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
Trail Guide, Magazine, & High Sierra Backpacker's Trails and Topics Forums


HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKER'S
Calendar

 

December
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
News, Views, & Issues
December
2018
High Sierra
News
December
2018
Backpacker
Alerts
2018
Natural Meltdown
High Sierra
Backpacking
TOPICS
High Sierra
Backpacking
TRAILS
High Sierra
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FITNESS
High Sierra
Backpacking
SKILLS

High Sierra
RESUPPLY
High Sierra
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High Sierra
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GUIDE
INDEX
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Trail
MAPS
INDEX
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Trail
MILES
INDEX
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2019
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

2019 INDEX

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October         November         December

2020 INDEX

 

December
2019

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

TRAILHEAD

Last Year

 

December 2019
Iconic sawtooth ridgeline on Mount Whitney
South of the final gentle climb to the Mount Whitney plateau

East Carson River just below PCT under April Snow.
Hiking past the iconic sawtooth ridge on our last steps to the great almost-flat plateau that is the crest of Mount Whitney.

Trail Guide           Map           Miles and Elevations
Not yet all online

December 2019

Top of Page

January       February     March       April       May       June     July     August     September       October       November       December
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

December 2019

 

Full Winter Gear

Time to pull out the full Winter Gear. A thick base layer with thick insulation and shell layers necessary.

 

Nov 20, 2018: FULL Winter Gear Required

Nov 1, 2018: Winter Elements must be included in Kit

Oct 9, 2018: Fall Elements must be included in Kit

 

Yosemite-Hoover-Desolation
&
John Muir Trail Hikers:

Time to Order Next Year's Permits

WARMER
HIGH SIERRA
DAYS ARE AHEAD

Pick 'Em !

Summer of 2020 Backpacking Plans?
Yosemite-Hoover-Desolation
&
John Muir Trail Hikers:

 

It's Time to
Order This Year's Permits!

Reserved permits for the beginning of the Summer, for June of 2020 are now available from Yosemite, Hoover, and Desolation Wilderness Areas.

First shot at June reservations begins in December.

In other words, Yosemite, Desolation, and Hoover Wilderness Areas all offer advanced reservations about six months ahead of your desired hiking dates, so now it the time to get your preferred dates across the whole Summer hiking season.

This means now is the time to get your permit applications for popular hikes into the Man, and see if your best hiking windows are open.

For When?

Permit reservations for June open in December.


All Permits

Yosemite Permits         Desolation Wilderness

 

All Snow Information

December
Road News & Status Links

 

El Nino Report

 

 

Review
December of 2017
against
December of 2016

Against this November of 2018....

 

 

 

 

More
High Sierra
Backpacker Information

Guide Trailhead

Guide Index

High Sierra Magazine

Blog-Forums

 

 

From the Past we learn about our Future.

 

26 November

RISING PM SHOWERS
WINTER STORM

FIRST of the YEAR

HAZARDS

RENO
WINTER STORM WARNING

SACTO
WINTER STORM WARNING

HANFORD
WINTER STORM WARNING

 

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

 

 

BEST
FORECASTS

HAZARDS

 

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Direct to
Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

Now

RADAR

 

Direct
to
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

 

27 November

CONTINUING
WINTER-COLD
STORM HAZARDS

CalTrans

BLOCKING RIDGE
SMASHED
A Couple of More Lows
are headed our way over
the next few days...

MAPS

HIGH SIERRA
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS

 

Direct
Two Day
SNOW FORECAST

Seven Days

 

RENO
WINTER STORM WARNING

SACTO
WINTER STORM WARNING

HANFORD
WINTER STORM WARNING

 

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

 

Station Reports
TENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

November 27
2019

11AM-11AM

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

Last Report:
Nov 20

Next Report:
Nov 29

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
12.0 +12.0
(1.80) +1.50
7618 feet
Trail Map
29 & 21 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
18.0 +15
(1.90) +1.20
7652 feet
Stations Map
29 & 20 −/−

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
12.0 +11
(1.60) +1.10
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
29 & 19 −/−

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
22.0
+19
(1.90) +1.40
8660 feet
Trail Map
28 & 17 −/−

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
2.56
+1.28 ??
(0.--) -.--
8360 feet
Trail Map
25 & 15 /

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
18.0 +18.0
(1.50) +1.20
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
26 & 14 /

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
42 & 3 +/

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

4.72 +4.32 ???
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
25 & 12 /

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
0.4 =0.0 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
25 & 15 /

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
19.75 +19.55
(0.01) =0.00 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
28 & 17 /

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

19.11 +19.11
(0.07) +0.07 ??
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
31 & 15 /

Tioga Pass/Dana
14.12 +14.02
(0.0) =
9798 feet
Trail Map
26 & 10/

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
22.45 +22.45
(0.61) =0.00 ??
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
26 & 19 /

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
10.07 +7.91 (earlier)
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
26 & 13 /

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
7.70 +6.5 (earlier)
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
28 & 12 /

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow
(27.80) +.3
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
34 & 6 /

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

20.10 +18.5
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
32 & 12 /

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
24 & 8 / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
31.23 +27.19
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
27 & 12 /
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

20.02 +19.39
11441 feet
Trail Map
28 & 8 /

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

1.33 +1.33 ??
(28.20) +1.34
10,700 feet
Trail Map
30 & 11 −/−

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temp Check


28 November

CONTINUING
WINTER-COLD
STORM HAZARDS

Storm Tailing Off,
Light Snow
Between Lows

 

BEST
FORECASTS

HAZARDS

 

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Direct to
Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

Now

RADAR

 

