April Snowstorm climbs the East Sierra
over
Carson Falls
Sitting below the Pacific Crest Trail on the Eastern Edge of Carson Iceberg Wilderness-Stanislaus National Forest

East Carson River just below PCT under April Snow.

Looking back, Northwest by the compass, as we climb South up into the East Carson River up towards the PCT under a light Snow in April of 2000. The PCT runs the ridge in the background. We'll get up there soon. At the position above we are climbing up to Carson Falls on our way following the East Carson River a bit short of nine miles up to the PCT. Entry was through Rodriquez Flat, above the town of Walker on Highway 395.

Trail Forum Map Miles and Elevations (PCT)

End of March

April 2020

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

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP April 2020 "Open" Spring Conditions? Typically, Access Depends on Conditions. Conditions on the ground, NOT a date on the calendar determines our gear and skills requirements. Spring has been clearing mountain trails earlier and earlier over the the last twenty-five years, and especially the previous seven years, before the Massive 2017 Snowpack. Short Winters & Early Thaws, such as 2015, 16, and 18, have been offset by the massive snow years of '17 & '19 . "Open" Spring Conditions? in 2020 ? 2019 Not a Chance. Spring Conditions are, & will be, Epic. NOT 2019 HUGE PACK ON THE CREST We're going to use our 2017 readings to give us some context & insight as to how this year's snow, similar to the levels of 2017, could melt-out: March 27 April 20 May 2 Tracking SPRING THAW 2019 2018 A Weak Snow Pack as of April 1 Spring of 2018 Danger We've seen a long trend of earlier and earlier Spring Openings of Sierra Crest Trails, creating expectations of early openings. This year was following trend until our wet March, bringing a quarter of normal snowpack up to half. Though this still bodes well for early starts on the PCT & JMT, the die is not yet cast. Warm Torrential Tropical Rains could yet scour the snow from the Sierra Crest, while a cold version of Tropical Rains could still deposit many more feet along the Sierra Crest and Flanks. Both would be "tail" events, with the most likely outcome being a quick Spring Thaw under warm conditions, and an earlier than "average" opening of Sierra Crest Trails. 2017 "Open" Spring Conditions? NOT 2017: HUGE PACK ON THE CREST The 2017 Spring Thaw was Under WINTER SNOW CONDITIONS 2016 A slightly below average snowpack More High Sierra Backpacker Information Guide Trailhead Guide Index High Sierra Magazine HIGH SIERRA TRAILS FORUMS HIGH SIERRA TOPICS FORUMS GEAR FORUMS GEAR LIST		31 Clouds Clearing Warming Nicely 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 31 N Sierra: 56% +3% in 6 days Cen. Sierra: 56% +1% in 6 days S Sierra: 45% +3% in 6 days Ca State: 53% +2% in 6 days Last Reading Mar 25 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Snow Depth at Carson Pass 2020, Today Carson Pass 61" 2019, the 28th Carson Pass 117 " 2018, Today Carson Pass 67" 2017, the 24th Carson Pass 124" 2016, the 14th Carson Pass 93" 2015, the 25th Carson Pass 21 inches of snow Station Reports The SECOND --SPRING-- Temp-Snow Check March 31 2020 Early Afternoon Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: March 25 Next Report: April 6, 2020 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 53.0 −10.00 (20.30) + 2.1 !! 7618 feet Trail Map 40 & 35 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 61.0 −10 (30.00) +0.90 7652 feet Stations Map 40 & 34 −/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 61.0 −6.0 (22.80) +0.30 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 38 & 33 +/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 57.0 −11 (29.20) +0.60 8660 feet Trail Map 39 & 31 +/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 20.20 −0.21 (25.32) +0.82 8360 feet Trail Map 36 & 28 +/+ Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 93.0 −6 (23.90) +1.3 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 38 & 31 +/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 52 & 25 +/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 32.26 −10.97 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 42 & 23 +/+ Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 40 & 30 +/+ Top of List Tenaya Lake 46.91 −5.22 (7.27) +1.98 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 47 & 26 +/+ JMT-PCT-TYT (10PM) Tuolumne Meadows 14.03 −1.92 (5.99) +0.25 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 47 & 26 +/+ Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (2.09) =0.01 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 40 & 26 +/+ 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 11.73 −6.78 (12.05) +0.74 8004 feet Trail Map Above 51 & 20 +/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 74.29 −4.44 (9.08) = +2.36 9500 feet Trail Map 21 & 17 −/+ Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 46.60 +2.0 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 50 & 21 +/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (29.50) =0.0 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 53 & 25 +/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 14.50 −1.8 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 47 & 22 +/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 4.21 +0.15 (75.09) +0.64 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 44 & 20 +/+ (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 35.64 +1.14 11441 feet Trail Map 44 & 25 +/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow 3.32 ERROR −X.XX (35.58) +0.29 10,700 feet Trail Map 44 & 22 +/+ ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	1 FOOL'S DAY Clouds Clearing Nice April 2015 Driest Year in History April 2016 An Average-Dry Year April 2017 Wettest Year in History April 2018 Dry Year April 2019 Wet Year 2017 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 1. N Sierra: 147% Cen. Sierra: 175% S Sierra: 166% Ca State: 164% 2017 Snow Depths & Temps 2016 Snow Depth Carson Pass 49 & 23 degrees, 75" Ebbetts Pass 48 & 23 degrees, 75" Sonora Pass 33 & 28 degrees, 69" Tuolumne Meadows 17 & 50 degrees, 34.5" 2016 April Snow Depths & Temps 2015 JB declares Water Emergency 25% State-Wide cutback. Carson Pass Hwy 88 11 inch Snow Depth Tuolumne Meadows 1.3 inch Snow Depth Deadman Creek Hwy 108 9 inch Snow Depth 2015 April Snow Depths & Temps	2 Clouding Up Nice LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 2. N Sierra: 165% +3 % in 5 days Cen. Sierra: 165% +1 % in 5 days S Sierra: 153% -1 % in 5 days Ca State: 162% +1 % in 5 days 2019 This Week TOP	3 Moderate Storm Approaching 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for April 3 +/- change since March 27 N Sierra: 41% (-7%) Cen. Sierra: 59% (-6%) S Sierra: 49% (-7%) Ca State: 51% (-7%) 2018 Snow Depths & Temps This Week TOP	4 Moderate Storm AM Showers 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-Dry Year Latest Start Date Winter of 2017 Wettest in History When are the trails along the Sierra Crest going to be passable this year? Upcoming Weather Probabilities These three years highlighted above 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. These are the historic limits of wet and dry, with a perfectly average year thrown in-between, for good measure. 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. And your fitness, of course. You are training, are you not? 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 Weather Notes TWISTED SEASONS Hottest & Driest, then Wettest Year Ever, over Three Years Compare Years LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
5 Moderate Storm Diminishing Showers LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	6 Moderate Storm Continuing over South & East Sierra Warnings NWS HANFORD Winter Storm Warning "Southern Sierra" Thru Monday Evening NWS VEGAS E. FLANK WINTER WRNG Thru Wednesday Afternoon NWS RENO NWS SACTO COLD Nights 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 6 N Sierra: 66% +10% in 6 days Cen. Sierra: 64% +8% in 6 days S Sierra: 49% +4% in 6 days Ca State: 61% +8% in 6 days Last Reading Mar 31 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Station Reports The THIRD --SPRING-- Temp-Snow Check April 6 2020 Late Morning Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: March 31 Next Report: April 14 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 58.0 +5.00 (21.60) +1.3 7618 feet Trail Map 31 & 21 −/− PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 75.0 +14 (32.30) +2.30 !! 7652 feet Stations Map 32 & 21 −/− American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 83.0 +22.0 (25.50) +2.70 !! 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 29 & 18 −/− Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 73.00 +16 (32.20) +3.00 !! 8660 feet Trail Map 29 & 20 −/− West of PCT Highlands Meadow 32.92 +3.00 (26.54) +1.22 8360 feet Trail Map 25 & 19 −/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 120.00 +27 (24.70) +0.8 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 26 & 18 −/− EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 31 & 27 −/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 33.98 +1.72 (Yesterday's snow) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 26 & 18 −/− Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 26 & 19 −/− Top of List Tenaya Lake 83.90 +36.99 !! (7.27) = 0.00 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 28 & 19 −/− JMT-PCT-TYT (10PM) Tuolumne Meadows 32.34 +18.31 (6.04) +0.05 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 26 & 18 −/− Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (2.09) =0.01 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 24 & 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 50.13 +38.4 (15.57) +3.52 8004 feet Trail Map Above 29 & 22 −/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 97.19 +22.9 (9.08) = +2.36 