February 2020 Tahoe to Whitney High Sierra Backpacking Calendar

Backpacking the
UNMAINTAINED TAHOE TO YOSEMITE TRAIL
Above we see the full length of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail's unmaintained route through Summit City Canyon in the Mokelumne Wilderness laid out at our feet. Note The Sisters in the upper Right hand corner, and Horse Canyon cutting deeply into Summit City Canyon in the upper-middle-left of the image. At the middle-bottom of the image above we can see the stony course of the bottom-end of Summit Creek just above where it enters the North Mokelumne River.

That point is just above where the North Mokelumne Rive begins its passage through its very narrow steep and sheer granite gorge (you gotta read this) just above where it runs past the Enchanted Forest. Below the Enchanted Forest the river runs through an even steeper and deeper cut of the river canyon from the Enchanted Forest to Camp Irene. Camp Irene is where we began this climb to our South up the NW flank of Mount Reba where we get this fantastic view of Summit City Creek's awesome canyon. We can actually see the river-bed rocks cascading down towards Camp Irene in the shot above. See 'em? That's bottom of Summit City Creek just above where it enters the North Mokelumne River.
Below that point we find the steep, deep, and narrow section where the catastrophic Spring Thaw of 1997 pushed up a massive log jam in this bottle-neck of a canyon just above Camp Irene, causing massive destruction in and around the 75 foot deep pool of surging, grinding, smashing timber backed up behind it, which swept away all in its path below it when it finally snapped.

Devastation swept across the landscape and down the river valley which can still be seen and felt today. Less and less each year.

This year's massive rains, snowpack, and thaw activity will further heal those "wounds."

UPDATE
Feb 22 2017
This year's vast snowpack may rip the Sierra & most of California a "new one" if present precip trends continue into the rising heat of the Spring Thaw.

Labeled Image

Trail Guide Map Miles and Elevations

End of January

February 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 PRECAUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITY Some backpackers are observing patterns and trajectory of Winter storms and temps to find Hiking Windows into the Winter Wonderland. Others are watching the snow activity/pack to determine when the trails will clear enough to begin their Pacific Crest Trail or John Muir Trail backpacking trips. 2020 ? Cold, with Virtually No Precip During February 2020 2019 FULL WINTER CONDITIONS FEBURARY 1 2019 NORMAL-AVERAGE WINTER SNOW Potentially Indicating a LATE STARTING SPRING SEASON for PCT & JMT HIKERS So Far... 2018 FULL WINTER CONDITIONS 2018: WINTER COLD The Fall Gear has long been stowed or complimented by the heavy Gear of Winter. What's Going On? See November 28 of 2017 Report: FULL WINTER GEAR REQUIRED WINTER of 2018 2018 UPDATE Weak Snows on the Mountains! All High Sierra Weather Info Latest Daily Snow Depth Summary Daily Sierra Snowpack % of Normal pdf Daily Snow-Water & Percent of Average All Precipitation-Snow Data All Snow Surveys SWC & Snow Depth Summer of 2018 Backpacking Plans? Yosemite-Hoover-Desolation & John Muir Trail Hikers: Time to Order Next Year's Permits! Reserved permits for June 2018 now available from Yosemite, Hoover, and Desolation Wilderness Areas. In other words, Yosemite, Desolation, and Hoover Wilderness Areas all offer advanced reservations about six months ahead of your desired hiking dates. This means now is the time to get your JMT permit application, along with other popular hikes, into the Man. Feb 18 Last year, during 2017, at this point in time I was estimating a powerful, potentially catastrophic Spring Thaw. We had snow along the Sierra Crest through the whole Summer. Again, each year's thaw depends on the Winter snowpack against the profile of Spring temps and precip. All Permits Yosemite Permits Desolation Wilderness All Snow Information December Road News & Status Links		28 JANUARY 2020 LIGHT SHOWERS Weak but Cooler Pattern Note COOL DayS COLD Nights Warming... 