" below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
100" -1
7618 feet
Trail Map
(40.30 H2O) +0.1
43 & 33 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

128"
-2"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(56.50 H2O) +0.1
42 & 33 =/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
108" =0

8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(40.40" H2O) +0.1
43 & 31 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
123"
-2
8660 feet
Trail Map
(41.30 H2O) +0.2
40 & 30 =/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

200"
-1
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(58.90 H20) =0.0
35 & 28 -/-

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
68 & 22 -/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

52.90" −0.03
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(24.62" H20) =0.0"
37 & 28 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
109.70
−1.6"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(14.43") H20 =0.0"
45 & 24 -/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

86.60" −1.0"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.46") H20 =0.0"
42 & 20 -/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
96.20" −4.0
9798 feet
Trail Map
11.62 H20
(+0.08)
38 & 23 -/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" +0.2
10750 feet
Trail Map
(34.49 H2O) −0.04
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

97.78" −1.85
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
45 & 29 +/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

162.00" Snow −1.98
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.16" H2O =0.00
42 & 23 -/+

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

106.00" −1.8"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
44 & 21 -/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(25.80 H2O) =0.00
41 & 29 -/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

68.70" Snow −1.6
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
37 & 27 =/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

117.71" Snow−1.98
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
49.02 H2O +0.08
38 & 15 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

111.20" −1.31"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
37 & 17 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

58.25" Snow−1.57"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(21.41 H2O) −0.49
40 & 16 +/+

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

 

27 MARCH

Cloudy Overcast
Showers

Spring Showers

 

 

2018
Snowpack:

Percent of Average for
March 27
+/- change since
March 23

N Sierra: 48%
(+4%)

Cen. Sierra: 65%
(=%)

S Sierra: 56%
(-1%)

Ca State: 58%
(+2%)

Last
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

2017
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
March 27.

N Sierra: 145%

Cen. Sierra: 174%

S Sierra: 166%

Ca State: 163%

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

Last Reading:
March 1

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

28 MARCH

Cloudy & Sunny
Broken Clouds

Spring Showers

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
March 28.

N Sierra: 162%
+7% in 2 days

Cen. Sierra:164%
+4% in 2 days

S Sierra: 154%
=% in 2 days

Ca State: 161%
+4% in 2 days

Last Reading
March 26

Next Reading
April 2

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

What This Means

 

2019
MARCH 28
HIGH SIERRA

--Spring--
4th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
March 26th, 2019

Next Report:
April 1 , 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last four days of light to moderate precip, & showers, preceeded by a dry day...

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
109" +9
7618 feet
Trail Map
(42.20 H2O) +1.9 ?
35 & 24 -/-

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

140"
+12"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(58.70 H2O) +2.2
32 & 23 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
117" +9

8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(42.50" H2O) +2.1
35 & 22 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
133"
+10
8660 feet
Trail Map
(51.10 H2O) +9.8 ??
31 & 21 -/-

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

206"
+6
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(59.10 H20) +0.2
29 & 19 -/-

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
68 & 34 =/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

56.42" +3.52
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(25.44" H20) +0.82"
26 & 15 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
119.70
+10"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(14.90") H20 =0.47"
36 & 24 -/=

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

92.40" +5.8"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.46") H20 =0.0"
41 & 21 -/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
104.10" +7.9
9798 feet
Trail Map
11.68 H20
(+0.06)
29 & 18 -/-

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" =0.0 ??
10750 feet
Trail Map
(35.62 H2O) +1.13
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

101.66" +3.88
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
35 & 28 -/-

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

171.54" Snow +9.54
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.16" H2O =0.00
33 & 22 -/-

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

107.50" +1.5"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
36 & 20 -/-

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(25.80 H2O) =0.00
36 & 23 -/-

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

71.00" Snow +2.3
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
30 & 20 -/-

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

116.81" Snow−0.9
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
49.17 H2O +0.15
29 & 11 -/-
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

109.94" −1.26"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
27 & 11 -/-

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

57.15" Snow−1.10"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(21.48 H2O) +0.07
30 & 8 -/-

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

29 MARCH

Clear & Sweet

Skeeter News & Thoughts

All Trail News

 

Clear Nights
Bring
COLD
Hazards

 

Modis Satellite
Views

(Compare 2017, 18, & 19)

 

 

 

THE
CURRENT SNOWPACK

Current Conditions

All Snow Information

GRAPHICS
Date-Adjustable Multi-Aspect
High Sierra
Snowpack
Status
THE 26TH

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
SNOWPACK

The High Sierra
3-26-19

 

OBSERVATIONS

All
High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

30 MARCH

Clear & Sweet

 

Clear Nights
Bring
COLD
Hazards

 

SAFETY FIRST
Cayenne's First Aid Approach

 

Tracking
SPRING THAW 2019

 

What Up?