Direct
to
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

 

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations

Compare Today
with
Temperatures
on
Nov 29

Nov 27

Nov 20

Nov 16

Nov 9

Nov 2

Oct 28

Oct 14

Sept 29

Sept 25

Aug 16th

 

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

29 November

BETWEEN
STORMS

Light Snow
Between Lows

COLD
Days

COLD
Nights

HAZARD WARNINGS

Saturday Sunday

UPCOMING
WINTER-COLD
STORM HAZARDS

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

RENO
WINTER STORM WARNING

SACTO
WINTER STORM WARNING

HANFORD
WINTER STORM WARNING

 

 

 

 

 

Station Reports
ELEVENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

November 29
2019

1PM-1PM

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

Last Report:
Nov 27

Next Report:
Dec 2

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
16.0 +4.0
(2.30) +0.50
7618 feet
Trail Map
22 & 19 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
24.0 +6
(3.10) +2.20
7652 feet
Stations Map
24 & 19 −/−

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
14.0 +2
(2.00) +0.40
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
20 & 16 −/−

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
25.0 +3
(3.70) +1.80
8660 feet
Trail Map
20 & 15 −/−

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
6.59
+4.03 ??
(0.--) -.--
8360 feet
Trail Map
16 & 13 /

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
21.0 +3.0
(2.80) +1.30
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
15 & 11 /

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
26 & 1 /

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

Error +-.-- ???
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
14 & 6 /

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.0 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
18 & 12 /

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
24.35 +4.6
(0.01) =0.00 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
23 & 14 /

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

16.60 −2.51
(0.08) +0.01 ??
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
23 & 6 /

Tioga Pass/Dana
00.00 +???
(0.21) +0.21
9798 feet
Trail Map
13 & 3 /

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
37.64 +15.19
(0.99) +0.38 ??
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
21 & 16 /

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
35.97 +25.9 (earlier)
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
17 & 9 /

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
32.30 +24.6 (earlier)
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
21 & 7 /

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.00) +.2
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
17 & 3 /

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

20.10 =0.0
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
14 & 5 /

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
33.84 +2.61
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
17 & 6 /
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

21.08 +1.06
11441 feet
Trail Map
14 & 2 /

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

0.08 −1.25 error ??
(28.84) +0.64
10,700 feet
Trail Map
17 &1 −/−

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

2018
Snow & Temp Check

 

30 November

LONG-STRONG
STORM

Days of Snow Ahead

Tropical Transport
Mechanism

Approaches

Light Snow

Tracking TTM

All Precip Forecasts

What's Happening
Note from the 27th

Direct
Two Day
SNOW FORECAST

Seven Days

 

HIGH SIERRA
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS

 

COLD
Days

COLD
Nights

 

CalTrans

 

SNOW TRAVEL
WEEKEND?

-->NOTE<--
Nov 27

RENO
Winter Watch Posted
(FOR THE WEEKEND)

 

Mountain Safety
AVALANCHE DANGERS

Winter Backpacking
Considerations

 

Seven Day
Freezing Temperature Probability

 

FULL
WINTER GEAR

REQUIRED
November 26

 

Note
FULL FALL KIT
REQUIRED

(As of Sept 27)
Gear Lists

 

GEAR NOTE
Add Winter Gear
Elements
as
REQUIRED

(As of Oct 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

HEAVY SNOW

Tropical Transport
Mechanism

Delivers

Tropical Transport
Mechanism
FORCASTS-OBSERVATIONS

All Precip Forecasts

Compare today's snow deposition with our
Nov 27-29 readings.

CalTrans

Highways

4

108

120

All Closed

 

WINTER-COLD
STORM HAZARDS

HAZARDS

NWS RENO

WINTER STORM WARNING

NWS SACTO

WINTER STORM WARNING

NWS HANFORD

WINTER STORM WARNING

Point Forecasts

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

 

 

CCC
Backcountry Trail Crew
APPLICATIONS DUE FEB 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack & Temps

2018 ROAD STATUS

NOVEMBER 21:
ALL SEASONAL
TRANS-SIERRA
HIGHWAYS

CLOSED for SEASON

Tioga Pass Closed,
Caltrans

Sonora Pass Closed,
Caltrans


Ebbetts Pass Closed, Caltrans

All Road Reports

 

2

HEAVY SNOW

Tropical Transport
Mechanism

Delivers,
&
Diminishing PM

MAJOR WARMING

Clearing PM

NWS RENO
No Warnings

NWS SACTO
Expire this Afternoon

NWS HANFORD
Expire This Afternoon

 

HIGH SIERRA
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS

Direct
Two Day
SNOW FORECAST

Seven Days

 

What's Happening
Note from the 27th

FIRST
SNOW READING
2019

Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 2.

N Sierra: 76%

Cen. Sierra: 94%

S Sierra: 107%

Ca State: 88%

Next Measurement:
Dec 5

Last Year

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

Station Reports
TWELVTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

December 2
2019

3PM-3PM

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

Last Report:
Nov 29

Next Report:
Dec 6

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
16.0 +12.0
(5.20) +2.90
7618 feet
Trail Map
35 & 33 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
41.0 +17
(8.20) +5.10
7652 feet
Stations Map
34 & 34 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
49.0 +35
(7.90) +5.90
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
34 & 31 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
62.0 +37
(10.10) +6.40
8660 feet
Trail Map
33 & 29 +/+

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
30.29
+23.7
(5.81) +5.81
8360 feet
Trail Map
32 & 28 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
44.0 +23.0
(7.50) +4.7
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
34 & 29 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
40 & 33 +/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

