High Sierra Topix

I am packed and ready to go for 9 days. Planned on leaving tomorrow for route through Gardnier Lakes and Arrow Creek-Window Peak OR a loop from Courtright Res to all those lakes on the west side and back via Ionian Basin and Goddard Canyon, Hell for Sure Pass. Both routes involve camping at 11,000 feet at lakes. The NWS forecast says SNOW!! I am debating holding off until next week or going lower (Northern Yosemite loop). I am lucky that I do not have to go at an exact date, but am worried that waiting will only mean more snow later. Is our summer already over?!? Should I wait or go??

A good question.. I leave on Saturday for North lake and beyond for 8 days.. NOAA says 30-40% chance of thunderstorms Mon-Wed and a low of 36 on some nights near Humphreys basin.

Still going.. I don't think summer is over yet. If it does snow, it'll probably be just a dusting. The high level low flew over Petaluma yesterday. Nice high Mares tails..

Looks like lightning rods are in order. For photographers, it should be an interesting period. Less good if you were planning to be high/exposed. I think this is just an aberration, as the long-range forecast is back to sun late next week...
cg

From the Mammoth Weather Guru:

http://www.mammothweather.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Food for thought anyway, best of luck.

Rlown, might have ran into you but we are heading out on the 17th for Bear and possibly into French. Save a few trout for me and happy trails to all.

So I have a newbie question. I haven't done any backpacking in thunderstorm conditions before. Is it absolutely reckless of me to do a solo 3-day trip in the Hoover Wilderness this weekend? I've done a few solo trips before, but never with the risk of thunderstorms.

Being solo has nothing to do with it. If there is a 60% chance of rain and tunderstorms, you probably will get wet. Just do not go over high passes during the actual lightning. Hoover Wilderness is relatively low elevation. My plans had me going up to 11,500 feet- where the predictions included snow as well as lightning storms. They have been revising the cold temps up a bit- but are very uncertain about how much rain will fall. A stormy weekend means you may not get to your destinations each day- may have to hole-up and wait out a storm. Definitely take good rain gear and shelter. This is not the weekend to try to "cowboy camp".

As someone who relishes going out when thunderstorms are present, you should
understand the dangers, and be prepared for some rainy weather.
In July during that monsoonal down pour, it rained over 5 hrs straight ( 5 min break)
and quite hard.
Here is a great article that will give all the info you need to know you when caught
in a thunderstorm while in the back country.
Click on this link to get informed: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w ... DEriBF5RgQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Go out with the understanding that lightning is unpredictable and nothing you do will
protect you 100%.
Lightning is beautiful, it is nature at its rawest! But, also one of the deadliest.
http://WildernessApertures.com/img/v23/p825274229-6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

from the bishop weathercam at http://bishopweather.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, Humphreys basin looks a little weather-busy today. Believe it or not, the sky up there was completely clear this morning.

I think Herm is up there right now..

Also concerned about the weather. Going to minaret basin this sunday-tue.
Any idea how much precipitation there might be? Light rain wouldn't matter but heavy downpour might.

You never know how much it is going to rain until it quits.