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

What's Next?

 

BEST
FORECASTS

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
Forecast
Winds? Weather?

NorCal Graphics

Region, SW US

 

Forecast
Temperatures

Model
Five Day Mean
Low Temps

Click Green "Latest" Model,
observe using step button

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

31 MARCH

Clear & Sweet
Afternoon Haze

Which is warming...


Clear Nights
Bring
COLD
Hazards

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

1

Cloudy Overcast
Weak, Lazy Front Offshore
Weak Showers

Warming

 

2017
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 1.

N Sierra: 147%

Cen. Sierra: 175%

S Sierra: 166%

Ca State: 164%

Cal Coop Snow Survey

Next 2017 Readings
April 20

May 2

May 15

June 15

Mid-June HAZARDS

 

 

 

2019
APRIL 1
HIGH SIERRA

--Spring--
5th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
March 28th, 2019

Next Report:
April 1, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last three days of clarity since the last precip...

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
104" -5
7618 feet
Trail Map
(42.50 H2O) +0.5
47 & 37 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

131"
-9"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(59.60 H2O) +0.9
50 & 38 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
109" -8
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(42.60" H2O) +0.1
50 & 31 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
125"
-8
8660 feet
Trail Map
(57.10 H2O) +6.0 ???
49 & 36 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

200"
-6
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(50.20 H20) +1.1
46 & 34 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
71 & 23 +/-

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

52.58" −3.84
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(25.55" H20) +0.11"
44 & 23 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
111.60
−8.1"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(15.47") H20 +0.57 "
52 & 22 +/-

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

86.30" −6.1"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.46") H20 =0.0"
51 & 18 +/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
96.40" −7.7
9798 feet
Trail Map
12.19 H20
(+0.51)
46 & 22 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" =0.0 ?? ??
10750 feet
Trail Map
(35.58 H2O) −0.04
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

94.64" −7.02
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
52 & 26 +/-

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

161.04" Snow −10.5
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.16" H2O =0.00 ??
50 & 28 +/+

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

102.20" -5.3"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
52 & 22 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(25.80 H2O) =0.00
56 & 26 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

66.10" Snow −4.9
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
47 & 22 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

110.14" Snow −6.67
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
49.45 H2O +0.28
43 & 23 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

105.74" −4.2"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
43 & 22 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

53.14" Snow −4.01"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(21.56H2O) +0.08
46 & 24 +/+

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

2

Showers
Front Crossing Ca

Warming

Moving into Higher
Spring Temp Range
still susceptible to very cold temps, but Averages are higher

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 2.

N Sierra: 165%
+3 % in 5 days

Cen. Sierra: 165%
+1 % in 5 days

S Sierra: 153%
-1 % in 5 days

Ca State: 162%
+1 % in 5 days

Last Reading
March 28

Next Reading
April 8

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

 

WINTER
Analysis

Two Pieces
Winter of 2019

The Drought is Over

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps

3

Few-Light Showers
Between Fronts

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 3
+/- change since
March 27

N Sierra: 41%
(-7%)

Cen. Sierra: 59%
(-6%)

S Sierra: 49%
(-7%)

Ca State: 51%
(-7%)

Last
March 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
APRIL 3
HIGH SIERRA

--Spring--
6th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
April 1, 2019

Next Report:
April 7, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last 2 days of showers, and light showers.

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
106" +2
7618 feet
Trail Map
(42.80 H2O) +0.3
40 & 31 -/-

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

134"
+3"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(61.60 H2O) +1.7 ??
40 & 31 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
114" +5
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(43.70" H2O) +1.1
41 & 25 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
134"
+9
8660 feet
Trail Map
(57.00 H2O) -0.1 ???
39 & 27 -/-

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

207"
+7
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(61.40 H20) +11.2 !??
39 & 25 -/-

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
66 & 36 -/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

55.5" +2.92
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(26.15" H20) +0.6"
36 & 16 -/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
116.10
+4.5"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(16.46") H20 +0.99"
45 & 14 -/-

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

87.10" +0.8"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.47") H20 +0.01"
44 & 12 -/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
97.50" +1.1
9798 feet
Trail Map
12.36 H20
(+0.17)
40 & 13 -/-

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" =0.0 ?? ??
10750 feet
Trail Map
(35.83 H2O) +0.25
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

94.84" +0.2
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
44 & 21 -/-

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

163.74" Snow +2.7
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.16" H2O =0.00 ??
42 & 18 -/-

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

104.40" +2.2"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
44 & 11 -/-

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(25.90 H2O) +0.10
49 & 13 -/-

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

66.30" Snow +0.2
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
41 & 11 -/-

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

118.35" Snow +8.21
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
50.49 H2O +1.04
35 & 8 -/-
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

112.29" +6.55"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
39 & 12 -/-

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

55.07" Snow +1.93 "
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(21.56H2O) +0.31
41 & 10 -/-

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

4

Cloudy Overcast
Front Offshore

SEE THE LATEST
HIGH SIERRA NEWS

 

 

 

SUMMER
Backpackers

Time again to begin observing Winter transitioning into Spring

SPRING
Backpackers

Time to begin tracking the weather to find and get in this year's last snow trips before the Spring Thaw begins in Earnest.