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for January 27 Next: Feb 3 2019 Snowpack: Percent of Average for January 28. N Sierra: 106% -5% in 4 days!! Cen. Sierra:106% -7% in 4 days! S Sierra: 101% -7% in 4 days! Ca State: 105% -6% in 4 days! Last Reading January 24 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF 2019 2017, 28th Clear Blue Skies, High off CA Coast 2016 Sierra approaching season-normal snow and precip for first time in years. Station Reports The EIGHTH --WINTER-- Temp-Snow Check January 28 2020 11 AM - 11 PM Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Jan 23 Next Report: Feb 3 2020- Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 36.0 −1.00 (13.20) +0.80 7618 feet Trail Map 36 & 30 −/− PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 51.0 +1 (20.20) + 1.20 7652 feet Stations Map 38 & 30 −/− American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 47.0 +1 (15.10) + 0.30 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 35 & 20 −/− Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 51.0 +3 (20.5) +0.70 8660 feet Trail Map 36 & 28 −/− West of PCT Highlands Meadow 19.28 +1.30 (12.36) +0.40 8360 feet Trail Map 30 & 16 −/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 65.0 +4.0 (16.00) +0.50 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 35 & 28 −/− EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 49 & 23 −/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 29.74 +2.59 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 34 & 19 −/+ Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 42 & 6 −/− Top of List Tenaya Lake 40.43 −0.14 (4.59) +0.52 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 39 & 8 −/− JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 30.10 +0.72 (4.02) +0.36 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 39 & 5 −/− Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (1.36) +0.13 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 33 & 13 −/− 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 27.10 −2.44 (8.43) +0.21 8004 feet Trail Map Above 30 & 12 −/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 51.65 +0.30 (0.48) = ?? 9500 feet Trail Map 40 & 22 −/− Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 39.40 −0.2 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 42 & 14 −/− East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (28.90) =0.0 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 48 & 21 =/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 20.30 −0.9 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 40 & 17 −/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 43.03 −ERROR- 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 35 & 11 +/− (Typically the coldest station) WRONG DATE Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 34.24 −0.15 11441 feet Trail Map 33 & 20 −/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow X.XX −X.XX error ! (33.20) +0.07 10,700 feet Trail Map 38 & 15 −/− ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	29 JANUARY 2020 CLOUDY & SUN Warmer Warming... 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? 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. 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 *More* 2018 Weather Notes TWISTED SEASONS Hottest & Driest, then Wettest Year Ever, over Three Years Compare Years	30 JANUARY 2020 CLOUDY & CLEARING Warmer LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP 2019 Snow Depth & Temps 2018 Snow Depths & Temps 2017 Snow Depth, 24 hour high & low temps 2016 The Dry Month February This Week TOP	31JANUARY 2020 WEAK FRONT little Precip Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages Point Forecasts Lake Tahoe Forecast Walker Forecast Sonora Pass Forecast Cherry Lake Forecast Lee Vining Forecast Tuolumne Meadows Mammoth Pass Lake Thomas Edison Lake Isabella Forecast Move the Map Dot to Customize Forecast Point Trail Maps !! SEASON-NORMAL SNOW 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for January 31. N Sierra: 100% -6% in 3 days!! Cen. Sierra:102% -4% in 3 days! S Sierra: 97% -4% in 3 days! Ca State: 100% -5% in 3 days! 2019 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for January 31. (Change since Jan 26.) N Sierra: 29% (+2%) Cen. Sierra: 35% (+0%) S Sierra: 21% (-3%) Ca State: 30% (+0%) 2018 2017 This Week TOP	1 CLOUDY & CLEARING Windy-Cool February 2015 Driest Year in History February 2016 An Average-Dry Year February 2017 Wettest Year in History LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP 2016 Above Average Warmer Temps & Higher Humidity Not a whole lot of strong weather, despite strong El Nino 2016 LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP LAST MONTH NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
2 CLEARING & COOL Decreasing Windy-Cool COOL DayS COLD Nights LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 3. (Change since Jan 31.) N Sierra: 27% (-2%) Cen. Sierra: 30% (-5%) S Sierra: 25% (+4%) Ca State: 27% (-3%) Last Jan 31, 2018 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF 2018 2017 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 3. N Sierra: 145% Cen. Sierra: 174% S Sierra: 198% Ca State: 171% 2017	3 CLEAR & COOL Big Blocking Ridge Patterns Note Warnings NWS RENO NADA NWS SACTO Special Cold Statement Tonight thru Early Wed NWS HANFORD NADA in Mountains COLD Day COLD Nights 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 3. N Sierra: 71% -8% in 7 days Cen. Sierra: 74% -8% in 7 days S Sierra: 62% -8% in 7 days Ca State: 67% -8% in 7 days Last Reading January 27 Next Reading Feburary 10 