Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

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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Vaca Russ
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Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by Vaca Russ »

I took the little girls up to Sayles Flat on Saturday. We needed a good workout so we climbed the 4 mile, 2800 foot Ralston Peak Trail.

We met a young couple at the TH. Mike and Silvia had never climbed this trail. Knowing there was probably snow near the summit we decided we would complete the climb together. This worked out well for me because their youth forced me to really work hard to keep up.

We started to run into patchy snow at about 8000 feet.
1Snow on Trail.JPG
The snow became pretty solid at the turnoff for the shortcut at 8440 feet.
2Girls in Snow.JPG
There was of course some open ground.
2zGirls on Patchy Sonw.JPG
Just below the summit you could choose to climb on rocks or snow.
3Patchy Snow near Summit.JPG
Once at the summit the weather really became foul. The clouds blocked the sun. The wind became gusty up to a gale of about 50 MPH. The temperature was already low but the wind chill was incredible.

Mike and Silvia took shelter behind a rock wall to enjoy their lunch.
4Mike and Silvia.JPG
Here are the pictures of Desolation Wilderness.

Pyramid Range and Lake of the Woods.
5Pyramid and Cornice.JPG
Jacks, Dicks Peak and Mt. Tallac. If you look carefully you can see Susie is still frozen.
6Jacks Dicks Tallac.JPG
Tamarack, Ralston and Cagwin are still covered in ice.
7Cagwin Ralston Tamarack.JPG
Echo is ice free but saucer is covered in snow.
9Echo Lakes.JPG
The east ridge with the back side of Sierra at Tahoe, Elephants Back and Round Top in the background.
10Saucer Sierra at Tahoe.JPG
Thanks for reading my report.

-Russ
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"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"

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TahoeJeff
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by TahoeJeff »

Russ, thanks for the look in to South Deso. That is some good intel.
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maverick
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by maverick »

Thanks for the intell Russ. :thumbsup:
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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RaiderFanMan
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by RaiderFanMan »

Appreciate the info Russ. Planning a trip to Lake Lucille/S. Deso next weekend but may need to reroute to avoid snow and ice.
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maverick
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by maverick »

Hi RaiderFanMan,

Welcome to HST! Please write up TR if you go, any info this time of the year helps
out fellow members a lot.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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texan
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by texan »

Thanks for the TR. Now I know how much snow is up there.

Texan
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Vaca Russ
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by Vaca Russ »

RaiderFanMan wrote:Appreciate the info Russ. Planning a trip to Lake Lucille/S. Deso next weekend but may need to reroute to avoid snow and ice.
Raider,

Yes, I think Lucille will probably still be covered in snow. Lake of the Woods, Cagwin, Tamarack and Ralston are all at a lower elevation and they were frozen as of Tuesday according to my GF "Sport".

It did get to 75 degrees yesterday in South Lake Tahoe. It will probably be just as warm today. Who knows how much is going to melt between now and Saturday (???)?

You might want to consider hiking in Northern Deso. If you do go south please follow Maverick's request and post some information so others have an idea about the conditions. :)

-Russ
"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"

Kahil Gibran.
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jimandluba
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by jimandluba »

Thanks, Russ for the useful, photo-illustrated trail conditions report. What adorable dogs! - Jim and Luba
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maverick
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by maverick »

Hi Jim and Luba,

Welcome to HST!
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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wanderin.jack
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Re: Who Wants to See Southern Deso?

Post by wanderin.jack »

Thanks for the beta Russ. Climbed Ralston yesterday (5/25/14) and heading to Pyramid next weekend then Shasta. Saw a bear in the gully about a mile past the church.
Wanderin' Jack
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