 

 

 

More
High Sierra
Backpacker Information

Guide Trailhead

Guide Index

High Sierra Magazine

HIGH SIERRA TRAILS FORUMS

HIGH SIERRA TOPICS FORUMS

GEAR FORUMS

GEAR LIST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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5

Showers
Occl Front Crossing Ca

 

BEST
FORECASTS

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
Forecast
Winds? Weather?

NorCal Graphics

Region, SW US

 

Forecast
Temperatures

Model
Five Day Mean
Low Temps

Click Green "Latest" Model,
observe using step button

All Temps

6

Cloudy Overcast

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

THE
CURRENT SNOWPACK

Current Conditions

All Snow Information

GRAPHICS
Date-Adjustable Multi-Aspect
High Sierra
Snowpack
Status
THE 1st

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
SNOWPACK

The High Sierra
4-1-19

 

OBSERVATIONS

All
High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

7

Cloudy-Overcast
Clearing-Warming
-Big High Building-In-

Snow Steadily Diminishing
since last reading

 

 

 

 

 

2019
APRIL 7
HIGH SIERRA

--Spring--
7th
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
April 3, 2019

Next Report:
April 14, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last 2 days of weak showers, followed by two days of Overcast.

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
102" -4
7618 feet
Trail Map
(43.10 H2O) +0.3
50 & 37 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

129"
-5"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(61.70 H2O) +0.1
48 & 36 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
109" -5
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(43.80" H2O) +0.1
49 & 35 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
125"
-9
8660 feet
Trail Map
(58.90 H2O) +1.9 ???
48 & 34 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

203"
-4
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(62.20 H20) +0.8
43 & 33 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
65 & 30 -/-

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

52.95" −2.55
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(26.48" H20) +0.33"
44 & 32 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
110.80
−5.3"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(16.67") H20 +0.21"
54 & 29 +/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

81.80" −5.3"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.47") H20 =0.00"
50 & 27 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
91.90" −5.6
9798 feet
Trail Map
12.36 H20
(+0.28)
46 & 29 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" =0.0 ?? ??
10750 feet
Trail Map
(36.69 H2O) -0.14
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

90.12" −4.72
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
55 & 28 +/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

157.18" Snow −6.56
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.16" H2O =0.00 ??
53 & 29 +/+

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

100.70" −3.7"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
51 & 24 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(25.90 H2O) =0.10
58 & 27 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

64.00" Snow −2.3
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
47 & 24 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

109.84" Snow −8.51
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
50.49 H2O +0.32
44 & 21 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

104.44" −7.85"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
41 & 24 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

51.63" Snow −3.44"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(21.56 H2O) +0.39
47 & 26 +/+

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

2018

Review Second Week of April

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

 

2017

8

Cloudy-Overcast
Warm
-Big High Building-In-

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 8.

N Sierra: 166%
+1 % in 6 days

Cen. Sierra: 165%
= % in 6 days

S Sierra: 152%
-1 % in 6 days

Ca State: 162%
= % in 6 days

Last Reading
April 2

Next Reading
April 15

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION

RESERVOIRS

HAZARDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

9

Clear
Warm-Windy

 

Clear Nights
Bring

COLD
Hazards

 

Resupply Thoughts

 

Moutain Safety

Trail News

General News

 

 

 

More
High Sierra
Backpacker Information

Guide Trailhead

Guide Index

High Sierra Magazine

HIGH SIERRA TRAILS FORUMS

HIGH SIERRA TOPICS FORUMS

GEAR FORUMS

GEAR LIST

 

 

SEE THE LATEST
HIGH SIERRA NEWS

 

 

10

Clear
Warm-Windy

 

Modis Satellite
Views

(Compare 2017, 18, & 19)

 

 

THE
CURRENT SNOWPACK

Current Conditions

All Snow Information

GRAPHICS
Date-Adjustable Multi-Aspect
High Sierra
Snowpack
Status
THE 7th

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
SNOWPACK

The High Sierra
4-7-19

 

OBSERVATIONS

All
High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 10
+/- change since
April 3

N Sierra: 36%
(-5%)

Cen. Sierra: 51%
(-8%)

S Sierra: 39%
(-10%)

Ca State: 43%
(-8%)

Last
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

11

Cloudy-Overcast
Cool Breezes
-Big High Building-In-

 

 

BEST
FORECASTS

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
Forecast
Winds? Weather?