9500 feet Trail Map 24 & 17 +/= Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 67.10 +20.50 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 25 &17 −/− East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (29.80) +0.3 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 27 & 19 −/− East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 28.30 +13.8 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 23 & 16 −/− Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 22.98 +18.77 (76.36) +1.27 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 28 & 17 −/− (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 38.97 +3.33 11441 feet Trail Map 26 & 15 −/− JMT Crabtree Meadow 14.78 +?.?? (36.35) +0.77 10,700 feet Trail Map 29 & 18 −/− ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	7 Sweet Day North Sierra Moderate Storm Continuing over South & East Sierra Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages TRENDS Week-Month- 3 Months 2016 Heat Wave Records See 2015 Report 2015: KM to Open last weekend of this month. 24 hr High-Low & Snow Dp. 2016 Station REPORTS Carson Pass 54 & 31 degrees, 69" Ebbetts Pass 53 & 31 degrees, 67" Sonora Pass 54 & 28 degrees, 55" Tuolumne Meadows 63 & 25 degrees, 25" 2016 Our Selected REALTIME High Sierra Crestline Reporting Stations REPORTING The SPRING of 2020 Compare Today with Snow & Temperatures on April 6 March 31 March 25 WINTER March 17 March 8 & 13 March 2 Feb 27 Feb 20 Feb 10 Feb 3 Jan 28 Jan 23 Jan 13 & 17 Jan 8 Jan 2 Dec 30 Dec 24 Setting the Table for WINTER Fall to Winter 2019 Reports	8 Overcast-Cloudy North Sierra Moderate Storm Continuing over South & East Sierra 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 8. N Sierra: 166% +1 % in 6 days Cen. Sierra: 165% = % in 6 days S Sierra: 152% -1 % in 6 days Ca State: 162% = % in 6 days 2019 2015 KM to Open last weekend of this month. Carson Pass 15 inch Snow Depth Tuolumne Meadows 5.6 inch Snow Depth 2015 This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP	9 Unsettled Cooler Up North, S & E Sierra Diminishing Showers Warnings NWS HANFORD Winter Storm Warning "Southern Sierra" Thru Thurs Evening NWS RENO NWS SACTO NWS VEGAS 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 9 N Sierra: 69% +3% in 3 days Cen. Sierra: 68% +4% in 3 days S Sierra: 58% +9% in 3 days Ca State: 66% +5% in 3 days Last Reading <<-- April 6 <<-- Next Reading April 14 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF 2017 Snow & Temps 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 Sweet Day Increasing Sun & Warmth Point Forecasts Lake Tahoe Forecast Walker Forecast Sonora Pass Forecast Bishop Forecast Cherry Lake Forecast Lee Vining Forecast Tuolumne Meadows Mammoth Pass Lake Thomas Edison Mount Whitney-Lone Pine Lake Isabella Forecast Move the Map Dot to Customize Forecast Point Trail Maps 2018 Snow Depths & Temp 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for April 10 +/- change since April 3 N Sierra: 36% (-5%) Cen. Sierra: 51% (-8%) S Sierra: 39% (-10%) Ca State: 43% (-8%) 2018	11 Overcast-Cloudy AM Precip Clearing LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP --2016-- 24 hr High-Low & Snow Dp. 2016 Station REPORTS Carson Pass 54 & 31 degrees, 68" Ebbetts Pass 43 & 32 degrees, 63" Sonora Pass 47 & 32 degrees, 53" Tuolumne Meadows 48 & 27 degrees, 18" 2016 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
12 EASTER Sweet Day Increasing Sun & Warmth LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for April 12 +/- change since April 10 N Sierra: 35% (-1%) Cen. Sierra: 47% (-4%) S Sierra: 36% (-3%) Ca State: 41% (-2%) 2018 Snow Depths & Temp A Year Comparable to 2019? 2017 NEXT 2017 SNOW READINGS April 20, 2017 May 2, 2017 PREVIOUS April 1	13 Sweet Day Increasing Sun & Warmth Our Selected REALTIME High Sierra Crestline Reporting Stations REPORTING The SPRING of 2020 Compare Today with Snow & Temperatures on April 6 March 31 March 25 WINTER March 17 March 8 & 13 March 2 Feb 27 Feb 20 Feb 10 Feb 3 Jan 28 Jan 23 Jan 13 & 17 Jan 8 Jan 2 Dec 30 Dec 24 Setting the Table for WINTER Fall to Winter 2019 Reports	14 Sweet Day Increasing Sun & Warmth 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 14 N Sierra: 62% −7% in 5 days Cen. Sierra: 65% −3% in 5 days S Sierra: 59% +1% in 5 days Ca State: 63% −3% in 5 days Last Reading April 9 Next Reading April 22 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Station Reports The FOURTH --SPRING-- Temp-Snow Check April 14 2020 Early Afternoon Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: April 6 Next Report: April 22 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 58.0 −9.00 (22.20) −0.6 7618 feet Trail Map 48 & 30 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 54.0 −21 (33.30) +1.0 Echo Lake Resupply Lake Tahoe Resupply 7652 feet Stations Map 48 & 27 +/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 60.0 −23.0 (25.50) +1.40 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 47 & 22 +/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 56.00 −17 (33.50) +1.30 Lake Alpine Resupply 8660 feet Trail Map 46 & 21 +/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 16.85 −16.07 (28.26) +1.72 !! 