34.05 +-.--
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
31 & 26 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.0 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
35 & 29 +/+

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
38.65 +14.3
(0.18) +0.17 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
36 & 29 +/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

28.25 +11.65
(0.36) +0.28
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
41 & 27 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
02.36 +???
(0.30) +0.09
9798 feet
Trail Map
25 & 35 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
35.67 1.97 ??
(2.73) +1.74
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
36 & 24 +/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
40.90 +4.93 (earlier)
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
33 & 23 +/+

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
31.20 −1.1
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
34 & 25 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.10) +0.1
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
38 & 26 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

22.40 +2.3
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
33 & 24 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
33.35 −0.49
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
34 & 22 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

27.19 +6.11
11441 feet
Trail Map
33 & 21 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

3.69 +3.61 error ??
(29.84) +!.00
10,700 feet
Trail Map
32 & 19 +/+

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

2017
RECORD-SETTING SNOW,
DANGEROUS HEAT

December of 2016
Very Dry Year

December of 2015
2014-15 Driest Year

3

LIGHT SNOW

Tropical Transport
Mechanism

Dissipating & Reforming

Gap Between Storms

Low/Lows Spinning off
California Coast Have Shed one Front Line, and are in the process of forming another Set of Lows off the Coast, with another front line running Southwest to Hawaii...

Maps

 

BEST
FORECASTS

HAZARDS

 

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Direct to
Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

Now

RADAR

 

Direct
to
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 Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

4

BETWEEN
STORMS

Light Showers

 

CalTrans

HAZARDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations

Compare Today
with
Temperatures
on
Nov 27

Nov 20

Nov 16

Nov 9

Nov 2

Oct 28

Oct 14

Sept 29

Sept 25

Aug 16th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

5

BETWEEN
STORMS

Light Showers

Warnings
Fri-Sun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 5.

N Sierra: 75%

Cen. Sierra: 103%

S Sierra: 117%

Ca State: 97%

Next Measurement:
Dec 12

Last Year

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack & Temps

 

2018
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 5.

N Sierra: 80%

Cen. Sierra:113%

S Sierra: 141%

Ca State: 108%

Next Measurement:
Dec 13

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

Last Year, 12/29

 

6

BETWEEN
STORMS

Clear & Windy

Storm Arrived PM

Warnings
Fri-Sun

NWS RENO
Winter Storm Warning

NWS SACTO
Winter Storm Warning

NWS HANFORD
Winter Storm Warning

 

 

THE SNOWPACK
2019

GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

GRAPHICS

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
11-27-19

 

 

Today's
REPORTING
STATIONS

NEW
Temp & Snow Tables
by Watershed and Highway Corridor

 

Also See
All High Sierra Snowpack Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station Reports
THIRTEENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

December 6
2019

9AM-9AM

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

Last Report:
Dec 2

Next Report:
Dec 8

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
27.0 +11.0
(5.20) +0.80
7618 feet
Trail Map
38 & 32 +/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
29.0 −12
(9.00) +0.80
7652 feet
Stations Map
41 & 34 +/=

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
42.0 −7
(8.60) +0.70
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
36 & 26 +/−

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
51.0 11.00
(11.5) +1.40
8660 feet
Trail Map
38 & 34 +/+

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
25.69
−4.6
(6.16) +0.35
8360 feet
Trail Map
33 & 24 +/

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
36.0 8.0
(8.00) +0.5
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
39 & 34 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
42 & 17 +/

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

25.39 −8.66
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
38 & 19 +/

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
44 & 11 +/

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
32.87 −5.78
(0.85) +0.67 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
39 & 11 +/

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

23.97 4.28
(1.12) +0.76
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
40 & 8 /

Tioga Pass/Dana
02.20 -.16???
(0.31) +0.01
9798 feet
Trail Map
36 & 16 +/

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
32.60 −3.07
(2.73) +0.56
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
41 & 10 +/−

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
40.40 0.50
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
36 & 23 +/=

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
30.10 −0.9
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
41 & 15 +/−

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.20) +0.1
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
45 & 26 +/=

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

19.90 −2.5
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
39 & 22 +/−

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
31.65 −1.7
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
36 & 14 +/
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

26.76 −0.43
11441 feet
Trail Map
40 & 24 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

4.62 +0.93 error ??
(30.29) +0.45
10,700 feet
Trail Map
38 & 14 +/

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

 

 

 

7

Pearl Harbor

HEAVY SNOW

Tropical Transport
Mechanism

Delivers out of SW

Tropical Transport
Mechanism
FORCASTS-OBSERVATIONS

All Precip Forecasts

HIGH SIERRA
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS

Direct
Two Day
SNOW FORECAST

Seven Days

 

Warnings
Fri-Sun

NWS RENO
Winter Storm Warning

NWS SACTO
Winter Storm Warning

NWS HANFORD
Winter Storm Warning

 

Point Forecasts

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

BEST
FORECASTS

HAZARDS

 

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Direct to
Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

Now

RADAR

SATELLITES

 

Direct
to
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

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

8

DIMINISHING SNOW

Tropical Transport
Mechanism

Moving South-Dissipating

HIGH
Building In, Pushed South

Warnings

NWS RENO
No Warnings

NWS SACTO
No Warnings

NWS HANFORD
Winter Storm Warning

 

 

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station Reports
FOURTEENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

December 8
2019

6PM-6PM

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

Last Report:
Dec 6

Next Report:
Dec 12

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
32.0 +5.0
(7.70) +2.50
7618 feet
Trail Map
34 & 30 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
41.0 +12
(11.70) +2.70
7652 feet
Stations Map
36 & 29 −/−

