High Sierra Topix

We skied along the Sierra crest in northern Yosemite last week. We traversed along the north side as far as Little Slide Canyon then crossed over and looped back around to the south. Snow coverage was good though it looked to be more like June than April. South aspects were somewhat bare, but way more snow than we've been seeing in the southern Sierra.

Great report! And you make a good point, that the northern Sierra seems to have more snow than down south...

Thank you again JD for posting another important update on backcountry conditions in
a different part of the Sierra this time.
Really like the "Doghead" shot.

Inspiring pictures. Thanks!

Wow, I'd love to do some of that backcountry steep skiing with you.

Thanks John! Great area and beautiful shots. Hoping to get out there post tioga opening....

I saw a report a few days ago that said the Tuolumne and Merced drainage snowpacks were something like 24 & 32 % of normal. That shows how bad it is to the south if we are looking better to the north!

when the Kern River snow courses were measured on May 1, all but two were completely dry. Those two: Bighorn and Siberia had 4 and 3.6" (average) respectively. It is frighteningly dry down there. In the Tuolumne Drainage (and others) it's interesting that the overall statistics for the season are being drawn down by the fact that the lower snow courses are all dry. The higher courses though, are still averaging ~60% to date.

Apologies if I sound like a snowitall; I work as a snow surveyor.

A snowitall? HA! We are all extremely grateful for the information....and a little jealous! Thanks and keep up the good work

I think most of us are envious of your trips John. It is so cool to see familiar spots in the winter and a bit disorienting at times.

I had heard about the readings of the lower and upper sensors. Amazing to think how bleak things would be with out the December storms.

The Tioga Pass is open!!!