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Station Reports The NINTH --WINTER-- Temp-Snow Check February 3 2020 12 PM - 12 PM Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Jan 28 Next Report: Feb 10 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 34.0 −2.00 (13.00) −0.20 7618 feet Trail Map 34 & 11 −/− PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 49.0 −2 (20.20) + 1.10 7652 feet Stations Map 32 & 12 −/− American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 46.0 −1 (15.00) −0.10 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 31 & 6 −/− Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 50.0 −1 (20.6) +0.10 8660 feet Trail Map 34 & 6 −/− West of PCT Highlands Meadow 18.77 −0.51 (11.89) −0.47 8360 feet Trail Map 26 & 3 −/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 66.0 +1.0 (16.20) +0.20 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 28 & −1 −/− EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 50 & 16 +/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 27.43 −2.31 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 30 & −5 −/− Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 28 & 5 −/− Top of List Tenaya Lake 39.83 −0.6 (4.59) =0.00 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 34 & 4 −/− JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 29.51 −0.59 (4.02) =0.00 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 36 & −9 −/− Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (1.59) +0.23 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 31 & −7 −/− 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 23.67 −3.43 (8.65) +0.22 8004 feet Trail Map Above 39 & 8 +/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 50.06 −1.59 (0.48) = ?? 9500 feet Trail Map 35 & 2 −/− Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 36.40 −3 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 41 & 1 −/− East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (28.90) =0.0 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 41 & −3 −/− East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 18.90 −1.4 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 37 &−6 −/− Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 43.03 −ERROR- (71.64) 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 36 & −9 +/− (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 35.01 +0.77 11441 feet Trail Map 35 & −3 +/− JMT Crabtree Meadow X.XX −X.XX error ! (33.07) −0.13 10,700 feet Trail Map 40 & −1 +/− ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	4 CRISP-CLEAR & COOL Cold North Wind Big Blocking Ridge TRENDS No Warnings NWS RENO NADA NWS SACTO NADA NWS HANFORD NADA in Mountains Cold Conditions! COOL DayS COLD Nights LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP !! ABOVE-AVERAGE SNOW 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 4. N Sierra: 107% +7% in 4 days!! Cen. Sierra:117% +15% in 4 days! S Sierra: 119% +22% in 4 days! Ca State: 115% +15% in 4 days! Last Reading January 31 Winter of 2018 Big High Generating Heat Heat Wave DROUGHT CONDITIONS EMERGE IN MID-WINTER United States Drought Monitor: West High Sierra Weather Page Drought & Flood 2016 THIS YEAR: NOT TOO COLD AT ALL. 2016 REALTIME High Sierra Crestline Reporting Stations WINTER 2020 Fall to Winter Compare Today with Snow & Temperatures on Jan 28 Jan 23 Jan 13 & 17 Jan 8 Jan 2 Dec 30 Dec 24 Full Winter Report	5 CRISP-CLEAR & WARMING Seven Day Freezing Temperature Probability Model HIGH SIERRA SNOW INFO All Snow Info SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS THE SNOWPACK *GRAPHICS* Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status NOAA-NOHRSC The High Sierra 2-4-20 Mountain Safety AVALANCHE DANGERS Winter Backpacking Considerations !! ABOVE-AVERAGE SNOW 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 5 . N Sierra: 111% +4% in 1 day!! Cen. Sierra:128% +11% in 1 day!! S Sierra: 133% +14% in 1 day!! Ca State: 125% +10% in 1 day!! 2019 This Week TOP 2016 The Dry Month February 2016 5 RECORD AND NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPS 2016 5 RECORD AND NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPS Great Northeast Pacific Highs deflecting weak storms OUT OF THE SW around the Sierra. 2016	6 CRISP-CLEAR & WARM Big Blocking Ridge Patterns Note Big Blocking Ridge TRENDS MAPS Point Forecasts Lake Tahoe Forecast Walker Forecast Sonora Pass Forecast Cherry Lake Forecast Lee Vining Forecast Tuolumne Meadows Mammoth Pass Lake Thomas Edison Lake Isabella Forecast Move the Map Dot to Customize Forecast Point Trail Maps 2019 Snow Depth & Temps 2018 Snow Depths & Temps 2017 Snow Depth, 24 hour high & low temps 2016 Snow Depths & 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 This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP	7 CLEAR & WARM Big Blocking Ridge Bookends of Extremity 2015 & 2017 Driest Year in History? 