8360 feet Trail Map 45 & 16 +/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 106.00 −14 (29.10) +4.40 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 44 & 18 +/= EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 40 & 20 +/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 40.21 +6.23 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 46 & 18 +/= Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 49 & 23 +/+ Bensen Lake Loop Slide Canyon 63 −15 (26.12) +2.19 9200 feet, NW Yos Trail Map--Location 40 & 11 (Typically one of the coldest stations) Top of List Tenaya Lake 48.95 −34.95 !! (8.69) + 1.42 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 49 & 19 +/= JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 14.49 −17.85 (7.37) +1.33 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 49 & 16 +/− Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (3.90) +1.81 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 42 & 12 +/− 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 9.48 −40.65 (15.57) +0.35 8004 feet Trail Map Above 51 & 23 +/+ NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 85.66 −11.53 (16.20) = +7.12 9500 feet Trail Map 48 & 16 +/− Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 58.60 −8.5 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 46 &18 +/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (30.50) +0.7 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 51 & 10 +/− East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 29.20 +0.9 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 39 & 6 +/− Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 14.64 −8.34 (79.74) +3.38 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 38 & 13 +/− (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 57.35 +18.38 11441 feet Trail Map 39 & 7 +/− JMT Crabtree Meadow 17.02 +2.24 (39.13) +2.78 10,700 feet Trail Map 39 & 10 +/− ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	15 Clouding Cooling 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 15. N Sierra: 167% +1% in 7 days Cen. Sierra: 162% -3% in 7 days S Sierra: 151% -1 % in 7 days Ca State: 161% -1% in 7 days 2019 This Week TOP 2016 Snotel Station Reports 2016: Carson Pass 44 & 31 degrees, 64" Ebbetts Pass 41 & 29 degrees, 59" Sonora Pass 44 & 33 degrees, 50" Tuolumne Meadows 44 & 25 degrees, 14" 2016 This Week TOP This Week TOP	16 Point Forecasts Lake Tahoe Forecast Walker Forecast Sonora Pass Forecast Cherry Lake Forecast Lee Vining Forecast Tuolumne Meadows Mammoth Pass Lake Thomas Edison Mount Whitney-Lone Pine Lake Isabella Forecast Move the Map Dot to Customize Forecast Point Trail Maps 2016 TRANS-SIERRA HIGHWAYS REPORT Opened Mid-April 2015! Not in 2016! 2016 2015 TRANS-SIERRA HIGHWAYS Hot Day Ebbetts Pass Opened Sonora Pass Opened 2015	17 Cloudy Cool 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	18 Cloudy Cool HIGH SIERRA SNOW INFO All Snow Info SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS THE SNOWPACK *GRAPHICS* Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status APRIL 14 NOAA-NOHRSC The High Sierra 4-14-20 Tracking SPRING THAW 2019 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for April 18 +/- change since April 16 N Sierra: 37% (-%) Cen. Sierra: 51% (+4%) S Sierra: 37% (-2%) Ca State: 44% (+3%) 2018 Snow Depths & Temp LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
19 Cloudy Warming LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2015 Snotel Station Reports Pre-Storm Snow Depth Carson Pass 2 inches Road Open Ebbetts Pass 0 inches Road Open Sonora Pass 2 inches Road Open 2015	20 Cloudy to Clearing Cloudy Point Forecasts Lake Tahoe Forecast Walker Forecast Sonora Pass Forecast Cherry Lake Forecast Lee Vining Forecast Tuolumne Meadows Mammoth Pass Lake Thomas Edison Mount Whitney-Lone Pine Lake Isabella Forecast Move the Map Dot to Customize Forecast Point Trail Maps 2017 COLD WARNING Weak Front through last night, clear, High building. 2017 Current Snowpack VAST Percent of Average for April 20. N Sierra: 182% Cen. Sierra: 197% S Sierra: 182% Ca State: 189% Next May 2, 2017 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF 2016: Hot THE BLOB RETURNS NW US The Blob	21 Beautiful Day Cloudy to Clearing & Warming 2019 Snow & Temps 2018 Snow & Temps 2017 Snow & Temps 2016 April Snow & Temps 2015 April Snow & Temps --2016-- Snotel Station Reports Carson Pass 55 & 39 degrees, 56" Ebbetts Pass 53 & 39 degrees, 50" Sonora Pass 53 & 35 degrees, 43" Tuolumne Meadows 57 & 24 degrees, 1" Unsettled but gentle instability. Not yet the breakout of Spring Instability...	