NorCal Graphics

Region, SW US

 

Forecast
Temperatures

Model
Five Day Mean
Low Temps

Click Green "Latest" Model,
observe using step button

All Temps

Let's look at the
Big Picture
Surface Map

The Pacific Ocean

US Weather Map

All Maps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

Clear
Warm

-Big High-

 

Clear Nights
Bring

COLD
Hazards

 

All
High Sierra Weather
And the factors creating it

 

 

 

 

A Year Comparable
to
2019?

2017

NEXT
2017 SNOW READING
April 20, 2017

PREVIOUS
April 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 12
+/- change since
April 10

N Sierra: 35%
(-1%)

Cen. Sierra: 47%
(-4%)

S Sierra: 36%
(-3%)

Ca State: 41%
(-2%)

Last
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

13

Cloudy-Overcast

Let's look at the
Big Picture
Surface Map

The Pacific Ocean

US Weather Map

All Maps

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION

RESERVOIRS

HAZARDS

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

14

Cloudy-Overcast
Weak Front E of
Offshore High

 

Status & Evolution
Spring Thaw of 2019

 

2018
Review Third Week of April

2017

 

2019
APRIL 14
HIGH SIERRA

8th
--Spring--
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
April 7, 2019

Next Report:
April 21, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last 6 days ranging from unsettled to clear and warm, and back to the fringes of instability. Instability caused by a massive High sliding off and onto the West Coast of the USA, either deflecting moisture around us when its on the coast, or allowing Lows and Fronts around its Eastern Edge when its off the Coast. That's deflecting Lows around its Northern edge, around Ca & the Sierra.

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
95" -7
7618 feet
Trail Map
(45.20 H2O) +2.1 ??
53 & 38 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

119"
-10"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(62.50 H2O) +0.8
51 & 38 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
102" -7
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(44.50" H2O) +0.7
52 & 31 +/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
117"
-8
8660 feet
Trail Map
(59.40 H2O) +0.5
51 & 35 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

197"
-6
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(62.90 H20) +0.7
49 & 35 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
81 & 24 +/-

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

52.45" −2.5
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(26.64" H20) +0.14"
47 & 28 +/-

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
103.60
−7.2"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(16.67") H20 +0.31"
55 & 24 +/-

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

74.85" −6.95"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.47") H20 =0.00"
52 & 21 +/-

Tioga Pass/Dana
86.70" −5.2
9798 feet
Trail Map
12.36 H20
(+0.54)
49 & 24 +/-

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" =0.0 ?? ??
10750 feet
Trail Map
(35.81 H2O) -0.88
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

81.01" −9.11
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
51 & 26 -/-

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

151.22" Snow −5.96
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.16" H2O =0.00 ??
51 & 27 -/-

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

96.10" −4.6"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
55 & 20 +/-

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(26.00 H2O) +0.10
57 & 28 -/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

60.40" Snow −3.6
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
51 & 26 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

105.72" Snow −4.12
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
52.86 H2O +2.37
37 & 20 -/-
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

99.60" −4.84"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
46 & 24 +/=

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

48.29" Snow −3.34"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(21.56 H2O) +0.42
47 & 23 +/-

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

15

Broken Clouds
Weak Low NE, & Front E
of Offshore High

Snow!

Carson Pass
Winter Weather Advisory

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 15.

N Sierra: 167%
+1% in 7 days

Cen. Sierra: 162%
-3% in 7 days

S Sierra: 151%
-1 % in 7 days

Ca State: 161%
-1% in 7 days

Last Reading
April 8

Next Reading
April 22

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

16

Clearing
High Moving Onshore

A couple of inches of snow were added to the
Sierra Crest last night

 

Clear Nights
Bring

COLD
Hazards

 

TRENDS

HAZARDS

Review
High Sierra Forecasts

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

What Up?

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 16
+/- change since
April 12

N Sierra: 37%
(+2%)

Cen. Sierra: 47%
(=%)

S Sierra: 35%
(-1%)

Ca State: 41%
(=%)

Last
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

17

Sweet Day
Warm
High Moving Onshore

 

Watch It!
California Web Cams

 

 

Modis Satellite
Views

(Compare 2017, 18, & 19)

 

 

All
High Sierra Weather
Tracking
the factors creating it

 

 

Trail Guide
Trailhead

High Sierra
Backpacker's Magazine

 

 

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION

RESERVOIRS

HAZARDS

 

Tracking
SPRING THAW 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

2016
Hot Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

18

Sweet Day
Onshore
High

 

THE
CURRENT SNOWPACK

Current Conditions

All Snow Information

GRAPHICS
Date-Adjustable Multi-Aspect
High Sierra
Snowpack
Status
THE 14th

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
SNOWPACK

The High Sierra
4-14-19

 

OBSERVATIONS

All
High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 18
+/- change since
April 16

N Sierra: 37%
(-%)

Cen. Sierra: 51%
(+4%)

S Sierra: 37%
(-2%)

Ca State: 44%
(+3%)

Last
April 16
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

19

High Clouds
Cooler, Breezy, still Warm
Weak Front

 

 

Resupply?
(KM PACK STATION)

 

 

BEST
FORECASTS

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
Forecast
Winds? Weather?