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
50.0 +8
(10.70) +2.10
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
36 & 28 =/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
58.0 +7.00
(11.5) +1.40
8660 feet
Trail Map
38 & 34 +/+

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
23.05
−2.64
(7.66) +1.5
8360 feet
Trail Map
31 & 25 /+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
48.0 +12.0
(10.60) +2.6
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
32 & 22 /

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
40 & 21/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

30.06 +4.67
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
30 & 21 /+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
37 & 20 /+

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
38.77 +5.9
(1.43) +0.58 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
32 & 20 /+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

32.24 +8.27
(1.39) +0.27
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
29 & 18 /+

Tioga Pass/Dana
3.15 +.95???
(0.32) +0.01
9798 feet
Trail Map
28 & 14 /

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
37.52 +4.92
(5.54) +2.81
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
35 & 26 /+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
51.88 +11.48
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
31 & 21 /−

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
37.10 +7
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
34 & 21 /+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.20) =0.0
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
35 & 20/−

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

28.60 +8.7
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
27 & 15 /−

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
38.32 +6.67
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
25 & 14 /=
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

37.56 +10.8
11441 feet
Trail Map
26 & 12 /

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

14.38 +9.76 error ??
(31.25) +0.96
10,700 feet
Trail Map
29 & 10 /

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

 

2017
Vast, Persistant Blocking Ridge

9

WEAK
STORM

Light Showers Late

 

BEST
FORECASTS

HAZARDS

 

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Direct to
Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

Now

RADAR

SATELLITES

 

Direct
to
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

10

WEAK
STORM

Light Showers

CalTrans

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

 

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

 

Radar

 

Visible Satellites

 

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

 

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

 

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

 

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

11

WEAK
STORM

Light Showers

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

12

WEAK
STORM

Light Showers

Warm, Humid...

Warnings

NWS RENO
Special Statement

NWS SACTO
Winter Advisory

NWS HANFORD
Winter Advisory

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 12.

N Sierra: 96%

Cen. Sierra: 115%

S Sierra: 131%

Ca State: 112%

Last Measurement:
Dec 2 & 5

Next Measurement:
Dec 16

Last Year

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

Station Reports
FIFTEENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

December 12
2019

10AM-10AM

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

Last Report:
Dec 8

Next Report:
Dec 15

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
28.0 4.0
(8.20) +0.50
7618 feet
Trail Map
34 & 30 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
36.0 −5
(12.80) +1.10
7652 feet
Stations Map
39 & 34 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
43.0 7
(11.00) +0.30
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
38 & 32 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
51.0 7.00
(14.8) +3.30
8660 feet
Trail Map
37 & 32 /

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
21.13
−4.56
(8.39) +0.73
8360 feet
Trail Map
35 & 30 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
43.0 5.0
(11.10) +0.5
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
36 & 30 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
44 & 33 +/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

27.23 −2.83
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
34 & 29 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
35 & 25 /+

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
36.18 −2.59
(2.53) +1.1
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
40 & 13 +/

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

28.00 -4.24
(2.18) +0.79
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
40 & 26 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
2.72 -.43???
(0.38) +0.06
9798 feet
Trail Map
40 & 16 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
32.60 −3.07
(5.55) +0.01
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
43 & 32 +/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
48.33 −3.55
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
37 & 28 +/+

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
32.30 −4.8
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
38 & 29 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.50) +0.3
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
46 & 26 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

20.90 −7.7
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
38 & 18 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
31.77 −6.55
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
38 & 29 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

28.47 −9.09
11441 feet
Trail Map
38 & 30 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

5.45 −8.93 error ??
(31.31) +0.06
10,700 feet
Trail Map
42 & 27 +/+

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

13

WEAK
STORM
Light Showers
for
DAYS

 

 

HIGH SIERRA
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS
&
FORECASTS

Direct
Two Day
SNOW FORECAST

Seven Day Forecast

 

ALL PRECIP TOOLS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations

Compare Today
with
Snow
&
Temperatures

on
Dec 2 & 6

Nov 27

Nov 20

Nov 16

Nov 9

Nov 2

Oct 28

Oct 14

Sept 29

Sept 25

Aug 16th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack & Temps

2018
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 13.

N Sierra: 64%

Cen. Sierra:92%

S Sierra: 102%

Ca State: 87%

Last Measurement: Dec 5

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

14

CLEARING
Light Showers
Windy

 

Warnings

NWS RENO
Special Statement

NWS SACTO
Winter Advisory

NWS HANFORD
No Warnings

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LAST WEEK

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2017
Clear-ish, calm & gentle, Warm days, cool nights.

Vast, Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

 

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

15

CLEARING-CLEAR
Cold

COLD
Days

COLD
Nights

 

Forecast
Temperatures

Model
Five Day Mean
Low Temps

Click Green "Latest" Model,
observe using step button

All Temps

 

 

Station Reports
SIXTEENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

December 15
2019

10PM-10PM

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

Last Report:
Dec 12

Next Report:
Dec --

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
35.0 +7.00
(9.40) +1.20
7618 feet
Trail Map
26 & 19 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
48.0 +12
(15.00) +2.20
7652 feet
Stations Map
28 & 16 −/−

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
49.0 +6
(11.80) +0.80
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
28 & 13 −/−

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
56.0 +5.00
(16.1) +1.30
8660 feet
Trail Map
27 & 12 /

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
19.53
−1.6 ??
(8.99) +0.60
8360 feet
Trail Map
24 & 4 /

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
50.0 +7.0
(12.50) +1.4
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
24 & 13 /

