September 2019 Tahoe to Whitney High Sierra Backpacking Calendar

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

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
September 2019 Long Spring and not-too-hot Summer now building into warm & dry conditions necessary to trigger this year's fire season September 2018 FIRE DANGERS Cooling into early September helping contain the brutal fires of July & August...so far... 2017 HISTORY Heatwaves, Fire, & Smoke In 2016 we dodged a bullet, a bullet of fire... 2015 HISTORY EL NINO BOILING THE CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC FIRES BURNING ACROSS CALIFORNIA. For backpackers these conditions require awareness of potential Fire and Tropical Downpours. Fire and Smoke Information El Nino Report More High Sierra Backpacker Information Guide Trailhead Guide Index High Sierra Magazine Blog-Forums		27 August Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages Winds? Weather? NorCal Graphics SoCal & SW US Precipitation Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts: RAIN FORECASTS Let's look at the Big Picture The Pacific Ocean Set this for 14 days & Display Loop Below US Weather Map All Maps All High Sierra Weather And the factors creating it	28 August LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP	29 August 2018 DONNELL FIRE Containment 63% Last Ferguson Fire Report Status of the Sierra	30 August 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	31 August 2018 Fire-&-Smoke Warnings Continue 2017 Major Heatwave, Fires, and Smoke covering Western US 2017 Calendar LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 September 2018 Trail Status PCT STILL CLOSED between Sonora and Ebbetts Passes, across the Carson Iceberg Wilderness CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS CLOSED DONNELL FIRE 85% containment	2 LABOR DAY 2018 Fire-&-Smoke Warnings Continue DONNELL FIRE approaching containment Status PCT STILL CLOSED between Sonora and Ebbetts Passes, across the Carson Iceberg Wilderness CARSON ICEBERG WILDERNESS CLOSED Weather Page 2017 RECORD-SETTING DANGEROUS HEAT	3 REALTIME High Sierra Crestline Reporting Stations (Compare with temps on Aug 16th) Rubicon 7618 feet Trail Map Echo Peak 7652 feet Stations Map Carson Pass 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map Ebbetts Pass 8660 feet Trail Map Highlands Meadow 8360 feet Trail Map Leavitt Lake 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map Marine Base Cold Weather Training6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above Deadman Creek 9250 feet Trail Map Horse Meadow 8602 feet Trail Map Tenaya Lake 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map Tuolumne Meadows 8600 feet Trail Map Tioga Pass/Dana 9798 feet Trail Map Gem Pass 10750 feet Trail Map Devils Postpile 8004 feet Trail Map Above Mammoth Pass 9500 feet Volcanic Knob 10100 feet Trail Map South Lake Cabin 9580 feet Big Pine Sawmill 10200 feet Bishop Pass 11972 feet Charlotte Lake 10398 feet Upr Tyndall Creek 11441 feet Crabtree Meadow 10,700 feet All High Sierra Reporting Stations 2017 Major Heatwave, Fires, and Smoke covering Western US 2017 Calendar	4	5	6	7 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
8 2018 PCT OPENS DONNELL FIRE PCT between Sonora and Ebbetts Passes finally Opens,and... Carson Iceberg Opening Up Gradually...	9 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	10 2018 DONNELL FIRE Carson Iceberg Wilderness OPENS	11 Warm-Warming Clear LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top TOP	12 Hot Clear 1 Major Fire REALTIME High Sierra Crestline Reporting Stations (Compare with temps on Aug 16th) Rubicon 7618 feet Trail Map Echo Peak 7652 feet Stations Map Carson Pass 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map Ebbetts Pass 8660 feet Trail Map Highlands Meadow 8360 feet Trail Map Leavitt Lake 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map Marine Base Cold Weather Training6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above Deadman Creek 9250 feet Trail Map Horse Meadow 8602 feet Trail Map Tenaya Lake 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map Tuolumne Meadows 8600 feet Trail Map Tioga Pass/Dana 9798 feet Trail Map Gem Pass 10750 feet Trail Map Devils Postpile 8004 feet Trail Map Above Mammoth Pass 9500 feet Volcanic Knob 10100 feet Trail Map South Lake Cabin 9580 feet Big Pine Sawmill 10200 feet Bishop Pass 11972 feet Charlotte Lake 10398 feet Upr Tyndall Creek 11441 feet Crabtree Meadow 10,700 feet All High Sierra Reporting Stations	13 Hot Clear Sierra Forecasts Western US Forecasts All Weather Information	14 Hot Clear LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
15 Cooler Still Warm-Marine Layer Cooling LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top	16 FIRST PRECIP Weak Front from North Cloudy to Clear Early AM Light Snow Sweeps Sierra Crest Maybe an Inch on High Points Daily Report This instant trend of cooling and snow is, or should be, easily handled by our Standard Summertime Pack, which anticipates dealing with below freezing and snow events. Modis Satellite Views Compare 2015, 17, 18, & 19 Current Sat Views 2018 Cooler than Average DONNELL FIRE Last Entry EXCELLENT HIGH SIERRA BACKPACKING CONDITIONS Fires Suppressed, Smoke Light or Cleared, Mosquitoes Diminished, Temps looking very comfortable-cool.	17 Cool Still Warm-Marine Layer Cooling	18 SECOND PRECIP Weak Front from North Cloudy to Clear Early AM Light Snow Sweeps Sierra Crest Maybe an Inch on High Points Approaching Fall, 2019 Implications & Context of Early Season Snow Station Reports SIXTH --Summer-- Temp Snow Check Sept 18 2019 Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Aug 16 Next Report: Sept 25 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 7618 feet Trail Map 56 & 41 PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 