NorCal Graphics

Region, SW US

 

Forecast
Temperatures

Model
Five Day Mean
Low Temps

Click Green "Latest" Model,
observe using step button

All Temps

Let's look at the
Big Picture
Surface Map

The Pacific Ocean

US Weather Map

All Maps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

20

Clear, Breezy
Cool, Breezy, still Warm
Weak Front Passed

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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2017
COLD WARNING
Weak Front through last night, clear, High building.

 

2017
Current Snowpack

VAST
Percent of Average for
April 1.

N Sierra: 182%

Cen. Sierra: 197%

S Sierra: 182%

Ca State: 189%

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

Next Readings

May 2

May 15

June 15

Mid-June HAZARDS

Previous Readings

April 1

March 27

March 1

 

2016:
Hot
THE BLOB RETURNS
NW US

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

21

Clear, Breezy
Cool, Breezy, still Warm

 

 

 

 

2019
APRIL 21
HIGH SIERRA

9th
--Spring--
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
April 14, 2019

Next Report:
April 28, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last 7 days of a persistent High building in, with a weak front crossing the High in between.

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
89" -6
7618 feet
Trail Map
(45.80 H2O) +0.6
45 & 31 -/-

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

110"
-9"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(63.10 H2O) +0.6
45 & 30 -/-

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
93" -9
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(44.90" H2O) +0.4
46 & 25 -/-

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
110"
-7
8660 feet
Trail Map
(60.20 H2O) +0.8
44 & 26 -/-

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

191"
-6
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(63.60 H20) +0.7
42 & 25 -/-

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
73 & 36 −/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

43.92" −8.53
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(27.08" H20) +0.44"
38 & 15 −/−

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
93.10
−10.5"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(18.26") H20 +1.59" ??
49 & 23 −/−

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

64.89" −9.96"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.47") H20 =0.00"
45 & 16 −/−

Tioga Pass/Dana
79.80" −6.9
9798 feet
Trail Map
13.53 H20
+1.17 ??
39 & 13 −/−

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

156.50" =0.0 ERROR
10750 feet
Trail Map
(36.07 H2O) +0.26
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

69.66" −11.35
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
51 & 28 =/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

144.41" Snow −6.81
9500 feet
Trail Map
28.64" H2O +0.48
45 & 25 −/−

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

92.20" −3.9"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
43 & 14 −/−

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(26.00 H2O) =0.00
51 & 24 −/−

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

53.50" Snow −6.9
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
39 & 19 −/−

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

96.99" Snow −8.73
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
53.51 H2O +0.65
38 & 13 +/−
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

92.30" −7.3"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
33 & 13 −/−

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

42.04" Snow −6.25"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(22.18 H2O) +0.62
42 & 16 −/−

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

22

Clear, Warm
Big High, Hot

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 22.

N Sierra: 162%
-5% in 7 days

Cen. Sierra: 162%
=% in 7 days

S Sierra: 152%
+1 % in 7 days

Ca State: 159%
-2% in 7 days

Last Reading
April 15

Next Reading
April 26

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

2017 Readings
April 1

April 20

May 2

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

THE
CURRENT SNOWPACK

Current Conditions

All Snow Information

GRAPHICS
Date-Adjustable Multi-Aspect
High Sierra
Snowpack
Status
THE 21ST

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
SNOWPACK

The High Sierra
4-21-19

 

OBSERVATIONS

All
High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

 

 

 

2018
Review Fourth Week of April

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

 

 

 

 

2017

 

23

Clear, Hot
Big High, Hot for Summer

 

BEST
FORECASTS

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
Forecast
Winds? Weather?

NorCal Graphics

Region, SW US

 

Forecast
Temperatures

Model
Five Day Mean
Low Temps

Click Green "Latest" Model,
observe using step button

All Temps

Let's look at the
Big Picture
Surface Map

The Pacific Ocean

US Weather Map

All Maps

 

24

Clear, Hot
Big High, Hot for Summer

 

2019
See

Current High Sierra Trail and Terrain News

 

2018
See

Current High Sierra Trail and Terrain News

 

2017
See
Hazard Alert from April 1 through August!

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

25

Clear, Hot
Big High, Cooler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION

RESERVOIRS

HAZARDS

 

Tracking
SPRING THAW 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 25
+/- change since
April 18

N Sierra: 22%
(-15%)

Cen. Sierra: 46%
(-5%)

S Sierra: 28%
(-9%)

Ca State: 37%
(+7%)

Last
April 18
April 16
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

26

Clear, Warm
Big High, Cooler

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 26.