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
34 & 10 /

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

31.42 +4.19
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
21 & 1 /

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
28 & 3 /

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
41.15 +4.97
(2.53) +0.11 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
21 & 3 /

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

29.85 +1.85
(2.68) +0.50
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
28 & 2 /

Tioga Pass/Dana
ERROR +ERROR
(0.42) +0.04
9798 feet
Trail Map
21 & 0 /

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
31.54 −1.06
(6.71) +1.16
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
30 & 7 /

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
50.49 +2.16
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
25 & 7 /

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
33.40 +1.1
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
25 & 0 /

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.50) =0.0
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
32 & 8 /

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

20.40 −0.5
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
21 & 1 /

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
36.04 +4.27
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
16 & 1 /
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

28.05 −0.42
11441 feet
Trail Map
17 & 4 /

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

3.82 −1.63 error ??
(31.43) +0.12
10,700 feet
Trail Map
22 & 2 /

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

.

16

CLEAR
Cold

MAJOR
SNOWPACK

COLD
Days

COLD
Nights

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 16.

N Sierra: 99%

Cen. Sierra: 116%

S Sierra: 131%

Ca State: 113%

Last Measurement:
Dec 12

Next Measurement:
Dec 19 -->

Last Year

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

Compare Today
with
Snow
&
Temperatures

on
Dec 8 & 12

Dec 2 & 6

Nov 27

Nov 20

Nov 16

Nov 9

Nov 2

Oct 28

Oct 14

Sept 29

Sept 25

Aug 16th

 

 

 

17

LIGHT STORM
Late PM

A Bit Warmer

KILLER
!SNOWPACK!
Also See
All
High Sierra Snowpack Data Sources.

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

Amazing Sat Views

 

 

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack & Temps

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

18

WEAK
STORM

Light Showers

 

CalTrans

 

Warnings

NWS RENO
No Warnings

NWS SACTO
Winter Advisory

NWS HANFORD
No Warnings

 

 

ZONES
&
HAZARDS

High Sierra
Zone Forecasts

HAZARD
WARNINGS & MAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

19

CLEARING
Nice

 

Mountain Safety
AVALANCHE DANGERS

Winter Backpacking
Considerations

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 19.

N Sierra: 92%

Cen. Sierra: 108%

S Sierra: 125%

Ca State: 109%

Last Measurement:
Dec 16

Next Measurement:
Dec 23

Last Year

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

CLEAR & CLOUDY
Nice

Warnings

NWS RENO
Special Wind Statement

NWS SACTO
Winter Advisory

NWS HANFORD
Winter Advisory

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Snowpack

Percent of Average for
December 20.

N Sierra: 68%

Cen. Sierra:81%

S Sierra: 89%

Ca State: 80%

Last: Dec 5


Dec 29, 2017

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

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TOP

 

 

21

Winter Solstice
08:26 PST

More Time

MODERATE
STORM
Late PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station Reports
SEVENTEENTH

--Fall--
Temp Snow Checks

December 21
2019

10AM-10AM

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

Last Report:
Dec 15

Next Report:
Dec 24

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
30.05.00
(9.70) +0.30
7618 feet
Trail Map
45 & 41 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
42.0 −6
(15.40) +0.40
7652 feet
Stations Map
46 & 40 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
43.0 −6
(11.90) +0.10
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
42 & 38 −/−

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
44.0 −12.00
(16.2) +0.10
8660 feet
Trail Map
42 & 36 +/+

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
18.40
−1.13 ??
(9.77) +0.78
8360 feet
Trail Map
39 & 33 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
48.0 −2.0
(12.80) +0.3
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
38 & 35 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
53 & 20 +/+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

25.42 6.00
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
41 & 37 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
41 & 16 +/+

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
35.55 5.60
(3.13) +0.6
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
44 & 17 +/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

26.80 −3.05
(2.81) −0.13
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
47 & 12 +/+

Tioga Pass/Dana
ERROR ERROR ?
(0.44) +0.02
9798 feet
Trail Map
40 & 25 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
28.33 −3.21
(6.71) =0.00
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
47 & 13 +/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
47.03 −3.46
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
44 & 28 +/+

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
30.20 −3.2
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
43 & 24 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.50) =0.0
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
43 & 32 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

18.20 −2.2
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
40 & 31 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
31.19 −4.85
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
40 & 18 +/+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

25.48 −2.57
11441 feet
Trail Map
42 & 26 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

1.35 −2.47 error ??
(31.52) +0.09
10,700 feet
Trail Map
43 & 19 +/+

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

 

2018
Snowpack & Temps

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

22

MODERATE
STORM
Through AM
Receeding into PM

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

COLD WARNING

Low Temps across Crest

 

 

23

CLOUDY & COOL

 

HIGH SIERRA
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS

 

Direct
Two Day
SNOW FORECAST

Seven Days

ALL PRECIP TOOLS

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 23.