2015 2015 was the driest year in my life observing the Sierra, California, Nevada, and the Southwest, and likely across all of modern history, requiring a punch deep back into Ancient history to find its equal. I had just started keeping the calendar in 2015, and did not specifically start noting the lack of snow across February, not until March, and we can see how it was ALL gone by the First of May. 2015 Earliest PCT Launch EVER Bloom was resupplying PCT hikers in May, 2015, unprecedentedly early. Extremes 2015 was an extreme example of a West Coast Drought during these drying and warming times. 2017 WETTEST YEAR LATEST PCT LAUNCH EVER The incredible dryness of 2015 was quickly followed by the deluges of 2017, which presented us with a three year streak where we recorded both the wettest and driest years in modern history within a rapid three-year succession. What does This Mean in 2019 ? These recent-past extremes are indicative of a system, more specifically, our region of the planatary weather system, that's out of, "wack." Extremes are the New Normal I'd say we are still looking at a system that will continue to produce extreme results, as the ancient balances that centered and held the range of our traditional weather patterns continue to break down from the inside-out, and the outside-in. Not only are extreme events possible, they have become likely. 2020: Anything can happen, though I am thinking a very early opening of the Sierra is quite possible, even likely, in my view. LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	8 CLEAR & WARM Big Blocking Ridge LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2017 No information about a 2017 ADZPCTKO 2017 PM: Big Tropical Flow out of SW hits the Coast of Ca. PM: Raining across Sierra Crest Most stations above freezing to 40 degrees ALL STORMS THIS SEASON HAVE COME OUT OF THE WEST & SOUTHWEST: Warm Storms... Oroville Dam Crisis News 2016 ADZPCTKO "PLANNING STAGES" 2016 TWO EVENTS IN 2015 April 22-24 April 24-26 I bet it will be later this year, or PCTers will hit snow in the Sierra... NONE IN 2016 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
9 CLEAR, WARM & WINDY Big Blocking Ridge Daytime: Warm @ Low Altitude Cold @ High Altitude MAPS Warnings NWS RENO NE SIERRA WIND Today thru Early Mon NWS SACTO N SIERRA WIND Tonight thru Early Mon NWS HANFORD NADA in Mountains NWS VEGAS E. SIERRA FLANK WIND thru Early Mon COLD Day At Elevation... COLD Night Seven Day Freezing Temperature Probability Model HIGH SIERRA SNOW INFO All Snow Info SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS THE SNOWPACK *GRAPHICS* Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status NOAA-NOHRSC The High Sierra 2-9-20 Mountain Safety AVALANCHE DANGERS Winter Backpacking Considerations 2016 Record Level Temps High Heat and Humidity... Plum and Cherry trees blossoming at Sea Level. 2016 The Dry Month February	10 CLEAR & WARM Warming COLD Nights Note that many stations remained below freezing for last 24 hours. Warnings NWS RENO NE SIERRA WIND To 4PM Today NWS SACTO N SIERRA WIND To 4PM Today NWS HANFORD NADA in Mountains NWS VEGAS E. SIERRA FLANK WIND To 4PM Today 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 10. N Sierra: 64% -7% in 7 days Cen. Sierra: 58% -16% in 7 days S Sierra: 56% -6% in 7 days Ca State: 60% -7% in 7 days Last Reading Feb 3 Next Reading Feb 20 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Station Reports The TENTH --WINTER-- Temp-Snow Check February 10 2020 10 AM - 10 AM Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Feb 3 Next Report: Feb 20 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 38.0 +4.00 (13.20) + 0.20 7618 feet Trail Map 35 & 19 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 44.0 −5 (21.20) + 1.00 7652 feet Stations Map 33 & 18 +/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 45.0 −1 (15.10) +0.10 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 30 & 15 −/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 44.0 −6 (20.7) +0.10 8660 feet Trail Map 30 & 13 −/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 15.43 −3.34 (12.20) +0.31 8360 feet Trail Map 30 & 26 +/+ Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 61.0 −5.0 (16.30) +0.10 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 25 & 11 −/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 30 & 21 −/+ Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 25.27 −2.16 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 29 & 12 −/+ Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 28 & 15 =/+ Top of List Tenaya Lake 38.49 −1.34 (4.60) +0.01 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 32 & 15 −/+ JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 28.33 −1.18 (4.05) +0.03 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 34 & 13 +/+ Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (1.65) +0.06 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 