N Sierra: 151%
-11% in 4 days

Cen. Sierra: 155%
-7% in 4 days

S Sierra: 149%
-3 % in 4 days

Ca State: 152%
-7% in 4 days

Last Reading
April 22

Next Reading
April 29

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

2017 Readings
April 1

April 20

May 2

 

Seven Day
Freezing Temperature Probability

 

 

 

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

Clear, Warm
Bit Breezy, Nice

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

28

Clear, Warm
Bit Breezy, Cooler, Nice

 

CalTrans
Trans-Sierra Highways

Road Openings History

2017
Sonora Pass: 6-12
Tioga Pass: 6-29
Ebbetts Pass: 6-30

 

 

HIGH SIERRA
Backpacker
NEWS

LATEST
HIGH SIERRA
TRAIL NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
APRIL 28
HIGH SIERRA

10th
--Spring--
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
April 14, 2019

Next Report:
May 1, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last 7 days of a persistent High building in, with a couple of Record-near record temp days.

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
77" -12
7618 feet
Trail Map
(45.80 H2O) =0.0
58 & 43 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

91"
-19"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(63.10 H2O) =0.0
56 & 45 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
79" -14
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(44.90" H2O) =0.0
56 & 36 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
94"
-16
8660 feet
Trail Map
(60.30 H2O) +0.1
56 & 41 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

175"
-16
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(63.60 H20) =0.0
48 & 40 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
83 & 34 +/−

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

33.56" −10.36
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(27.25" H20) +0.17"
49 & 30 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
74.64
−18.46"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(18.26") H20 =0.0"
57 & 24 +/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

47.67" −17.22"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.47") H20 =0.00"
54 & 23 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
64.75" −15.05
9798 feet
Trail Map
13.53 H20
=0.00
51 & 28 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

151.00" −5.5 ERROR?
10750 feet
Trail Map
(32.52 H2O) −3.55 ??
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

55.30" −14.36
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
58 & 28 +/=

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

126.65" Sno −17.76
9500 feet
Trail Map
36.00" H2O +7.36 ??
54 & 34 +/+

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

78.00" −14.2"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
55 & 26 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(26.00 H2O) =0.00
56 & 36 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

45.40" Snow −8.1
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
49 & 35 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

81.05" Snow −15.94
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
53.53 H2O +0.02
47 & 24 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

82.17" −10.13"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
48 & 28 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

34.62" Snow −7.42"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(22.29 H2O) +0.11
46 & 27 +/+

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

29

Clear, Warm
Bit Breezy, Nice

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
April 29.

N Sierra: 144%
-18% in 7 days
-7% in 3 days

Cen. Sierra: 145%
-17% in 7 days
-10% in 3 days

S Sierra: 140%
-12% in 7 days
-9% in 3 days

Ca State: 143%
-16% in 7 days
-9% in 3 days

Last Reading
April 26

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

2017 Readings
April 1

April 20

May 2

 

 

Current
HIGH SIERRA
Mountain Safety Incidents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Review Last Week of April

 

2018
Snow Depths & Temp

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
April 29
+/- change since
April 25

N Sierra: 30%
(+8%)

Cen. Sierra: 44%
(-2%)

S Sierra: 31%
(+3%)

Ca State: 37%
(=%)

Last
April 25
April 18
April 16
April 12
March 27
March 23
March 22
March 20
March 14, 2018
March 5, 2018
March 1, 2018
Feb 24, 2018

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top of Calendar

 

 

 

30

Clear, Warm
Bit Breezy, Nice

 

Transition
Spring Gear Kit

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

1 MAY

Clear, Warm
Bit Breezy, Nice

May Day
May Day Note

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
May 1.

N Sierra: 144%
=0% in 2 days

Cen. Sierra: 147%
+2% in 2 days

S Sierra: 139%
-1% in 2 days

Ca State: 143%
=0% in 2 days

Last Reading
April 29

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Cal Coop Snow Survey

2017 Readings
April 1

April 20

May 2

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
May 1
+/- change since
April 29

Ca State: 27%
(-10%)

 

2019
MAY 1
HIGH SIERRA

11th
--Spring--
Temp-Snow Check

Last Report:
April 28, 2019

Next Report:
May 7, 2019

Let's check our reporting station snow & temp readings after the last 2 nice, warm, & breezy days but still cooler days. under the persistent High that's built in.

Click the stations below for their latest reports.

Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps.