N Sierra: 93%

Cen. Sierra: 105%

S Sierra: 117%

Ca State: 105%

Last Measurement:
Dec 16

Last Year

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOP

24

CLOUDY & COOL

Warnings

NWS RENO
NO WARNINGS

NWS SACTO
NO WARININGS

NWS HANFORD
Southmost Sierra
Winter Storm Warning

Lake Isabella

 

 

Station Reports
The
FIRST

--WINTER--
Temp-Snow
Check

December 24
2019

11AM-11AM

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

Last Report:
Dec 21

Next Report:
Dec 30

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
39.0 +9.00
(10.70) +1.00
7618 feet
Trail Map
31 & 19 −/−

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
47.0 +5
(16.50) +1.50
7652 feet
Stations Map
32 & 20 −/−

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
55.0 +12
(13.30) +1.50
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
31 & 13 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
54.0 +10.00
(17.6) +1.50
8660 feet
Trail Map
30 & 20 /

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
24.42
+6.02 ??
(10.44) +0.67
8360 feet
Trail Map
26 & 17 /

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
63.0 +15.0
(13.70) +0.9
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
28 & 17 /

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
32 & 20 /+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

30.28 +4.86
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
26 & 4 /

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
30 & 10 /

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
44.57 +9.02
(3.21) +0.08 ??
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
30 & 11 /

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

34.55 +7.75
(2.81) =0.00
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
29 & 17 /+

Tioga Pass/Dana
ERROR +ERROR
(0.44) +0.02
9798 feet
Trail Map
23 & 14 /

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
39.46 +11.13
(7.45) +0.74
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
30 & 23 /+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
53.37 +6.34
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
25 & 18 /

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
42.40 +12.2
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
29 & 15 /

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.70) +0.2
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
28 & 13 /

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

26.10 +7.9
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
24 & 8 /

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
43.81 +12.62
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
26 &10 /
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

32.03 _6.55
11441 feet
Trail Map
22 & 4 /

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

10.37 +6.55 error ??
(32.19) +0.67
10,700 feet
Trail Map
25 & 2 /

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

 

2017

Persistant Blocking Ridge

 

25

LIGHT SHOWERS

Point Forecasts

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

Lake Isabella

 

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations
FALL
to WINTER

Compare Today
with
Snow
&
Temperatures

on
Dec 15 & 20

Dec 8 & 12

Dec 2 & 6

Nov 27

Nov 20

Nov 16

Nov 9

Nov 2

Oct 28

Oct 14

Sept 29

Sept 25

Aug 16th

 

26

SOCAL & S Sierra
LIGHT SHOWERS
NORCAL CLEAR

Warnings

NWS RENO
Lake Wind Warning

NWS SACTO
NO WARININGS

NWS HANFORD
Southmost Sierra
Winter Advisory

Lake Tahoe Forecast

Lake Isabella Forecast

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 26.

N Sierra: 90%
(-3%)

Cen. Sierra: 105%
(=%)

S Sierra: 119%
(+2%)

Ca State: 102%
(-3%)

Last Measurement:
Dec 23

Next Measurement:
Dec 31

Last Year (compare)

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

27

CLEAR

Warnings

NWS RENO
Special Winter Warning

NWS SACTO
NO WARININGS

NWS HANFORD
Winter Advisory

Warnings for Sunday

 

Hiking the PCT
in
2020?

From the Trail Guide

The
Earliest, Latest, and Average Start Dates

How Will This Year Stack-Up?

ON THE CALENDAR

Earliest
Start Date
Winter of 2015
Driest in History

Average
Start Date
Winter of 2016
An Average Year

Latest
Start Date
Winter of 2017

Wettest in History

These three years offer the potential range of Weather Conditions within which this year's PCTer,
"Start Date," the date you can reasonably expect to encounter fairly snow-free trails with post-deadly fording conditions will be
determined within.

This date, of course, depends upon your ability to navigate snow at high altitude, along with your ability to cross the various stages of the dangerous thaw waters draining off it.

You can get through before and after the period of high-flow runoff, but not during this phase.

How the conditions of the Winter to Spring
Transition we track this year measures-up to the classic trajectories of these three years cited above will inform potential PCT hikers about the snow/trail conditions along the High Sierra Crest they may reasonably expect to encounter during May, June, and July of this year measure-up against those of the Driest year in history against an Average Year, against the wettest Year in History...

This year of 2020 will fit somewhere between these historic parameters of the record Wettest and record Driest years that happened between
2015 and 2017.

As our seasonal start date for open access to trails along the High Sierra Crest will be adjusted according to the character and trajectory of this year's Winter to Spring Transition, we will watch it carefully.

Advice for
Rookie Hikers wishing to hike the TYT-JMT-PCT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Current Snowpack:

Percent of Average for
December 27, 2018.

N Sierra: 73%

Cen. Sierra:82%

S Sierra: 82%

Ca State: 78%

Previous: 12-20-18

 

 

 

 

 

2017

HOT
Days

COLD
Nights

 

28

CLEAR

Warnings

NWS RENO
Special Statement

NWS SACTO
Special Statement

NWS HANFORD
Winter Watch

Warnings for Sunday

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

Point Forecasts

Lake Tahoe Forecast

Cherry Lake Forecast

Lee Vining Forecast

Lake Thomas Edison

Lake Isabella Forecast

 

BEST
FORECASTS

HAZARDS

 

Precipitation
General

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts:
ALL
RAIN FORECASTS
&
MODELS

 

Direct to
Seven Day Precip
Animation

 

Precipitation
Geographic

All High Sierra
ZONE & POINT
FORECASTS

 

All High Sierra
ZONE
FORECASTS

 

Now

RADAR

SATELLITES

 

Direct
to
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 Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

29

LIGHT SHOWERS

 

Informative
"Normal" Vs. Now

Forcasts & Reality
vs.
Averages

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT YEAR

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Current Snowpack
:
Percent of Average for
December 28.

