High Sierra Topix

Hello - 1st post here...

Looking to spend a few weeks hiking in the Sierra Nevada/Ansel Adams Wilderness in June/July of this year. I know the snowpack looks to be far less than last year / average, so my question is --
what kind of nighttime temperatures should I be prepared for?

I'm planning on just using a hammock (And a rainfly) and traveling very light.

I tend to stay warm and am able to maintain my body temp well (Compared to others who get cold first).....but thinking about how many layers to bring. I'll be spending the night all over I imagine, so different altitudes.

Planning to start at Mammoth Lakes / Devils Postpile area (Mosquito Flats) -- go around the

- Thousand Island / Garnet Lake area
- Sabrina Basin - Little/Blue Lakes, etc.. / LeConte Canyon
- Bishop Pass
- Rae Lakes
- If time - maybe Whitney

I've been to Bishop, dayhiked near Lake Sabrina (Don't remember the place), dayhiked White Mountains - Bristlecone Pine Forest, Yosemite Half-Dome a ways back (7-12 years ago)...but never camped outside in this area nor been to any of the places above.

Thanks.

I think I just answered my own question...

looking at cdec.water.ca.gov at snow levels and realized they have historical data for min/max temps at various locations. Although data is not uniform across all stations.

Bishop Pass - 11,200 feet - mid-June/July looks to be about Mid-30s low to low/mid 60s high for 2011....with temps moving up to low 40s for the most part.

Not sure how high I will spend overnight...but at least I have a rough idea.

Of course..plan for the worst...and wind chill/rain...etc..but 2012 looks probable to be warmer...

Don't count on the climate changing that much...and the weather can easily change up there in 24 hours or less.

Come prepared for those temps, and you'll be fine.

circus,

Checking the temps at a snow survey station is a good idea but bishop pass is probably not representative. Find several stations in basins where the cold air settles. From June thru August my clothes for backpacking is the same and I use a 20 degree bag and a downmat air mattress. Sometimes lows in the 40's require having the full length zipper open and using the bag as a comforter but I have experienced temps at 7300 ft. as low as 25 degrees and much colder when camped above 10,500. If you count on mild temps odds are you will be fine. But the cost of a few ounces for a warmer bag is pretty good insurance. My 20 degree Western Mountaineering bag is less than 2 lbs. In my experience it is a better bet that day time temps will get into the 40s at least. Only once in early june have I experienced a day that did not get above freezing--and on a trip where I left my long underwear in another pack! Made for a good story but I really wasn't unduley uncomfortable.

Mike