A NEW WATER YEAR:
LAST YEAR
Total Precipitation

58 % of Average

A NEW WATER YEAR: Reservoirs

The Thaw: It's Coming

N Sierra Reporting Stations On a Map
Scroll over stations for snow & temps. Click for
full report.
South Sierra Stations

"+/- & ="
below are changes since last reading.

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
73" -4
7618 feet
Trail Map
(45.80 H2O) =0.0
45 & 29 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak

85"
-6"
7652 feet
Stations Map
(63.30 H2O) +0.2
45 & 28 −/−

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
74" -5
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
(44.90" H2O) =0.0
47 & 25 −/−

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
88"
-6
8660 feet
Trail Map
(60.30 H2O) =0.0
46 & 21 −/−

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake

171"
-4
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(63.60 H20) =0.0
41 & 20 −/−

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
68 & 38 −/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

31.76" −1.8
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
(27.19" H20) -0.06"
43 & 19 −/−

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

Tenaya Lake
68.60
−6.04"
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(18.26") H20 =0.0"
48 & 20 −/−

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

42.28" −5.39"
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
(6.47") H20 =0.00"
47 & 17 −/−

Tioga Pass/Dana
61.07" −3.68
9798 feet
Trail Map
13.53 H20
=0.00
43 & 15 −/−

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass

151.00" −0.0 ERROR?
10750 feet
Trail Map
(00.00 H2O) −32.52 ??
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile

47.80" −7.5
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
(0.0) =
48 & 27 −/−

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass

121.15" Sno −5.5
9500 feet
Trail Map
38.72" H2O +2.72 ??
46 & 23 −/−

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob

75.20" −2.8"
10100 feet
Trail Map
(0.00)
47 & 12 −/−

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

(Snow removed ")
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
(26.00 H2O) =0.00
50 & 18 −/−

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

41.80" Snow −3.6
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
42 & 14 −/−

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass

--.--
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
BAD-
BAD

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake

78.13" Snow −2.92
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
54.10 H2O +0.57
39 & 14 −/−
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

81.28" −0.89"
11441 feet
Trail Map
(x.xx" H2O +x.xx")
41 & 24 −/−

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

33.62" Snow −1"
10,700 feet
Trail Map
(22.43 H2O) +0.14
42 & 17 −/−

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

May 7
Snow Report

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

2 MAY

 

NEXT MONTH

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWISTED SEASONS
Hottest & Driest Year, then the Wettest Ever, over Three Years

 

 

 

 

Seven Day
Freezing Temperature Probability

 

 

 

Review
April of 2017
against
April of 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Heat Wave

2017
Current Snowpack

VAST
Percent of Average for
May 2.

N Sierra: 198%

Cen. Sierra: 201%

S Sierra: 178%

Ca State: 194%

Cal Coop Snow Survey

 

 

3 MAY

 

 

 

 

 

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data.

 

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

 

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2018

Highway 108
Open, May 3, 12:00 Noon

 

2017
Sonora Pass: 6-12
Tioga Pass: 6-29
Ebbetts Pass: 6-30

 

 

 

4 MAY

 

 

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Weather Page

 

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2018

Highway 4
Open, May 4, 12:00 Noon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2019

 

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2018 Calendar

Conditions Vs. Plans
Is there a huge snowpack?
None?


Have you Late Spring or Early Summer Hiking Plans?
Current conditions will tell you if your early season hiking plans are possible.

Let's compare:

APRIL 8 STATUS 2015
8% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 8 STATUS 2016
73% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 7 STATUS 2017
161% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 10 STATUS 2018
43% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 8 STATUS 2019
162% of Average Snowpack

 

APRIL 19 STATUS 2016
85% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 20 STATUS 2017
189% of Average Snowpack

2016
Things are very different this year than the past 5 years. Early heat this year may do more to close the trail than open it.
Rather than early dry conditions we may well face early and enduring early-season soggy conditions.

2017

IT'S ON

 

Ca Dept of Water Resources

 

High Sierra Backpacker Weather

 

SPRING THREATS ON FULL DISPLAY
BACKPACKER ALERT
April 1, 2017
The most important topic of this date is the massive snowpack on the Sierra Crest and the extreme danger it poses to PCT hikers. The dangers of High Altitude Snow Travel will soon be supplemented by very dangerous fording conditions when this snowpack begins to thaw.

These conditions require skills, gear, and fitness to assure any level of safe travel as of this date. Undercutting and safety along the banks of creeks emerging from snow cover is currently increasing, as will the difficulty of travel conditions increase as the pack softens under the increasing heat of Spring.

Extremely difficult travel conditions will soon shift from hard snow that defies traction to wet snow offering no foundation. We will shortly transition from barely clinging to the mountain-side to sinking up to our waists with each step. As Spring progresses cold mornings will bring the former condition, warm afternoons the latter.

