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
High Sierra
Backpacker
Information
Guide Trailhead
Guide Index
High Sierra Magazine
HIGH SIERRA TRAILS FORUMS
HIGH SIERRA TOPICS FORUMS
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
Watersheds
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
Watersheds
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
Watersheds
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
Watersheds
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
LAST WEEK
NEXT WEEK
TOP |
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
NEXT WEEK
TOP
LAST WEEK
NEXT WEEK
TOP |
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
Watersheds
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
NEXT WEEK
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
Watersheds
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
NEXT WEEK
TOP
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
Watersheds
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
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LAST WEEK
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LAST WEEK
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Monday |
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Wednesday |
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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
Watersheds
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
Watersheds
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
TOP
2018
Highway 108
Open, May 3, 12:00 Noon
2017
Sonora Pass: 6-12
Tioga Pass: 6-29
Ebbetts Pass: 6-30
|
4 MAY
MORE
HIGH SIERRA
Backpacker
RESOURCES
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2018
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Open,
May 4, 12:00 Noon
2017
Snow & Temps
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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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