28 & 5 −/+ 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 19.70 −3.97 (8.65) =0.00 8004 feet Trail Map Above 32 & 20 −/+ NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 48.00 −2.06 (0.56) = +.08 9500 feet Trail Map 19 & 9 −/+ Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 36.10 −0.3 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 22 & 9 −/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (28.90) =0.0 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 28 & 2 −/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 17.70 −1.2 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 24 & −1 −/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 43.03 −ERROR- (71.93) +0.29 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 24 & 11 −/+ (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 34.57 −0.44 11441 feet Trail Map 19 & 6 −/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow X.XX −X.XX error ! (33.00) −0.07 10,700 feet Trail Map 21 & 9 −/+ ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	11 CLEAR & HOT Records in Calif COLD Nights LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP Last Day CCC Backcountry Trail Crew Applications due RECOMENDED: BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW Last 100% Reading December 26, 2019 Winter of 2018 High Pressure Heatwave Broken-Weakened HIGH PRESSURE ZONE MOVES NORTHWEST: A weak Low dragging a weak Cold Front tracked Southeast around this High's Northern end, and down its Norheast flank, finally bringing cloud cover and very light precip to the Sierra with the front, and cold air coming in behind the Cold Front. Temps down about ten degrees. 2017 (Feb 10) Clearing & Drying After nine days of various degrees of precip... Snow Depth, 24 hour high & low temps. Carson Pass 130" (36.00" H2O) 41 & 31 Ebbetts Pass 150" 40 & 30 2017 2016 VERY HOT (Feb 10) Echo Summit, Carson Pass, Ebbetts Pass, Sonora Pass 2016	12 CLOUDY Cooler COLD Nights Seven Day Freezing Temperatures Probability Model HIGH SIERRA SNOW INFO All Snow Info SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS THE SNOWPACK *GRAPHICS* Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status NOAA-NOHRSC The High Sierra 2-9-20 Mountain Safety AVALANCHE DANGERS Winter Backpacking Considerations 2018 Snow Depths & Temps 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 12. (Change since Feb 3.) N Sierra: 17% (-10%) Cen. Sierra: 24% (-7%) S Sierra: 17% (-10%) Ca State: 17% (-13%) 2018 Next 2017 Measure March 1. This Week TOP This Week TOP	13 CLOUDY Cooler COLD Nights Big Blocking Ridge Patterns Note Big Blocking Ridge TRENDS MAPS 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 High Overcast, Altocumulus leading edge (?), & High Pressure Zone dropping South, Dry Oroville Dam Crisis News Oroville predicted to see 7.6 inches of precip next 7 days. All Precip Forecasts, Averages, & Anomalies. California Major Reservoir current and historical levels 2017 Plum and Cherry trees blossoming at Sea Level. 2017 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	14 CLOUDY & CLEARING 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 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP This Week TOP	15 CLOUDY LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 15. N Sierra: 125% +1% in 1 day Cen. Sierra:147% +8% in 1 day S Sierra: 149% +7% in 1 day Ca State: 141% +5% in 1 day 2019 2017 Snow & Temp Report 2016 Presidents' Day RECORD, or NEAR RECORD HOT TEMPERTURES Heat continues since the beginning of the month. 2016 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
16 WEAK FRONT CLOUDY Warm LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP COLD Nights note Staying and Getting Cold Nights at High Elevation, despite warmth at lower elevations. This cold is preserving the pathetic snowpack, despite the lack of precip.	17 PRESIDENTS' DAY CLOUDY to CLEAR Warm Late Spring-Like Big Blocking Ridge Patterns Note Big Blocking Ridge TRENDS MAPS LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	18 CLOUDY to CLEAR Warm NO PRECIP Hiking the PCT in 2020? 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 22. (Change since Feb 12.) N Sierra: 17% (=) Cen. Sierra: 23% (-1%) S Sierra: 19% (+2%) Ca State: 19% (+2%) 2018 Snow Depths & Temps 2017 Snow & Temp Report 2016 RECORD, or NEAR RECORD HOT TEMPERTURES. Heat continues since the beginning of the month.	