2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Questions and reports related to Sierra Nevada current and forecast conditions, as well as general precautions and safety information. Trail conditions, fire/smoke reports, mosquito reports, weather and snow conditions, stream crossing information, and more.
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Scouter9
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by Scouter9 »

Beautiful Shots, MShields!


Which route did you take from 1000 Island to Agnew Meadows? Can you give me a trail report for just that section? I'm taking some new backpackers there in two weeks.
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DoyleWDonehoo
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Re: Tuolumne Meadows to Agnew Meadows 7/18-7/23

Post by DoyleWDonehoo »

mshields wrote:I would like to thank everybody who posted conditions for this route prior to my departure especially Doyle.
Hey, no problem, and if I did anything to allow you to take those two pictures of Garnet and 1,000, then I am happy. I saved them for my own future enjoyment.
As for the conditions between 1KIL and Shadow Lake, I think the Garnet Lake picture answered that: Snowy patches here and there still (with well worn routes), but snow fading fast. That would be my guess anyway.
Thanks for the pictures MShields!
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Ikan Mas
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by Ikan Mas »

Thanks for the report on Donhue and 100-Island lake. I will be there next week and I'm looking forward to a great trip.
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mshields
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by mshields »

Scouter9 wrote:Beautiful Shots, MShields!


Which route did you take from 1000 Island to Agnew Meadows? Can you give me a trail report for just that section? I'm taking some new backpackers there in two weeks.
We took the JMT South to the Shadow Lake Junction, and then headed down to Agnew. There was a fair amount of snow on the north facing slopes leaving both 1000 Island and Garnet Lakes; other than that it was on/off patches. Given that you will be there in two weeks, I think it should be wide open by that time. Enjoy your trip, I think the greenery and wildflowers should be at their peak beauty!
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sparky
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by sparky »

Tablelands July 26 to 28.....conditions are great!!

Route taken was wolverton trailhead up through table meadows to just below moose lake, contouring low in buck creek canyon, ascending to pterodactyl intending to go to lonely lake and back out the high sierra trail. Shined lonely lake and just hopped up on all the ridges from pterodactyl pass to Ferguson canyon, then headed back out cutting my trip a day short.

Tablelands are mostly clear, snow is patchy above 10,800, moose lake was still icy but melting. Buck creek canyon is amazing. Lonely lake was clear, pterodactyl pass had a section of steep snow at the bottom which may or may not be avoidable. I didn't want to risk it. Smoke from the lion fire crept in effecting views from here, but the view from this pass is so beautiful even with the smoke. The lake that feeds into bigbird was still frozen, but melting. The meadows and flowers are exploding with water and color right now.
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markskor
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by markskor »

Just returned 35 days/nights Yosemite...(eat your hearts out!). No rain at all...~32 at night (12,000) and perfect days.

Anyway, all is open to ~10,000 and waters are receding fast.
Problem is that the snow is real chitty now...water is percolating beneath everything, and this makes punching through all too easy. Watch out making the transition from granite to snow...keep away from the edges, and no crossing any snow bridges.
Mountainman who swims with trout
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AuburnPhil
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Mono Pass to Silver Pass and out McGee Pass 7/24-7/29

Post by AuburnPhil »

Route Taken: We went in at Mono Pass to the JMT, over Silver Pass to Tully Hole, and then out McGee Pass to the trailhead at McGee Creek. There was a lot of snow on Mono Pass but it was quite do-able if you're willing to endure the workout of a kilometer of snowcups on either side. Mono Creek was booming for most of its length, but our route crossed it so high near the pass that it was only knee deep. Our crossings over the feeder streams from the Northern recesses of Mono Canyon, like Hopkins Creek, were all passable - knee depth or lower. Silver Pass was snowcovered esp on North side, but there were LOTS of hikers on the JMT section of this hike. We even saw a team of 8 Korean hikers in matching day-glo outfits, and another group had a young boy about 8 years old.

Difficult Section encountered: We were the first group over McGee Pass this year - (we did see one set of single bootprints that seemed maybe weeks old). McGee Pass was very difficult for us as our exit route from the JMT. While there was relatively little snow in the 4.5 miles between Tully Hole and the Pass, which is approached from the South and the snow had mostly melted there, the basin on the outer (Eastern) side of the pass had 1.5 miles of uninterrupted snow in the 1500 foot drop from the Pass to Little McGee Lake at the top of McGee Creek canyon. I think it would be VERY difficult for anyone to use McGee Pass as an entrance route. If someone is considering this, they should def spend the previous night as high up McGee Creek as they can get from the trailhead, so as to minimize the herculean effort that must be made through the snow.

Special Equipment needed/used: Trekking poles are an absolute must in order to keep on one's feet. There was no need for any ice axes or crampons therde because the angle of slope in the basin would not lead to wild slides of great distance, but we planned this section for the afternoon when the snow is slushy and not icy. Anyone coming from either direction should wait until the afternoon. if this was done in the morning, crampons or microspikes might be needed.

Possible Alternative route: From Tully Hole, one could get out at Agnew Meadows on the JMT (18 miles) or the Duck Lake route to Coldwater Canyon (14 miles).

Mosquitoes were present at Pocket Meadow south of Silver Pass, and Tully Hole, but not oppressive.
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KathyW
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by KathyW »

sparky wrote:Tablelands July 26 to 28.....conditions are great!!

Route taken was wolverton trailhead up through table meadows to just below moose lake, contouring low in buck creek canyon, ascending to pterodactyl intending to go to lonely lake and back out the high sierra trail. Shined lonely lake and just hopped up on all the ridges from pterodactyl pass to Ferguson canyon, then headed back out cutting my trip a day short.

Tablelands are mostly clear, snow is patchy above 10,800, moose lake was still icy but melting. Buck creek canyon is amazing. Lonely lake was clear, pterodactyl pass had a section of steep snow at the bottom which may or may not be avoidable. I didn't want to risk it. Smoke from the lion fire crept in effecting views from here, but the view from this pass is so beautiful even with the smoke. The lake that feeds into bigbird was still frozen, but melting. The meadows and flowers are exploding with water and color right now.
Thanks for the report.

How bad were he mosquitoes? I'm thinking of starting on either the Alta Trail or the HST on Thursay or Friday and heading to Hamilton Lakes and then over Kaweah Pass to do the short climb up to Eagle Scout Peak. I'm just going to do an out and back trip. It sounds like getting up Eagle Scout Peak early in the morning will give me the clearest view with the Lion Fire still burning.
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by Cross Country »

If you get the chance you might want to fish the lake below ESP.
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oldranger
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Re: 2011 BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS UPDATES

Post by oldranger »

July 11-12 hit snow as low as 7900 feet going x-country between White Wolf and Morrison Creek.

July 14-17 Kaiser wilderness. Lake at 8,900 ft in s. facing basin was pretty much surrounded by snow.

July 18-29 Close to locked gate on NW flank of Hoffman Mt (out of Wishon), road blocked by 7 trees at 8,200 ft level. Patches of snow everywhere from 8200 ft and above. Frozen cocktails every night! route through Woodchuck country 99% off trail. Stream crossings no issue. Above 10,500 ft signifcant snow on n. side of passes but most passes were e/w. Much of the snow had suncups 3 ft + deep.

Tunemah Lake and lake just E of Hummingbird Pass were mostly frozen. Snow significantly reduced returning over Humingbird Pass (5 days after first crossing).

Saw same two people on days 2 and 3 last 9 days 0 people! The little I used trails there were no tracks except the first and 3rd days.

Mike
Mike

Who can't do everything he used to and what he can do takes a hell of a lot longer!
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