22 Beautiful Day Increasing Sun & Warmth WARMER Overnight Temps Warming... Approaching Transition to Spring Gear 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 22 N Sierra: 51% −11% in 8 days Cen. Sierra: 63% −3% in 8 days S Sierra: 59% +/− 0% in 8 days Ca State: 58% −5% in 8 days Last Reading April 14 Next Reading May 1 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 22. N Sierra: 162% -5% in 7 days Cen. Sierra: 162% =% in 7 days S Sierra: 152% +1 % in 7 days Ca State: 159% -2% in 7 days 2019 Station Reports The FIFTH --SPRING-- Temp-Snow Check April 22 2020 Late Afternoon Evening Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: April 14 Next Report: May 1 Red Snow = Near Clear Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 40.0 −18.00 (22.50) + 0.3 7618 feet Trail Map 52 & 38 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 44.0 −10 (33.70) +0.4 Echo Lake Resupply Lake Tahoe Resupply 7652 feet Stations Map 53 & 38 +/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 53.0 −7.0 (27.40) +1.90 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 53 & 31 +/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 49.00 −7 (33.80) +0.30 Lake Alpine Resupply 8660 feet Trail Map 54 & 36 +/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 10.65 −6.20 (28.26) +0.65 8360 feet Trail Map 53 & 28 +/+ Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 104.00 −12 (29.50) +0.40 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 49 & 35 +/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 62 & 24 +/+ Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 33.67 −6.54 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 51 & 7 +/− ?? Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 56 & 24 +/+ Bensen Lake Loop Slide Canyon 55 −10 (25.14) −0.98 9200 feet, NW Yos Trail Map--Location 46 & 23 Report (Typically one of the coldest stations) Top of List Tenaya Lake 42.75 −6.2 (10.05) +1.36 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 57 & 25 +/+ JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 8.86 −5.63 (8.32) +0.95 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 55 & 24 +/+ Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (4.59) +0.69 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 51 &23 +/+ Mammoth Mountain Mono Lake-Owens Basin East of PCT-JMT Above Gem Lake Gem Pass (New) (error) Report 10750 feet Trail Map temps bad Old JMT-PCT Junction Devils Postpile 0.22 −9.26 (15.57) +0.35 8004 feet Trail Map Above 51 & 23 +/+ NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 74.19 −11.47 (17.32) +1.12 9500 feet Trail Map 57 & 28 +/+ Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 53.70 −4.9 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 56 & 24 +/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (30.60) +0.1 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 62 & 26 +/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 24.40 −4.8 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 52 & 23 +/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 8.34 −6.3 (80.92) +1.18 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 48 & 22 +/+ (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 50.46 −6.89 11441 feet Trail Map 45 & 29 +/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow 39.80 +22.78 (39.80) +0.67 10,700 feet Trail Map 50 & 23 +/+ ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List 2015 ADZPCTKO.org TWO EVENTS April 22-24 April 24-26 Annual PCT kickoff event.	23 Beautiful Day Increasing Sun & Warmth WARMER 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 This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP	24 Beautiful Day Increasing Sun & Warmth HOT Hiking the PCT-JMT-TYT? How is this year Stacking-Up? LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2018 Snow Depths & Temp 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for April 25 +/- change since April 18 N Sierra: 22% (-15%) Cen. Sierra: 46% (-5%) S Sierra: 28% (-9%) Ca State: 37% (+7%) 2018 2017 Snow & Temps 2016 Post Stormlet Snotel Station Reports Carson Pass 44 & 21 degrees, 56" Ebbetts Pass 46 & 21 degrees, 49" Sonora Pass 45 & 21 degrees, 47" Tuolumne Meadows 47 & 23 degrees, 0" 2016	25 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth HOT Overnight Temps Warming... Approaching Transition to Spring Gear SPRING THAW ---DANGERS--- --WARNINGS-- BEGIN NWS RENO E. SIERRA RISING WATER Thru Next Week NWS VEGAS DESERT HEAT Tuesday Thru Thurs Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages TRENDS Week-Month- 3 Months An EARLY SIERRA TRAIL OPENING in 2020? DROUGHT CONSIDERATIONS FEB 22 DROUGHT CONSIDERATIONS MAR 5 MARCH 14 E SIERRA FIRE WATCH Weather Monitoring DROUGHT REPORTING & THAW- RIVERS 2015 EPIC DROUGHT Snotel Station Reports Post Storm Snow Depth Carson Pass 3 inches Ebbetts Pass 11 inches Sonora Pass 10 inches Tuolumne Meadows 6.1 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