The same temp shift driving the changing character of the snow pack will soon drive even the highest river fords to levels unsafe for fording, and make the major rivers raging torrents of destruction. These temp shifts change the character of the Sierra.

The snowpack itself will become sopping wet, saturating anything and anyone in contact with it. These are the times that hikers without sufficient insulation can find cold combining with exhaustion to degrade decision making as well as technical execution & style to create very dangerous situations. I see Wet, cold, and tired PCT hikers surrounded by a sea of deep, wet, energy-sucking snow divided by an endless series of raging torrents of typically tiny High Sierra creeks surging like rivers, each supercharged by Spring's mighty flows.

The trails will be flowing like creeks, when we get down to them. And they will lead to the mighty rivers, which will be downright scary, once this massive snow pack begins to melt in earnest.


STATUS NOTES

2017 OBSERVATIONS AND TRACKING

2017
WEATHER NOTE
of
April 19th

Note the pattern of a series of Highs & Lows I mentioned on the 15th has sustained itself through the 19th, & looks likely to contain one more wet pulse.
The pattern has seen Wet, Warm frontal/Lows followed by brief clear, cold Highs. Rapidly. This current cool High is giving way to another frontal Low, & it will warm into the 20th with that moisture as this pattern then breaks, followed by cooling with the clearing/High building from 21th to 24th.

Then some heat will build in from the 22nd, unless this series of Highs-Lows come back...

FULL NOTE-COMMENTS

 

 

APRIL 9 ANALYSIS
As of April 9 extreme Spring Snow travel conditions are reasonably predictable through July, barring any extreme heating or tropical rain activity. Both extreme heating and tropical rains are very possible, if not likely.

We will have some warm ups, we will have some downpours.

As of this day the pack has not softened appreciably, nor has the Spring Thaw begun to gut the pack. We are still facing classic cold Spring conditions, which are the easiest phase of Spring Snow Travel.

This will change rapidly.

A soft snowpack is very difficult to travel across, though a soft snowpack is a lot harder to fall off of. The danger of falling off the mountain will shortly be replaced by grasping, sucking snow that draws you down into it, and refuses to let go. It tries to work you to death, rather than toss you off the mountain... Very difficult...

When the snow gets soft the trails will be flowing like creeks, the creeks like rivers, and the rivers unpassable, once this snowpack gets to that level of saturation. Everything will get saturated, wet, and cold. Eveything.

Your gear better keep you warm when wet.

Thus this current "cold" part of the Spring Thaw is actually the best and easiest terrain for rapid movement, if the Spring Traveler is properly and throughly equipped, in fine physical condition, and capable of snow navigation without trail, sign, or ranger to guide.
We can still stay dry and on top of the snow.

These deep cold Spring conditions are not ideal conditions for lightly geared hikers, nor will they be for quite some time. Deep Cold and hard snow will first turn soft, and the transition from Dry to Wet cold is very dangerous.

Warm wet snow is much more dangerous than cold dry snow.

The key PCT questions will come in a series,
"When will the Thaw begin to soften and the snow become wet enough to make soft-snow passage very difficult and fording very dangerous?"

That time is approaching right now, as I write this on the 9th.

Then the next question will be, "when will enough of the Thaw pass to allow safe passage of key fords?"

We are Watching.

 

 

 

 

 

2016 OBSERVATIONS AND TRACKING

Snowpack Tracker

WHEN WILL THE SIERRA OPEN in 2016?

TRACKING 2016 CONDITIONS

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...

 

High Sierra Backpacker Resupply

 

2017

Epic.

NEWS
Let's Ski through July

 

2016
The potential for warm rains scouring the crest of snow long before the traditional date of the end of freezing temps, which was on May 26 2015.

The end of Freezing Temps may arrive in April or early May this Year, as indicated by trends.

The tropical storm of April 7 to 10 has brought above-freezing overnight temps to the North Sierra on April 9, which is just plumb crazy.

FREEZER FORECAST

 

 

 

The Past Prologues the Future

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar       

   2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

2015 REPORT
APRIL 2015
ASSESMENT
Earliest Trans-Sierra Highway Openings on Record?

YUP.

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 fine wine or quality whiskey is a nice thing on a cold Sierra night at the resupply with the bros...

 

BACKGROUND
The trajectory of the cold, rain, and snows of January provide both excellent backpacking experiences and establish the terms, a baseline for this year’s transition into Spring Conditions.

Regular storm activity laid atop a deep pack of Winter snows wrapped in cold temps indicate a long Winter into Spring transition.

Light snows and irregular storm activity sprinkled on a thin snow pack under high temperatures indicates an early and rapid transitions into Spring and Summer conditions.

 

Tahoe to Whitney

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2019

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October         November         December

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

 

Trailhead
 
Contact
Alex Wierbinski

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Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

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