June 2020 Tahoe to Whitney High Sierra MONTH Backpacking Calendar

Seavy Pass is the high point in a wide bowl filled with beautiful ponds atop the ridge separating Bensen Lake from Kerrick Canyon along the combined TYT-PCT routes through the North Yosemite Backcountry. Above we are passing around the Southernmost pond before beginning the great descent to Bensen Lake.

Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations

JUNE 2020

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

2020	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP JUNE 2020 JUNE Transitional Month Not at all during May of 2019 The Sierra Crest still has between four feet on it in the North Sierra to 8 in the South. CLEARING QUICKLY DURING 2018 Not so much during 2017 The Sierra Crest still has between four feet on it in the North Sierra to 10 in the South. More High Sierra Backpacker Information High Sierra News of Nature & Science for Backpackers LET'S GO BACKPACKING Guide Trailhead Guide Index High Sierra Magazine Blog-Forums MORE Navigation Information Time & Space High Sierra Backpacker Trail Skills	1 June 2015 Driest Year in History Snow Long Gone June 2016 A Average-Dry Year Clearing of Snow June 2017 Wettest Year in History 2016 Carson Pass 8353 ft Clear of Snow today 49 & 30°, 0" Ebbetts Pass 51 & 31°, 7" Sonora Pass E Flank 67 & 41°, 0" Deadman Creek Upper meadow West flank just below Sonora Pass 72 & 34°, 16" Tioga Pass DM xx & xx°, 17"?	2	3 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for June 3. N Sierra: 215% +3% in 4 days Cen. Sierra: 216% +5% in 4 days S Sierra: 188% +10% in 4 days Ca State: 201% +5% in 4 days 2019 2018 Snowpack, June 2 2017 Snowpack 2016 Early Season Heat wave STRONG VALLEY TEMPS TO 100s 2016 Carson Pass 8353 ft Clear of Snow today 49 & 30°, 0" Ebbetts Pass 51 & 31°, 7" Sonora Pass E Flank 67 & 41°, 0" Deadman Creek Upper meadow West flank just below Sonora Pass 72 & 34°, 16" Tioga Pass DM xx & xx°, 17"? 2016 This Week TOP	4	5	6 LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
7 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2019 RED FLAG ADVISORY, EXCESSIVE HEAT, & FORDING HAZARDS Start Now, with the fording Hazard persisting through July 25th, when the flow moderated a bit. 2019 2015 T-storms and Rain from TS BLANCA (2015) Raining on the Sierra Crest 1.1 inches of precip predicted over Sierra next 7 days.	8	9 2018 Snowpack, June 9 2017 Snowpack	10 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for June 10. N Sierra: 176% −5% in 4 days Cen. Sierra: 178% −27% in 4 days S Sierra: 175% −13% in 4 days Ca State: 175% −15% in 4 days	11 2019 RED FLAG ADVISORY, EXCESSIVE HEAT, & FORDING HAZARDS	12 This Week TOP	13 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for June 13. N Sierra: 156% −20% in 3 days Cen. Sierra: 154% −24% in 3 days S Sierra: 156% −19% in 3 days Ca State: 153% −22% in 3 days 2019 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
14 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2015 REPORTS HEAT WAVE BUILDING, LAST BITS of the Sierra Snowpack Our past Sets the Table for the FUTURE	15 2017 Current Snowpack VAST Percent of Average for June 1. Ca State: 226% (% ofApril 1: 68%) Compare against previous years.	16 2017 Snowpack 2015 REPORTS: HEAT WAVE BUILDING High Temps along Sierra Crest Snow retreating to highest South Sierra Peaks & Crestline. None on the North Sierra for WEEKS. The LAST BITS of the Sierra Snowpack	17 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for June 17. N Sierra: 102% −54% in 4 days Cen. Sierra: 120% −34% in 4 days S Sierra: 135% −21% in 4 days Ca State: 120% −33% in 4 days 2017 WARNINGS through Fourth of July Fording Hazard Snow travel Hazard 2017 Bishop Creek Shuttle to start today 2015 Tuolumne Meadows Post Office reports busiest times ever.	18 2019 Continuing FORDING HAZARDS To July 25 2019 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for June 18 +/- change since May 29 N Sierra: 9% (-2%) Cen. Sierra: 0% (-11%) S Sierra: 0% (-5%) Ca State: 0% (-9%) Last May 29 This Week TOP	19 This Week TOP 2017 HEATWAVE WEATHER HAZARD WARNINGS Heat Hazard Fording Hazard Snow travel Hazard Through the Month of July 2015 North Sierra SNOW FREE South Sierra rapidly losing thin pack along crestline.	