N Sierra: 24%

Cen. Sierra:33%

S Sierra: 23%

Ca State: 27%

 

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

30

CLEARING

Snow Camping Time

 

Warnings

NWS RENO
Lake Wind

NWS SACTO
No Warnings

NWS HANFORD
No Warnings

 

COLD
Days

COLD
Nights

 

HAZARDS

3-7 DAY HAZARDS

 

Mountain Safety
AVALANCHE DANGERS

Winter Backpacking
Considerations

 

 

 

Station Reports
The
SECOND

--WINTER--
Temp-Snow
Check

December 30
2019

12 NOON-12 NOON

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

Last Report:
Dec 24

Next Report:
Jan 2

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
34.05.00
(10.50)0.20
7618 feet
Trail Map
37 & 30 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
43.0 4
(16.50) = 0.00
7652 feet
Stations Map
36 & 28 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
48.0 −7
(13.60) +0.30
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
34 & 26 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
48.0 −6
(17.9) +0.30
8660 feet
Trail Map
33 & 26 +/+

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
24.01
0.41
(10.44) =0.0
8360 feet
Trail Map
31 & 24 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
58.0 −5.0
(14.00) +0.3
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
29 & 23 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
32 & 20 /+

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

24.44 −5.84
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
31 & 23 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
32 & 22 +/+

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
38.70 −5.87
(3.60) +0.39
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
37 & 21 +/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

28.43 −6.12
(2.81) +0.22
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
35 & 17 +/=

Tioga Pass/Dana
ERROR +ERROR
(0.47) +0.03
9798 feet
Trail Map
28 & 18 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
34.20 −5.26
(7.67) +0.22
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
37 & 24 +/+

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
50.35 −3.02
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
31 & 19 +/+

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
36.00 −6.4
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
30 & 13 +/

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.70) =0.0
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
33 & 17 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

25.60 −0.5
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
29 & 15 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
40.06 −3.75
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
24 & 16 /+
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

35.84 +3.81
11441 feet
Trail Map
25 & 15 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

7.24 −3.13 error ??
(32.43) +0.24
10,700 feet
Trail Map
27 & 15 +/+

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

31

CLOUDY & CLEAR
Temperate Day

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
December 31.

N Sierra: 81%
9% in 5 days!

Cen. Sierra: 94%
11% in 5 days!

S Sierra: 109%
10% in 5 days!7

Ca State: 94%
8% in 5 days!

Last Measurement:
Dec 26

Next Measurement
Jan 2, 2020

Last Year's snowpack

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

HIGH SIERRA
SNOW INFO
All Snow Info
SNOW STATUS
&
FORECASTS

THE SNOWPACK
GRAPHICS

Date-Adjustable
High Sierra Snowpack Status

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
The High Sierra
12-30-19

 

 

 

 

Selected
Weather Resources

 

Surface Low Pressure Tracks

 

Radar

 

Visible Satellites

 

Water Vapor Satellites

 

MAPS

 

Sierra Forecasts

 

Western US Forecasts

 

Precip Animation & Charts

 

Graphical Precip Forecast

 

All Sierra Snow Info

 

Sierra Sensor Networks

 

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

High Sierra Highways

 

All Weather Information

 

1 JANUARY 2020

CLOUDY & CLEAR
Temperate Day

 

All Temps

Snow Status
followed by
Snow Forecasts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow Depths & Temps
2017 Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP

2 JANUARY 2020

CLOUDY & CLEAR
Temperate Day

 

2020
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
January 2.

N Sierra: 77%
4% in 2 days.

Cen. Sierra: 90%
4% in 2 days.

S Sierra: 104%
5% in 2 days.

Ca State: 90%
4% in 2 days.

Last Measurement:
Dec 31

Next Measurement:
Jan 6 & 9, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station Reports
The
THIRD

--WINTER--
Temp-Snow
Check

January 2
2020

7 PM - 7 PM

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

Last Report:
Dec 30

Next Report:
Jan 8

Tahoe Basin
Watershed

Southwest Tahoe
Trail Map with Stations

PCT-TYT-TRT
Rubicon
31.0 −3.00
(10.60) + 0.10
7618 feet
Trail Map
41 & 31 +/+

PCT-TYT-TRT
Echo Peak
41.0 2
(16.60) + 0.10
7652 feet
Stations Map
43 & 30 +/+

American-Yuba Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Carson Pass
45.0 −3
(13.70) +0.10
8388 feet
Trail Map
Stations Map
41 & 27 +/+

Carson-Walker
Watershed
s

PCT-TYT
Ebbetts Pass
44.0 −4
(18.0) +0.10
8660 feet
Trail Map
41 & 27 +/+

West of PCT
Highlands Meadow
22.39
1.62
(10.74) +0.3
8360 feet
Trail Map
38 & 27 +/+

EAST FLANK
Leavitt Lake
56.0 −2.0
(14.10) +0.1
9602 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
38 & 30 +/+

EAST FLANK
Marine Base
Cold Weather Training

6748 feet East Flank
Trail Map Above
FULL REPORT
VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB-
WIND
52 & 19 +/

Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds

PCT-TYT
Sonora Pass

Kennedy Meadows
RESUPPLY
Deadman Creek

22.86 −1.58
(--.--)
9250 feet,West Flank,
Trail Map
40 & 29 +/+

Tuolumne-Merced
Watersheds

SW of TYT
Horse Meadow
Error =0.4 ???
8602 feet
Trail Map
42 & 33 +/+

Top of List

Tenaya Lake
35.84 −2.86
(3.68) +0.06
8163 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
46 & 22 +/+

JMT-PCT-TYT
Tuolumne Meadows

27.14 −1.29
(3.23) +0.42
8600 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
46 & 17 +/=

Tioga Pass/Dana
ERROR +ERROR
(0.60) +0.13
9798 feet
Trail Map
39 & 28 +/+

Mammoth Mountain

Mono Lake-Owens Basin

East of PCT-JMT
Above Gem Lake
Gem Pass
(error)
10750 feet
Trail Map
temps bad

JMT-PCT Junction
Devils Postpile
29.52 −4.68
(7.67) =0.00
8004 feet
Trail Map Above
49 & 15 +/

