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

 

July
2020

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Previous Years
2019

2018

2017

 

ANNUAL
News, Views, & Issues
2020
High Sierra
News
Spring
of
2019
2019
Natural Meltdown

 

2019
News, Views, & Issues
2019
High Sierra
News
Spring
of
2019
2019
Natural Meltdown

 

2018
News, Views, & Issues
JULY
2018
High Sierra
News
JULY
2018
Backpacker
Alerts
2018
Natural Meltdown

 

2017
News, Views, & Issues
JULY
2017
High Sierra
News
JULY
2017
Backpacker
Alerts
2017
Natural Meltdown

 

EVERY YEAR
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GUIDE
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2020
High Sierra
Backpacking Calendar

2020 INDEX

January         February         March         April         May         June

July         August         September         October         November         December

 

July
2020

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

TRAILHEAD

Last Year

 

July 2020
Volunteer and Double Peaks

East Carson River just below PCT under April Snow.
Descending towards Bensen Lake we observe the massive climb following our descent when we continue South from Bensen. This is one of the hardest sections of the whole Tahoe to Whitney hike.

North Yosemite Backcountry
Trail Guide
           Map           Miles and Elevations

July 2020

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

 

 

 

JULY 2019

 

Backpackers
Shift to Summer Gear well under way. Be ready for last bursts of Spring Weather.
Ignore the Calendar.
Gear up for the Conditions on the Ground, not a Date on the Calendar.

High Sierra Backpacker Weather

ON THE TRAIL

2019 REPORTS
Chaos on the Crest

2018 REPORTS
Trails Open on the Crest

2017 REPORTS
Chaos on the Crest

 

2015 REPORTS
July 2015
Current chances of experiencing
SEVERE WEATHER are INCREASED.

 

30

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

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CalTrans

 

 

 

2019
Heavy Spring Snowpack Persisting into Summer

2019
FORDING
HAZARDS

Starting June 7, persisting through July 25th, when the flow moderated a bit.

 

 

2018
Snowpack
(June 14-snow about gone)

 

2017
Snowpack
(extensive at this time)

 

2015
Snowpack
(nothing at this time)

 

1

 

 

 

 

July 2015
Driest Year in History

July 2016
An Average-Dry Year

July 2017
Wettest Year in Histor
y

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
July 2.

N Sierra: 108%
+28% in 5 days

Cen. Sierra: 73%
−18% in 5 days

S Sierra: 27%
−32% in 5 days

Ca State: 71%
−9% in 5 days

2019

 

 

 

2017
WARNINGS
through
Fourth of July

Through the Month of July

Fording Hazard

Snow travel Hazard

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP


4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST MONTH

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

5

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

Modis Satellite
Views

Compare
2015, 17, 18, & 19

Current Sat Views

 

 

 

 

2019
Rivers Fierce

HEAVY FLOWS

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSPO
Most 2017
Trans-Sierra Highways & Road NEWS

Very Late Openings

High Points:

June 21
Bishop Creek Shuttle runs

June 21
Lakes Basin Road open, Mammoth

June 28
Road to Spicer Open

Reds Road Closed

June 29
Tioga Pass Opens

June 30
Ebbetts Pass Opens

High Sierra Transportation Resources

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
HEATWAVE
WEATHER
HAZARD
WARNING
&
RELATED DANGER
HAZARD
BEWARE THE
GREEN WATER

Blue-Green Algae
Safety Hazard
&
RELATED DANGER
HAZARD
BEWARE
FIRE & SMOKE

Scorcing the Planet
Four Articles: LA & the Whole World Frying

Eyes on the Skies!

2018

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
Current Snowpack:
Percent of Average for
July 8.

N Sierra: 176%
+68% in 6 days

Cen. Sierra: 0%
−73% in 6 days

S Sierra: 0%
−27% in 6 days

Ca State: 33%
−38% in 6 days

Last Reading
July 2

Next Reading
July ?

Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF

 

 

 

 

2017
WARNINGS
through
Mid-July

Heat Hazard

Fording Hazard

Snow travel Hazard

Current Backpacker Alert

Current Mountain Safety New

2017
Snowpack & Temps

 

9

 

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
7-7-19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP

10

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

2017
Heavy snow at high altitudes preserves the

SNOW TRAVEL HAZARD,
but now mostly limited to higher up the flanks & crest.