19 YOSEMITE FIREFALL CLOUDY to CLEAR Warm 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 19. N Sierra: 127% +2% in 4 days Cen. Sierra:154% +7% in 4 days S Sierra: 152% +3% in 4 days Ca State: 146% +5% in 4 days Last Reading Feb 15 2019 YOS FIREFALL TIME Yosemite Natural Firefall History of,... History Tourist Fire Version REALTIME High Sierra Crestline Reporting Stations WINTER 2020 Fall to Winter Compare Today with Snow & Temperatures on Feb 10 Feb 3 Jan 28 Jan 23 Jan 13 & 17 Jan 8 Jan 2 Dec 30 Dec 24 Full Winter Report This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP	20 CLOUDY to CLEAR Warm-Hazy South Sierra Storm TROPICAL ORIGINS Expected Saturday 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 20. N Sierra: 57% -7% in 10 days Cen. Sierra: 51% -7% in 10 days S Sierra: 46% -10% in 10 days Ca State: 52% -8% in 10 days Last Reading Feb 10 Next Reading Feb 26 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Station Reports The ELEVENTH --WINTER-- Temp-Snow Check February 20 2020 3 PM - 3 PM Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Feb 10 Next Report: Feb 27 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 32.0 −6.00 (13.30) + 0.10 7618 feet Trail Map 40 & 29 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 42.0 −2 (21.50) + 0.30 7652 feet Stations Map 45 & 29 +/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 42.0 −3 (15.40) +0.30 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 41 & 24 +/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 43.0 −1 (20.9) +0.20 8660 feet Trail Map 42 & 22 +/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 10.46 −4.97 (19.78) +7.58 8360 feet Trail Map 41 & 17 +/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 61.0 =0.0 (16.50) +0.20 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 38 & 22 +/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 48 & 16 +/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 24.52 −0.75 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 42 & 15 +/+ Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 41 & 8 +/− Top of List Tenaya Lake 34.29 −4.2 (4.60) = 0.00 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 44 & 12 +/− JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 22.78 −5.55 (4.05) =0.00 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 45 & 9 +/− Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (1.71) +0.06 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 39 & 11 +/+ 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 10.59 −9.11 (8.65) =0.00 8004 feet Trail Map Above 46 & 14 +/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 43.32 −4.68 (0.56) = +.00 9500 feet Trail Map 41 & 20 +/+ Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 34.20 −1.9 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 41 & 11 +/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (28.90) =0.0 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 42 & 14 +/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 16.20 −1.5 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 39 & 12 +/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake 13.17 −ERROR?- (72.04) +0.11 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 37 & 11 +/= (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 34.03 −0.54 11441 feet Trail Map 36 & 10 +/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow xx.xx ERROR −X.XX (33.48) +0.48 10,700 feet Trail Map 38 & 10 +/+ ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	21 Clear & Warm Late Spring-Like Warmth Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages 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 Calendar: The 18th News of Note Feb 2017: Record Precip Record Snopack State fully saturated Oroville Dam Crisis LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP	22 TROPICAL CLOUDY South Sierra with CLEAR & WARM North Sierra Drought Considerations Late Spring-Like Warmth Factors Affecting how this WINTER will WORK OUT Now Big Blocking Ridge Patterns Note Big Blocking Ridge TRENDS MAPS Potential Drought? Blast from the Past, Or the, "New Normal?" The Ridiculously Resilient Ridge Climate Change News: The Big Blocking Ridge an Existential Threat Weather Monitoring Drought Reporting TODAY Tropical Weather RUNS SOUTH of South Sierra -- SOCAL Satellite View Potential Drought Relief? Weather TROPICAL TRANSPORT MECHANISM Information TROPICAL TRANSPORT MECHANISM Related Phenomena THE BLOB Search THE BLOB LAST WEEK 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 LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
23 Clear & Warm Late Spring-Like Warmth LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP 2018 Snow Depths & Temps 2017 Snow Depths & Temps Carson Pass 31 & 24 degrees 150 inches Ebbetts Pass 30 & 23 degrees 169 inches Sonora Pass 26 & 7 degrees -- inches Tuolumne Meadows -- & -- degrees -- inches 2016 Carson Pass 53 & 28 degrees 26 inches Ebbetts Pass 54 & 33 degrees 63 inches Sonora Pass 53 & 27 degrees 55 inches Tuolumne Meadows 55 & 14 degrees 51 inches	24 Clear & Warm Late Spring-Like Warmth 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	25 Clear & Warm Early Summer-Like HEAT Record-Level Temps note Cold Nights at High Elevations, despite warmth at lower elevations, have been preserving this thin snowpack. Now it is warming at High Elevations. 