26 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth HOT Overnight Temps Warming... Approaching Transition to Spring Gear SPRING THAW ---DANGERS--- --WARNINGS-- BEGIN LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH TOP 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 26. N Sierra: 151% -11% in 4 days Cen. Sierra: 155% -7% in 4 days S Sierra: 149% -3 % in 4 days Ca State: 152% -7% in 4 days 2017 Snow & Temps 2016 April Snow & Temps 2015 April Snow & Temps	27 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth HOTTER	28 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth HOT	29 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth HOT 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for April 29. N Sierra: 144% -18% in 7 days -7% in 3 days Cen. Sierra: 145% -17% in 7 days -10% in 3 days S Sierra: 140% -12% in 7 days -9% in 3 days Ca State: 143% -16% in 7 days -9% in 3 days 2018 Snowpack Percent of Average for April 29 +/- change since April 25 N Sierra: 30% (+8%) Cen. Sierra: 44% (-2%) S Sierra: 31% (+3%) Ca State: 37% (=%) 2018 2015 Bloom & Weather announce: Kennedy Meadows Pack Station, Highway 108, OPENS	30 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth HOT 2016 Post Stormlet Snotel Station Reports Carson Pass 42 & 9 degrees, 58" Ebbetts Pass 42 & 28 degrees, 50" Sonora Pass 40 & 28 degrees, 45" Tuolumne Meadows 47 & 21 degrees, 0" 2015 KM Actual OPENING See 2015 Report 2016 This Week TOP This Week TOP	1 MAY 2020 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth Cooler LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top 2020 May1 Ca Snow 37% Of May 1 Average Last Reading April 22 Next Reading May 7 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for May 1. N Sierra: 144% =0% in 2 days Cen. Sierra: 147% +2% in 2 days S Sierra: 139% -1% in 2 days Ca State: 143% =0% in 2 days 2019 2017 Snow & Temps Station Reports The SIXTH --SPRING-- Temp-Snow Check May 1 2020 8 pm Evening Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: April 22 Next Report: May 7 Red Snow = Near Clear Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 27.0 −13.00 (22.60) + 0.1 7618 feet Trail Map 54 & 38 +/= PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 18.0 −26 (33.50) −0.2 Echo Lake Resupply Lake Tahoe Resupply 7652 feet Stations Map 53 & 39 =/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 36.0 −17.0 (27.40) =0.00 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 52 & 31 −/= Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 26.00 −23 (33.90) +0.10 Lake Alpine Resupply 8660 feet Trail Map 52 & 37 −/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 00.00 −10.65 (28.95) +0.69 8360 feet Trail Map 49 & 27 −/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 75.00 −29 (29.40) −0.10 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 48 & 36 −/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 69 &48 +/+ Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 18.46 −15.21 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 57 & -19 +/− ?? Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow 5.40 x0.0 8602 feet Trail Map 52 & 26 −/+ Bensen Lake Loop Slide Canyon 38 −17 (25.14) −0.98 9200 feet, NW Yos Trail Map--Location 49 & 26 +/+ Report (Typically one of the coldest stations) Top of List Tenaya Lake 19.11 −23.64 (10.05) +0.00 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 53 & 26 −/+ JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 0.43 −8.43 (8.32) =0.00 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 55 & 26 =/+ Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (4.59) =0.00 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 48 & 26 −/+ Mammoth Mountain Mono Lake-Owens Basin East of PCT-JMT Above Gem Lake Gem Pass (New) (error) Report 10750 feet Trail Map temps bad Old JMT-PCT Junction Devils Postpile 0.26 +0.04 (16.55) +0.98 8004 feet Trail Map Above 57 & 30 +/+ NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 48.80 −25.39 (17.44) +0.12 9500 feet Trail Map 53 & 31 −/+ Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 34.30 −19.4 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 54 & 28 −/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (30.60) =0.0 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 56 & 36 −/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 11.10 −13.3 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 46 & 35 −/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake PREVIOUS READING (no current data) 8.34 −6.3 (80.92) +1.18 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 48 & 22 +/+ (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 38.07 −12.39 11441 feet Trail Map 51 & 32 +/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow 1.76 −38.04 (40.02) +0.22 10,700 feet Trail Map 53 & 28 +/+ ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	2 MAY 2020 Beautiful Day Sun & Warmth Cooler-Warm 2017 Current Snowpack VAST Percent of Average for May 2. N Sierra: 198% Cen. Sierra: 201% S Sierra: 178% Ca State: 194% 2017 LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top
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2020