Continuing high runoff flows maintain the
FORDING HAZARD.

HOT TEMPS PERSIST,
and must be monitored.

FIRE & SMOKE
hazards are present & increasing.

MOSQUITOES are a THREAT.

Water & Snow Hazards are gradually narrowing as this unique season progresses, while Heat, Fire, and Skeeter threats are rapidly rising.

2017

 

George & Sue
Married
2015
HAPPY ANNEVERSARY!

Ceremony at Burst Rock in Emigrant Wilderness, followed by a backpacking honeymoon into the Emigrant Backcountry.

And Tahoe afterwards...

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

12

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

MOSQUITOES

Mosquitoes rise when the snows melt.

Mosquitoes are typically THICK right now.

A dry year? Then less skeeters. A wet year? Then more.

2015 was a good model for dry years, being the driest on record.

2017 provides a good model for wet years, as it recorded the most snow ever measured.

 

2015 Calendar

2017 Calendar

2018
has come in at roughly 50% of a "normal" Winter's average snowpack, putting us smack-dab in the middle, between the extremes of
2015 & 2017

 

An Extremely Dry Year
2015 REPORTS:
Skeeters are thin. Early for thin...

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
Still
LOTS of SNOW
at
High Elevations and Protected NE Facing Aspects

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
FORDING
HAZARDS

continue

Rivers Moderating
MODERATE FLOWS
Nonetheless...

HAZARDS

Fording Hazard
Diminishing Soon

Snow Travel Hazard
Snow Breaking Down

Very
Dangerous Fording

June 7 through July 14

 

2017
Heat Advisories.
Warm to Hot.

2016
Beautiful weather in the Sierra. Warm to Hot.

2015 REPORTS:
Remnants of Baja Ca Hurricane drawn North into LA, South Deserts, and bringing more tropical storms to Sierra Nevada:

LA Floods

Hwy 10 Closed by Flash Flood

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
FERGUSON FIRE
Yosemite Foothills

 

 

2015 REPORTS:
It has been a "Tropical Summer," so far. This trend began in mid-May.

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snowpack & Temps

2017
Heavy snow at high altitudes preserves the:

SNOW TRAVEL HAZARD,
but now mostly limited to higher up the flanks & crest.

Still lots of snow on parts of Sierra Crest, less on others.

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

19

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
FULL SMOKE-FIRE ALERT

Detwiler Fire

Smoke inundates Tahoe-Carson-Reno areas, (alert)

All backpackers and visitors to the Sierra should check smoke and fire conditions. Smoke can be a real problem, even with no fire in near proximity.

Fire & Smoke

CalFire (all)

Inciweb Fed

Smoke

All Recent Trail News

 

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Heat Hazard Rising

Heat Warnings in effect this weekend

Fire Hazard

Smoke Hazard

Fording Hazard

Snow Travel Hazard
(High Elevations)

See
Exact Line of High Sierra Snow Cover

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP

23

 

 

 

THE
CURRENT SNOWPACK

Current Conditions

All Snow Information

GRAPHICS
Date-Adjustable Multi-Aspect
High Sierra
Snowpack
Status
THE 23rd

 

NOAA-NOHRSC
SNOWPACK

The High Sierra
7-23-19

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
Carson Pass

Ebbetts Pass

Lake Alpine

Not Cold!!

PCT hikers at both Passes report thinning snow across Southern Sierra High passes, (virtually none on North Sierra North of Leavitt Peak), diminishishing rivers & streams, and heavy mosquitoes.

Extensive Snow remaining on NE facing aspects.

Major Rivers are flowing deeply, but slowly.

2019

 

 

2018
FIRE-SMOKE-HEAT
-WARNINGS-

Until Further Notice

Yosemite Valley & Wawona to be Closed to Public
from 25th to 29th

FERGUSON FIRE
Yosemite Foothills

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019
Rivers Moderating

MODERATE FLOWS

Nonetheless...