2018 Snow Depths & Temps 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 22. (Change since Feb 12.) N Sierra: 17% (=) Cen. Sierra: 23% (-1%) S Sierra: 19% (+2%) Ca State: 19% (+2%) 2018	26 Clear & Warm Early Summer-Like HEAT Big Blocking Ridge Big Blocking Ridge Patterns Note Big Blocking Ridge TRENDS MAPS 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 26. N Sierra: 51% -6% in 6 days Cen. Sierra: 46% -5% in 6 days S Sierra: 43% -3% in 6 days Ca State: 47% -5% in 6 days Last Reading Feb 20 Next Reading March 2 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 2-26-20 Mountain Safety AVALANCHE DANGERS Winter Backpacking Considerations This Week TOP	27 Clear & Hot Summer-Like HEAT Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for February 27. N Sierra: 147% +20% in 2 days Cen. Sierra:154% +0% in 2 days S Sierra: 146% +2% in 2 days Ca State: 151% +5% in 2 days Last Reading Feb 25 2019 Station Reports The TWELVETH --WINTER-- Temp-Snow Check February 27 2020 4 PM - 4 PM Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Feb 20 Next Report: March 2 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 30.0 −1.00 (13.40) + 0.10 7618 feet Trail Map 51 & 36 +/+ PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 39.0 −3 (21.60) + 0.10 7652 feet Stations Map 54 & 36 +/+ American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 40.0 −2 (15.60) +0.20 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 52 & 28 +/+ Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 39.0 −4 (21.1) +0.20 8660 feet Trail Map 53 & 33 +/+ West of PCT Highlands Meadow 6.56 −3.9 (20.47) +0.69 8360 feet Trail Map 49 & 24 +/+ Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 57.0 −4.0 (16.60) +0.10 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 49 & 32 +/+ EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 62 & 15 +/− Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 22.88 −1.64 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 42 & 17 =/+ Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 52 & 16 +/+ Top of List Tenaya Lake 31.14 −3.15 (4.60) = 0.00 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 54 & 19 +/+ JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 17.65 −5.13 (4.05) =0.00 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 54 & 16 +/+ Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (1.71) =0.00 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 46 & 20 +/+ 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 3.53 −7.06 (8.65) =0.00 8004 feet Trail Map Above 55 & 20 +/+ NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 39.07 −4.25 (0.64) = +.08 9500 feet Trail Map 51 & 28 +/+ Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 32.70 −1.5 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 50 & 19 +/+ East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (29.10) +0.2 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 56 & 22 +/+ East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 16.00 −0.2 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 45 & 19 +/+ Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake xx.xx −ERROR?- (72.72) +0.68 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 44 & 18 +/+ (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 33.69 −0.34 11441 feet Trail Map 46 & 24 +/+ JMT Crabtree Meadow xx.xx ERROR −X.XX (34.07) +0.59 10,700 feet Trail Map 44 & 20 +/+ ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List	28 Cooler & Cloudy Low(s) Passing to our North 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 Another Summer-like day, Humid Clouds-Near Record Temps 2016 This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP	29 Cooler & Cloudy Weak Low Off North Ca Coast Drawing Tropical Moisture North LAST WEEK NEXT WEEK TOP Hiking the PCT in 2020? Potential Drought? Blast from the Past, Or the, "New Normal?" The Ridiculously Resilient Ridge Climate Change News: The Big Blocking Ridge an Existential Threat Weather Monitoring Drought Reporting TODAY Tropical Weather RUNS SOUTH of South Sierra -- SOCAL Satellite View Potential Drought Relief? Weather TROPICAL TRANSPORT MECHANISM Information TROPICAL TRANSPORT MECHANISM Related Phenomena THE BLOB Search THE BLOB 2016 Another Summer-like day, Humid Clouds-Near Record Temps 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
