High Sierra Topix

copeg wrote: - Stream/creaks and rivers - on average (and in spring) run lower in the AM rather than the PM.

last summer I had a few opportunities to test this - and in each case where I camped near a crossing and then checked water levels in the AM again. Well, in each case the water level was actually higher in the morning. This was mid July at Bear Creek and Evolution Creek. Water levels were high to begin with and in both cases, by morning they were about 2" higher than the evening before. Both days were sunny, no precip for days in advance on both crossings.

I suppose the warm weather could have driven a faster melt and then the water rose anyway, just not as much overnight as it would have over the coming day? Both crossings were at high water level for the season, so I would have expected some slowdown in the morning, but none of that happened. At 7-8am on the morning the water was higher than at 8pm the night before.

Perhaps the key to the water level change is frost in the upper elevations. That's a rather unpredictable thing, even in very early summer. Looking at air temps for Bishop Pass over the season, it can have a minimum temp above 50 starting in May, but can also freeze in late July if the conditions are right. If this is a frost related thing, it'll be a hit and miss with the stream crossings, but I guess if you're lucky and it gets really cold overnight, you can make a sketchy crossing a little easier if you wait for the morning. I just wouldn't abort a hike mid day expecting that the water level will be much lower in the AM. It may actually be higher!

This is an interesting post about someone who had a snow bridge break underneath them and was stuck in the creek under snow for three hours!
Location: Mineral King
Time:yesterday

http://www.nps.gov/seki/parknews/upload ... -15-11.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very lucky. Glad everything turned out OK. Another hypothermic trail runner. When doing an early season climb up Cloud's Rest, we were on top and up came two trail runners- with nothing on but shorts and tank tops- no pack or gear. One got a severe bloody nose. We had to loan them clothing as it took nearly half an hour to get the bleeding stopped. I suspect the trail runner at Mineral King had few warm clothes in her pack. I find this totally unprepared condition typical for many trail runners. Nobody plans on having an accident, but it happens. Given this story, I am further convinced that bright colored gear is good for safety. Did not say what color her pack was, but it sure was lucky that others saw it. Also in snow, it is good to have some kind of gear that works as a digging tool- ice axe, trekking pole, pooper scooper.

This reminds me of walking on a crevassed glacier. It can be really hot out in the sun on top of a glacier. But we are trained to have on warm clothing becuase if you fall in a crevasse it is like going into an instant ice box.

Given this news release, I assume the road to Mineral King roads end is now open. Is that correct?

Very timely post Rich. Thanks! Reminds us all to be careful as we start heading out. And WD, the road must be open as I saw a Red pick up on the web cam about two days ago.

Yes, I heard they finally got it open. It was only open to Atwell Mill until recently. Stories like this is why I carry what I need to survive in the wilderness. Even on day trips, I have a minimum of a goretex jacket, water filter, compass, map, tiny first aid kit, and a way to start a fire. I am no "pack that walks like a man". I go as light as I can, but the object is to get back home, so I can go again. I recently watched that movie, 127 Hours, about the guy who cut his arm off to survive, Aron Ralston. Bad stuff sometimes happens to good people. Noone is invincible.

richard

I hope people take "the crampons off before glissading" (sounds like something the "Trailer Park Boys" would do). Glissading can be one of the most fun things to do if one is experienced, snow conditions are right, and one has an ice axe, and knows how to use it, in case of a mistake; but it can be extremely dangerous. I had a friend who got a compound fracture of his leg hitting rocks at the bottom of a great, exciting, long, glissade, from the Sierra Crest, and then couldn't properly arrest himself after he went out of control. The other three of us, who had gone before him and had been singing in glory, watched him hit the rocks full speed. This actually was in in the upper Green Cr. drainage (which has been in recent strings), and it is not fun to have to get a buddy out of the wilderness with a compound fracture, even in an area that's not "that" far from a trailhead.

East Side Hiker wrote:I had a friend who got a compound fracture of his leg hitting rocks at the bottom of a great, exciting, long, glissade, from the Sierra Crest, and then couldn't properly arrest himself after he went out of control. The other three of us, who had gone before him and had been singing in glory, watched him hit the rocks full speed. This actually was in in the upper Green Cr. drainage (which has been in recent strings), and it is not fun to have to get a buddy out of the wilderness with a compound fracture, even in an area that's not "that" far from a trailhead.

ESH, can you tell us what your group's procedure was for getting someone out with a compound fracture?

I saw nice glissading tracks yesterday near Kearsarge Pass...straight down, crossing switchbacks, ending with a pile of snow against a small pine...

hikerchick395 wrote:I saw nice glissading tracks yesterday near Kearsarge Pass...straight down, crossing switchbacks, ending with a pile of snow against a small pine...

Was the small pile of snow in the form of, well, let's say a very broken snowman, mouth frozen agape as in a "now silent scream?"

Oh! Ouch!

I hope it was one of those two guys who glissaded through the boot tracks on the north side of Glen Pass.