7652 feet Stations Map 55 & 41 American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 52 & 36 Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 1.0 8660 feet Trail Map 54 & 39 West of PCT Highlands Meadow .25 8360 feet Trail Map 53 & 37 EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 2.0 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 52 & 40 EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 71 & 27 Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek .12 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 51 & 32 Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow 0.4 8602 feet Trail Map 52 & 34 Tenaya Lake 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 54 & 28 JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 0.42 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 55 & 26 Tioga Pass/Dana 9798 feet Trail Map 49 & 39 Mammoth Mountain Mono Lake-Owens Basin East of PCT-JMT Above Gem Lake Gem Pass 10750 feet Trail Map temps bad JMT-PCT Junction Devils Postpile 8004 feet Trail Map Above 57 & 27 NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 0.23 9500 feet Trail Map 53 & 33 JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 0.90 10100 feet Trail Map 53 & 29 East Flank South Lake Cabin 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 59 & 42 East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 1.9 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 51 & 38 Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass 1.78 11972 feet Trail Map Above 46 & 42 Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 0.05 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 51 & 33 (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 2.89 11441 feet Trail Map 57 & 39 JMT Crabtree Meadow 10,700 feet Trail Map 55 & 31 All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds	19 Cooler Than Average-Still Warm Warmup Coming BEST FORECASTS 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	20 Warm Gentle Warming FIRE WATCH HAZARD Monday to Tues Evening Sacto Seven Day Forecast 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	21 Warm-Hot Fire Hazards Rising LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK Top
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
22 Warm Warming Fire Hazard Rising WIND RED FLAG FIRE HAZARD Monday to Tues Evening Sacto 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	23 FALL EQUINOX More Time Resources Warm Warming Fire Hazard Rising WIND RED FLAG FIRE HAZARD Monday to Tues Evening Sacto CLOCK, COMPASS, & CLIMATE: EARTH'S ORBITAL ALINGMENT Fall Equinox TEXT This Fall Equinox, A Fine Astronomical Description, In The Sky. IMAGE Astronomy Picture of the Day The Seasonal Range of the Sun Across the Sky VIDEO Equinoxes and Solstices: A Terrestrial Year from Space, APOD, March 19, 2017. Trail Guide Celestial Resources, Simulators, Star Charts, Astro Data, Deep Space & Our Galaxy... This Week in 2017 2018	24 HOT Wind Potentials Fire Hazard Rising WIND RED FLAG FIRE HAZARD Monday to Tues Evening Sacto Modis Satellite Views Compare 2015, 17, 18, & 19 This Week in 2017 2018 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	25 HOTTER Wind Potentials RECORD LEVEL TEMPS Fire Hazard Rising WIND RED FLAG FIRE HAZARD TODAY Sacto Fire Page Smoke & Air Quality Resources Station Reports FIRST of --Fall-- Temp Snow Checks Sept 25 2019 Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Sept 18 Next Report: Sept 29 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 7618 feet Trail Map 64 & 52 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 7652 feet Stations Map 65 & 53 +/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 62 & 49 +/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 8660 feet Trail Map 64 & 48 +/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 8360 feet Trail Map 63 & 49 +/+ EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 60 & 44 +/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 80 & 56 +/+ Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 72 & 36 +/+ Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow 8602 feet Trail Map 67 & 51 +/+ Tenaya Lake 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 73 & 52 +/+ JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 71 & 42 +/+ Tioga Pass/Dana 9798 feet Trail Map 55 & 44 +/+ Mammoth Mountain Mono Lake-Owens Basin East of PCT-JMT Above Gem Lake Gem Pass 10750 feet Trail Map temps bad JMT-PCT Junction Devils Postpile 8004 feet Trail Map Above 74 & 42 +/+ NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 9500 feet Trail Map 67 & 44 +/+ JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 10100 feet Trail Map 66 & 41 +/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 67 & 41 +/− East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 62 & 36 +/− Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass 11972 feet Trail Map Above 55 & 44 +/+ Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 64 & 45 +/+ (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 11441 feet Trail Map 61 & 45 +/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow 10,700 feet Trail Map 64 & 39 +/+ All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds	26 WARM Wind Potentials Fire Hazard Diminishing 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 Happy Boo Day! COOL Wind Potentials Fire Hazard Diminished FULL FALL KIT REQUIRED COLD & WIND HAZARDS WARNINGS RENO--CARSON PASS "...STRONG COLD FRONT THIS WEEKEND WITH WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES INTO NEXT WEEK..." "...with breezy winds, rain, snow, and much colder weather returning for the weekend." Hazards NorCal Graphics All Graphics Tracking Fall into Winter 2019 Last Year NOTE: When Fall Gear Required Temp Drop in 2019: Sept 27 Temp Drop in 2018: October 9.... Temp Drop in 2017: Sept 15 Temp Drop in 2016: Oct 31 Temp Drop in 2015: Oct 14 Temp Drop in 2014: Oct 2 2017 HOT Days COLD Nights	28 COOL Breezy WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY Sacto--Reno Forecast Hwy 80 Forecast E Sierra Sacto: "...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM PDT MONDAY ABOVE 6000 FEET..." Reno: "..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 11 PM PDT SATURDAY ABOVE 7000 FEET..." Hazards COLD Nights LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