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Conditions Vs. Plans
Is there a huge snowpack?
None?

Have you Late Spring or Early Summer Hiking Plans?
Current conditions will tell you if your early season hiking plans are possible.

Let's compare:

APRIL 8 STATUS 2015
8% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 8 STATUS 2016
73% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 7 STATUS 2017
161% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 10 STATUS 2018
43% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 8 STATUS 2019
162% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 19 STATUS 2016
85% of Average Snowpack

APRIL 20 STATUS 2017
189% of Average Snowpack

2016
Things are very different this year than the past 5 years. Early heat this year may do more to close the trail than open it.
Rather than early dry conditions we may well face early and enduring early-season soggy conditions.

2017

IT'S ON

Ca Dept of Water Resources

High Sierra Backpacker Weather

SPRING THREATS ON FULL DISPLAY
BACKPACKER ALERT
April 1, 2017
The most important topic of this date is the massive snowpack on the Sierra Crest and the extreme danger it poses to PCT hikers. The dangers of High Altitude Snow Travel will soon be supplemented by very dangerous fording conditions when this snowpack begins to thaw.

These conditions require skills, gear, and fitness to assure any level of safe travel as of this date. Undercutting and safety along the banks of creeks emerging from snow cover is currently increasing, as will the difficulty of travel conditions increase as the pack softens under the increasing heat of Spring.

Extremely difficult travel conditions will soon shift from hard snow that defies traction to wet snow offering no foundation. We will shortly transition from barely clinging to the mountain-side to sinking up to our waists with each step. As Spring progresses cold mornings will bring the former condition, warm afternoons the latter.

The same temp shift driving the changing character of the snow pack will soon drive even the highest river fords to levels unsafe for fording, and make the major rivers raging torrents of destruction. These temp shifts change the character of the Sierra.

The snowpack itself will become sopping wet, saturating anything and anyone in contact with it. These are the times that hikers without sufficient insulation can find cold combining with exhaustion to degrade decision making as well as technical execution & style to create very dangerous situations. I see Wet, cold, and tired PCT hikers surrounded by a sea of deep, wet, energy-sucking snow divided by an endless series of raging torrents of typically tiny High Sierra creeks surging like rivers, each supercharged by Spring's mighty flows.

The trails will be flowing like creeks, when we get down to them. And they will lead to the mighty rivers, which will be downright scary, once this massive snow pack begins to melt in earnest.