NE of JMT-PCT
Mammoth Pass
50.88 +0.53
(0.48) = ??
9500 feet
Trail Map
41 & 27 +/+

Top of List

JMT-PCT
E of Bear Ridge

Volcanic Knob
33.50 −2.5
(0.00) = ??
10100 feet
Trail Map
38 & 31 +/+

East Flank
South Lake Cabin

no snow sensor
(28.80) +0.1
9580 feet, East Flank
Trail Map
46 & 20 +/+

East Flank
Big Pine Sawmill

22.80 −2.8
10200 feet, East Flank
Trail Map Above
38 & 18 +/+

Kings River

Just East JMT-PCT
Bishop Pass
(bad)
(0.0) =
11972 feet
Trail Map Above
-- & -- / (earlier)

Just West JMT-PCT
Charlotte Lake
37.10 −2.96
10398 feet, West Flank
Trail Map
40 & 16 +/=
(Typically the coldest station)

Kern Watershed

JMT-PCT
Upr Tyndall Creek

32.11 −3.73
11441 feet
Trail Map
38 & 24 +/+

JMT
Crabtree Meadow

5.08 −2.16 error ??
(32.43) +0.46
10,700 feet
Trail Map
41 & 24 +/+

? = questionable data

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

More Stations, by Watersheds

Top of List

 

2018

2018
January 2
HIGH SIERRA REPORT

What we're seeing today is one step in a transition between the last and the next in the series of vast, massive cells of persistant High Pressure air that have been covering the West Coast of California (if not the whole West Coast of North America) over the whole month of December.

 

3 JANUARY 2020

 

 

 

REALTIME
High Sierra Crestline
Reporting Stations
FALL to WINTER

Compare Today
with
Snow
&
Temperatures

on
Dec 24

FALL

Dec 15 & 20

Dec 8 & 12

Dec 2 & 6

Nov 27

Nov 20

Nov 16

Nov 9

Nov 2

Oct 28

Oct 14

Sept 29

Sept 25

Aug 16th

 

Stations

Rubicon
7618 feet

Echo Peak
7652 feet

Carson Pass
8388 feet

Ebbetts Pass
8660 feet

Leavitt Lake
9602 feet

Marine Base
6748 feet East Flank

Deadman Creek
9250 feet

Tuolumne Meadows
8600 feet

Tioga Pass/Dana
9798 feet

Gem Pass
10750 feet

Mammoth Pass
9500 feet


South Lake Cabin
9580 feet

Big Pine Sawmill
10200 feet

Bishop Pass
11972 feet

Charlotte Lake
10398 feet

Upr Tyndall Creek
11441 feet

 

All High Sierra
Reporting Stations

 

 

 

 

 

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4 JANUARY 2020

 

 

 

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2020 Calendar Index

2019

January       February     March       April       May       June

July     August     September       October       November       December

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

2018

December

Typical Year:

This 2017 High Sierra backpacking and backpacker's Calendar notes important hiking dates as our seasons progress to compare current and recent historical weather to determine the best gear for the conditions. We also track the expected against the actual dates our resupply locations and the trans Sierra highways that feed them open and close. We also include permit reservation timing reminder information for those who seek hard to get

 

 

NOTES:
December Tenth, 2015:
Intense tropical flows have so far been diverted around us by the same persistent ridge, the high pressure zone that's been gradually building, strengthening, and persisting over Winter in the Northwest and West Pac over the last fifteen years. Yup, that one. I am betting that each time this ridge breaks down from here on out we will have a good chance of North and Central California getting seriously hosed. The ridge persisting will continue the deluge that everyone from Portland Oregon, and points North, has been getting pounded with, so far this year.

The distribution of El Nino tropical moisture has been controlled by the balance of factors I discussed in the December Backpacker Alert.

Season's Greetings: Alex and all the members of Tahoe to Whitney hope you had a killer backpacking year, that you’ve seen amazing things and met incredible folks on the long trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney. Woo Hooo!

Now's the Time! November & December is the time to reserve permits in Desolation Wilderness or Yosemite National Park for next June. Half of each ‘s Wilderness Permits for these heavily used areas are available six months before the start date of the backpacking trip.

 

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar          2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar          2018 Calendar

 

The
Bookends
of
High Sierra Experience

JULY
2015

RECORD MINIMAL SNOW PACK

 

JULY
2017

MASSIVE, RECORD MAX SNOW PACK

 

 

The Winter Backpacker

Very short days and long cold nights makes Winter hiking trips very different than Summer.

I’m hopeful the trails will be buried under yards of snow by December 2016…

If so, our goals, our speed, and our expectations have fully shifted into Winter Mode.

Our changing inner perspective ideally matches external environmental changes.

May your perspective always complement your environment, and visa-versa.

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

December

I am hoping my frostbite/heart is recovered enough to resume my annual Christmas-New Year Snow Camping Triangle at the end of 2016.

From Meyers to Round Lake to Showers Lake to Round Top Lake and back to Meyers is my traditional December 25 Christmas present to myself.

The terrain, the joy of navigation and route finding the snow-covered beauty of the High Sierra during Winter is a special experience well worth the efforts and hazards.

Happy Trails!

2018 Calendar

2018 Calendar Index

 

Tahoe to Whitney

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Top of Page

2019
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

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

Your guide to backpacking the Sierra Crest, including the Tahoe to Yosemite, Pacific Crest, and John Muir Trails

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