FORDING
HAZARDS

continue

HAZARDS

Fording Hazard
Diminishing Soon

Snow Travel Hazard
Snow Breaking Down

 

 

 

 

 

2018
Yosemite Valley Closed

July 24 to August 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

26

 

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT WEEK

TOP

 

 

 

 

2018
Yosemite Valley Closed

July 24 to August 14

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018
CARR & CRANSTON FIRES,
Socal (Scroll Down...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Detwiler Fire being brought under control, Tahoe Basin Fire Resrtictions.

 

 

 

 


29

 

SPRING THAW

RIVER INFORMATION


RESERVOIRS

Watersheds and Selected Network of Crestline Sensors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Snow & Temps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015
Rocky Fire Fact Sheet (June 29)

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

FIRE-SMOKE-HEAT
-WARNINGS-

Until Further Notice

Yosemite Valley Closed

 

FERGUSON-CARR-CRANSTON FIRES NEWS & INFORMATION

 

2017
Heat Hazard Rising

Heat Warnings in effect this week, building to Thursday peak.

Fire Hazard

Smoke Hazard

Fording Hazard

Snow Travel Hazard
(High Elevations)

See
Exact Line of High Sierra Snow Cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week
TOP

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017
Safety News
Fording Fatality on PCT.

 

2017
Trail News
July 31, 2017
.

2017
Heavy snow at high altitudes preserves the:

SNOW TRAVEL HAZARD,
but now mostly limited to higher up the flanks & crest.

Still lots of snow on parts of Sierra Crest, less on others.

High Altitude Trips are STILL SNOW TRIPS

Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status

Amazing Sat Views

Continuing high runoff flows maintain the
FORDING HAZARD.

HOT TEMPS PERSIST,
and must be monitored.

FIRE & SMOKE
hazards are present & increasing.

MOSQUITOES are a THREAT.

Water & Snow Hazards are gradually narrowing as this unique season progresses, while Heat, Fire, and Skeeter threats are rapidly rising.

 

2015
Rough Fire

2015

1

 

LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

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LAST WEEK

NEXT MONTH

Top

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January       February     March       April       May       June

July     August     September       October       November       December

 

2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar          2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

2019 Calendar

 

Standard JULY NOTES:
I’ve seen years when the snowpack sticks through the Summer, and years where the snowpack clears by mid-June. The past four decades the average annual snowpack has radically declined and the date the snow clears has gotten earlier and earlier.

Independent of the long term trends our trip planning and gear selection are guided by careful observations of the character of each season’s weather. This year is no different.

2015 REPORTS:
Freak Tropical Weather blowing North bringing unsettled weather into the Sierra since late May, and certainly persisting through now, mid-July. The El Nino conditions in the East-Central Pacific are already epic by July 22, which is very early in the timing of a typical El Nino "season."

This indicates a high probability of our already tropically-unsettled weather being supercharged by a heavy El Nino building into Fall. We will see. This tropical weather has served to suppress what would have been a disastrous fire season, and has served to put the drought on "suspended animation," somewhat retarding its progress.

Last two times I saw El Ninos like this (over last 40+ years) California suffered epic Fall flooding. Epic.

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

 

 

Permits
Yosemite National Park and Desolation Wilderness accept reservations six months in advance for Summer backpacking dates.

June 2016 reservations are available in January, July in February, and so on.

Yosemite Permits

Desolation Wilderness

Hoover Wilderness

 

DANGERS
Monitor weather for afternoon Thunderstorms

Beware of dangerous fording conditions

Mosquito conditions are typically going Hog Wild during this time of year.
Not during 2015!
Mosquito Populations are still being depressed by the drought conditions, despite the Spring and Summer tropical rains.


2014 Calendar          2015 Calendar  

2016 Calendar         2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

2019 Calendar

Mountain Safety

Thunderstorms?

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.

More Lightening Information                  Lightening Prediction Tools

Typical Scene: Video

Story
Caught Out with Bubba & Dave

 

2015 HISTORY
This year's constant series of thunderstorms are tropically born, not local. These thunderstorms are the product of distant moisture-rich tropical air being driven North by air currents generated by the intense tropical thunderstorm activity that generated them in the first place. These moisture rich airs are then sucked across the Sierra by an aberrant series of stubborn unstable low pressure zones over California and the West Coast of the U.S.

Tahoe to Whitney

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2020
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

2019 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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