STATUS NOTES

2017 OBSERVATIONS AND TRACKING

2017
WEATHER NOTE
of
April 19th

Note the pattern of a series of Highs & Lows I mentioned on the 15th has sustained itself through the 19th, & looks likely to contain one more wet pulse.
The pattern has seen Wet, Warm frontal/Lows followed by brief clear, cold Highs. Rapidly. This current cool High is giving way to another frontal Low, & it will warm into the 20th with that moisture as this pattern then breaks, followed by cooling with the clearing/High building from 21th to 24th.

Then some heat will build in from the 22nd, unless this series of Highs-Lows come back...

FULL NOTE-COMMENTS

APRIL 9 ANALYSIS
As of April 9 extreme Spring Snow travel conditions are reasonably predictable through July, barring any extreme heating or tropical rain activity. Both extreme heating and tropical rains are very possible, if not likely.

We will have some warm ups, we will have some downpours.

As of this day the pack has not softened appreciably, nor has the Spring Thaw begun to gut the pack. We are still facing classic cold Spring conditions, which are the easiest phase of Spring Snow Travel.

This will change rapidly.

A soft snowpack is very difficult to travel across, though a soft snowpack is a lot harder to fall off of. The danger of falling off the mountain will shortly be replaced by grasping, sucking snow that draws you down into it, and refuses to let go. It tries to work you to death, rather than toss you off the mountain... Very difficult...

When the snow gets soft the trails will be flowing like creeks, the creeks like rivers, and the rivers unpassable, once this snowpack gets to that level of saturation. Everything will get saturated, wet, and cold. Eveything.

Your gear better keep you warm when wet.

Thus this current "cold" part of the Spring Thaw is actually the best and easiest terrain for rapid movement, if the Spring Traveler is properly and throughly equipped, in fine physical condition, and capable of snow navigation without trail, sign, or ranger to guide.
We can still stay dry and on top of the snow.

These deep cold Spring conditions are not ideal conditions for lightly geared hikers, nor will they be for quite some time. Deep Cold and hard snow will first turn soft, and the transition from Dry to Wet cold is very dangerous.

Warm wet snow is much more dangerous than cold dry snow.

The key PCT questions will come in a series,
"When will the Thaw begin to soften and the snow become wet enough to make soft-snow passage very difficult and fording very dangerous?"

That time is approaching right now, as I write this on the 9th.

Then the next question will be, "when will enough of the Thaw pass to allow safe passage of key fords?"

We are Watching.

2016 OBSERVATIONS AND TRACKING

Snowpack Tracker

WHEN WILL THE SIERRA OPEN in 2016?

TRACKING 2016 CONDITIONS

It is TIME
Consult with Resupply Location Information to assure resupply buckets are mailed in a timely fashion.
Some will go early, some will be mailed later...

High Sierra Backpacker Resupply

2017

Epic.

NEWS
Let's Ski through July

2016
The potential for warm rains scouring the crest of snow long before the traditional date of the end of freezing temps, which was on May 26 2015.

The end of Freezing Temps may arrive in April or early May this Year, as indicated by trends.

The tropical storm of April 7 to 10 has brought above-freezing overnight temps to the North Sierra on April 9, which is just plumb crazy.

FREEZER FORECAST

The Past Prologues the Future

2014 Calendar 2015 Calendar

2016 Calendar 2017 Calendar

2018 Calendar

2019 Calendar

2015 REPORT
APRIL 2015 ASSESMENT
Earliest Trans-Sierra Highway Openings on Record?

YUP.

RESUPPLY TIPS
Always use plastic buckets to ship your resupply:
Any container a mouse can chew through or water can penetrate is at risk.

Think about what you'd like, as well as what you need in your resupply bucket.
A bottle of fine wine or quality whiskey is a nice thing on a cold Sierra night at the resupply with the bros...

BACKGROUND
The trajectory of the cold, rain, and snows of January provide both excellent backpacking experiences and establish the terms, a baseline for this year’s transition into Spring Conditions.

Regular storm activity laid atop a deep pack of Winter snows wrapped in cold temps indicate a long Winter into Spring transition.

Light snows and irregular storm activity sprinkled on a thin snow pack under high temperatures indicates an early and rapid transitions into Spring and Summer conditions.

Tahoe to Whitney

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