1 MARCH 2020 Cooler & Cloudy Weak Low Passing across North Sierra Cool Day light SNOW! See the Snow COLD Night LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 1. N Sierra: 152% +5% in 2 days Cen. Sierra:156% +2% in 2 days S Sierra: 147% +1% in 2 days Ca State: 153% +2% in 2 days 2019 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 1. (Change since Feb 24.) N Sierra: 20% (+3%) Cen. Sierra: 27% (+4%) S Sierra: 22% (+3%) Ca State: 24% (+5%) 2018 2018, End of Feb Snow Depths & Temps 2017 March Snow Depths & Temps 2017 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 1. N Sierra: 159% Cen. Sierra: 191% S Sierra: 201% Ca State: 185% 2017 2016 Snotel Station Reports Current Snow Depth Carson Pass 47 & 26 degrees, 64" Ebbetts Pass 49 & 30 degrees, 58" Sonora Pass 48 & 30 degrees, 50'' Tuolumne Meadows 23 & 53 degrees, 43" February of 2016	2 MARCH 2020 Clearing Weak Low Passing across North Sierra Warm Day WIND ADVISORIES 2020 Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 2. N Sierra: 47% -4% in 5 days Cen. Sierra: 44% −2% in 5 days S Sierra: 39% −4% in 5 days Ca State: 44% −3% in 5 days Last Reading Feb 26 Next Reading March 2 Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content PDF Station Reports The THIRTEENTH --WINTER-- Temp-Snow Check March 2 2020 11 AM - 11 AM Below: Watershed Snow Water Content Charts followed by individual reporting station's Snow Depth and 24 hour high-low temps. Last Report: Feb 27 Next Report: March 8 Tahoe Basin Watershed Southwest Tahoe Trail Map with Stations PCT-TYT-TRT Rubicon 38.0 +8.00 (13.80) + 0.40 7618 feet Trail Map 29 & 19 −/− PCT-TYT-TRT Echo Peak 45.0 +6 (22.00) + 0.40 7652 feet Stations Map 28 & 19 −/− American-Yuba Watersheds PCT-TYT Carson Pass 44.0 +4 (15.80) +0.20 8388 feet Trail Map Stations Map 34 & 14 −/− Carson-Walker Watersheds PCT-TYT Ebbetts Pass 47.0 +8 (21.6) +0.50 8660 feet Trail Map 24 & 13 −/− West of PCT Highlands Meadow 5.86 −0.7 (19.76) −0.71 8360 feet Trail Map 21 & 12 −/− Top of List EAST FLANK Leavitt Lake 70.0 +13.0 (17.30) +0.70 9602 feet, East Flank Trail Map 19 & 8 −/− EAST FLANK Marine Base Cold Weather Training 6748 feet East Flank Trail Map Above FULL REPORT VIS-CHIL-WEA-MB- WIND 31 & 22 −/+ Mokelumne-Stanislaus Watersheds PCT-TYT Sonora Pass Kennedy Meadows RESUPPLY Deadman Creek 27.23 +4.35 (--.--) 9250 feet,West Flank, Trail Map 19 & 7 −/− Tuolumne-Merced Watersheds SW of TYT Horse Meadow Error =0.4 ??? 8602 feet Trail Map 26 & 13 −/− Top of List Tenaya Lake 35.47 +4.33 (4.61) + 0.01 8163 feet, West Flank Trail Map 34 & 16 −/− JMT-PCT-TYT Tuolumne Meadows 20.04 +2.39 (4.06) +0.01 8600 feet, West Flank Trail Map 31 & 13 −/− Tioga Pass/Dana ERROR +ERROR (1.71) =0.00 ?? 9798 feet Trail Map 22 & 4 −/− 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 8.37 +8.37 (8.95) +0.30 8004 feet Trail Map Above 30 & 16 −/− NE of JMT-PCT Mammoth Pass 52.02 +12.95 (0.64) = +.64 9500 feet Trail Map 22 & 7 −/− Top of List JMT-PCT E of Bear Ridge Volcanic Knob 33.80 +1.1 (0.00) = ?? 10100 feet Trail Map 28 & 11 −/− East Flank South Lake Cabin no snow sensor (29.20) +0.1 9580 feet, East Flank Trail Map 39 & 3 −/− East Flank Big Pine Sawmill 17.60 +1.6 10200 feet, East Flank Trail Map Above 25 & 0 −/− Kings River Just East JMT-PCT Bishop Pass (bad) (0.0) = 11972 feet Trail Map Above -- & -- −/− (earlier) Just West JMT-PCT Charlotte Lake xx.xx −ERROR?- (73.03) +0.31 10398 feet, West Flank Trail Map 23 & 9 −/− (Typically the coldest station) Kern Watershed JMT-PCT Upr Tyndall Creek 36.15 +2.46 11441 feet Trail Map 20 & 3 −/− JMT Crabtree Meadow xx.xx ERROR −X.XX (34.03) −0.04 10,700 feet Trail Map 26 & 11 −/− ? = questionable data All High Sierra Reporting Stations More Stations, by Watersheds Top of List 2018, Start o March Snow Depths & Temps	3 MARCH 2020 Clear & Warm Summer-Like WARMTH Deep Snow in the Mountains, Spring on the Horizon... I'm Pumped. Am I ready? I Want Skittles! Navigation & Snow Mountain Safety AVALANCHE DANGERS Winter Backpacking Considerations 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	4 MARCH 2020 Clear & Warm Summer-Like WARMTH Seven Day Freezing Temperatures Probability Model 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 2018, Start o March Snow Depths & Temps This Week TOP This Week TOP This Week TOP	5 MARCH 2020 Tropical Transport Mechanisms "Atmospheric Rivers" About TTMs Tropical Transport Mechanisms TTM FORECASTS Seven Day TTM Landfall 2018 Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 5. (Change since Feb 1.) N Sierra: 30% (+10%) Cen. Sierra: 43% (+16%) S Sierra: 37% (+15%) Ca State: 37% (+13%) 2018	6 MARCH 2020 DROUGHT CONSIDERATIONS Informative "Normal" Vs. Now Forcasts & Reality vs. Averages HIGH SIERRA SNOW INFO All Snow Info SNOW STATUS & FORECASTS THE SNOWPACK *GRAPHICS* Date-Adjustable High Sierra Snowpack Status NOAA-NOHRSC The High Sierra 3-2-20	7 MARCH 2020 LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top 2019 Current Snowpack: Percent of Average for March 7. N Sierra: 158% +5% in 3 days Cen. Sierra: 164% +5% in 3 days S Sierra: 161% +12% in 3 days Ca State: 161% +6% in 3 days Last Reading March 4 Compare this Winter, first with Feb 3 during the record year of 2017, Above, the first of March, to our left, and April 1st of 2017, . 2019 LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top LAST WEEK NEXT MONTH Top

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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.

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