20 SUMMER SOLTICE First Day of Summer Happens Wednesday, June 20, 2020 at 21:44 Universal Time, So because our local Time puts us 8 hours behind Greenwich, PST = UT - 7 21:44 - 7 hr = 14:44 PM, March 19, PDT. (At South Lake Tahoe) The Vernal Equinox VIDEO A Terrestrial Year from Space, APOD, March 19, 2017. Trail Guide Seasonal Observer Time References ArchoAstronomy Astro-Physics News LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for June 20. N Sierra: 73% −29% in 3 days Cen. Sierra: 104% −16% in 3 days S Sierra: 121% −14% in 3 days Ca State: 101% −19% in 3 days 2019 2017 Snowpack 2016 The Month of June 2015 (June 21) Summer Solstice North Sierra SNOW FREE South Sierra rapidly losing thin pack along crestline. LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
21 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	22 2015 REPORTS: This looks like the end of the Spring Instability and advent of full-blown Summer HEAT. ENSO inputs seem to be going IR batshit... 2015	23 2019 Snowpack	24 2018 Snowpack (June 14-snow about gone) 2017 Snowpack 2017 HEATWAVE WEATHER HAZARD WARNINGS EXPIRED FLOOD HAZARD WARNINGS EXTENDED 2017 Flood Warnings extended along length of East Sierra. in pm precip hits North Ca Coast, Northernmost Sierra. 2017 Snowpack (still extensive snow) 2015 REPORTS: Heat Wave Building in, Thunderstorm Mechanism is operating, enhanced by trough bringing moisture-rich air North. Valley temps up to 103 this next week. These temps can drive fierce T-Storms.	25 2019 Continuing FORDING HAZARDS 2019	26 This Week TOP	27 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for June 27. N Sierra: 80% +7% in 7 days Cen. Sierra: 91% −13% in 7 days S Sierra: 59% −62% in 7 days Ca State: 80% −21% in 7 days 2019 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
28 LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP	29	30 2019 Heavy Spring Snowpack Persisting into Summer 2019 2018 Snowpack (June 14-snow about gone) 2017 Snowpack (extensive at this time) 2015 Snowpack (nothing at this time)	1 JULY 2020 2019 Continuing FORDING HAZARDS	2 JULY 2020 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 Fording Hazard Snow travel Hazard Through the Month of July	3 JULY 2020 This Week TOP	4 JULY 2020 LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP

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2015 & 2016
ASSESMENTS
Tropical Thunderstorms, Rain and Snowstorms from supercharged El Nino torment lightly-geared PCT Hikers.
2015 NO THAW TO SPEAK OF: IT IS OVER.

2016 THAW PROGRESSING ON "TRADITIONAL," if a bit-A MONTH-earlier than "AVERAGE" SIERRA THAW TIMELINE.

The real danger of June is found between the swollen banks of rivers and even normally small placid creeks, surging with the power of the Spring Thaw. (Not this year)

During heavy Spring Thaws one can hear the grinding of unseen great granite boulders as supercharged river flows easily roll them downstream. (Not this year)

Carefully assess all river crossings, have contingency plans for being knocked down and losing your pack, and turn around if the dangers are too great. (All Years)

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

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

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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

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