29 COOL Breezy, Clearing, Warming A Touch of Snow All Snow Info WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY - FREEZE WARNING Sacto-&-Reno Forecast Tahoe Forecast E Sierra Sacto: (West Flank) "...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM PDT MONDAY ABOVE 6000 FEET..." Reno: (East Flank) "...FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING..." Hazards NOTE Clearing weather brings warm days, the same clear skies also bringing the potential for very cold overnight lows. WARMING Days COLD Nights Tracking Fall to Winter 2019 Station Reports SECOND of --Fall-- Temp Snow Checks Sept 29 2019 Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Sept 25 Next Report: Oct 14 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 4.0 (50.2) 7618 feet Trail Map 40 & 27 −/− PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 1.0 (70.0) 7652 feet Stations Map 38 & 27 −/− American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass (51.50) 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 45 & 23 −/− Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass (68.10) 8660 feet Trail Map 41 & 22 −/− West of PCT Highlands Meadow 2.31 8360 feet Trail Map 30 & 20 −/− EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake (71.30) 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 38 & 20 −/− EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 59 & 30 −/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 0.84 (37.14) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 31 & 18 −/− Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow 0.40 8602 feet Trail Map 32 & 23 −/− Tenaya Lake 0.27 (23.54) 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 36 & 25 −/− JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 0.20 (10.59) 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 40 & 22 −/− Tioga Pass/Dana 1.53 (0.1) 9798 feet Trail Map xx & xx −/− 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 8004 feet Trail Map Above 38 & 29 −/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 0.38 (0.44) 9500 feet Trail Map 35 & 20 −/− JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 1.30 10100 feet Trail Map 33 & 14 −/− East Flank South Lake Cabin (27.40) 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 42 & 23 −/− East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 0.70 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 35 & 20 −/− Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass 11972 feet Trail Map Above 29 & 11 −/− Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 0.15 (68.10) 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 33 & 15 −/− (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 2.61 11441 feet Trail Map 38 & 17 −/− JMT Crabtree Meadow (27.87) 10,700 feet Trail Map 38 & 14 −/− All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds	30 COOL Breezy, Clearing, Warming A Touch of Snow All Snow Info WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY - FREEZE WARNING Sacto-&-Reno Forecast Tahoe Forecast E Sierra WARMING Days COLD Night Satellite 2019 MODIS Sat View, the 30th This Week in 2017 2018	1 October CLEAR & COLD Breezy: Warming Day RAMMB SAT VIEW FULL FALL KIT REQUIRED (As of Sept 27) Gear Lists Lightening Hazard Predictions & Forecasts 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 2018 Calendar	2 2018 TROPICAL DOWNPOURS! Northwestern-Northern California Oct 2 early AM First Rain Since May for Most of California Not much precip, but what did come down fell hard & fell fast! Past Rainfall Rain Forecasts & Models High Sierra Weather Page LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP	3 2018 Yosemite Alert Flash Flood Warning, Esp in Ferguson Fire Areas Highway 140 Closing 1 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm today, October 3, 2018.	4	5 LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP

September brings the full pallet of Fall beauty as cold conditions return to the High Sierra.

From the golden grasses around diminished lakes to the great sweeps of bright yellow aspens bursting through the uniform evergreen canopy, beauty is bursting forth even as much of life slows down to settle into its Winter sleep.

The weight of the bear-proof can be left behind, but the pack gets heavier as the necessity of thicker insulation and Winter travel gear demands we carry greater weight.

Well, not yet. But we are now watching carefully for the physical signs of impending Fall and the approach of Winter.

As snow travel and fording dangers receede on the High Sierra terrain, the next danger grows in the skies.

July brings the peak of the Summer Thunderstorm Season in the High Sierra.
These are typically local weather, caused by heat waves in the San Joaquin Valley swept up the West Sierra Flank.

Hot wet air on a fast ride up the West Sierra flank to high elevations squeezes out what can be substantial daily rain and lightening activity lasting between 2 pm and sunset.

Don’t cross open ground under one of these storms. They are deadly. Lightening and Fording are the leading causes of High Sierra backpacker deaths.

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

Trailhead

Contact
Alex Wierbinski

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney

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