2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

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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calipidder
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by calipidder »

Simple report out of Crabtree in Emigrant. Did a loop via Pine Valley and Piute Meadow to West Fork Cherry Creek. We did not cross Cherry Creek (camped on west side before turning back) but both the lower and upper crossings of Lily and Piute were fine. A little bit of wet boot but nothing treacherous, especially compared to what this time of year usually means. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, were another story.
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ExploreABitMore
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by ExploreABitMore »

Quick report from Cottonwood Pass area. My wife and I went for a hike up Trailmaster Peak just North of Cottonwood Pass to get back into the swing of things after taking a couple weekends off due to the weather and snow. Well, don't know exactly how much this area got, but I can definitely say it's almost all gone already, based on what it was like when we hiked up Wooleyback on May 3rd. There was a little bit of new snow on Wooleyback and up high on Langley, but my guess is that it will be gone by the end of this week. Nice day up there, but pretty darn hazy.

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Looking over towards Langley and Cottonwood Lakes from Trailmaster.

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Chicken Spring Lake

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Horseshoe Meadows
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SSSdave
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by SSSdave »

Report off the northern butt end of the Sierra where the gas comes out.

May 23>25 at Lassen Volcanic NP, snow along SR89 above 6.5k feet, many patches about Sulfur Works at 7k with near solid above 7.5k. But then further north at Summit Lake 6.6k, just a little snow though meadows rather wet. At 8k+ about Helen Lake. 8.1k several feet roadside that will take weeks to melt off.

http://www.davidsenesac.com/Spring_2015 ... 015-1.html
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LMBSGV
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by LMBSGV »

I returned last night after two nights, June 1 and 2, hiking the trail from Tuolumne Meadows along the Tuolumne River to Waterwheel Falls. The river flows were at their peak or near peak. All the waterfalls were stunning, especially LeConte and Waterwheel. The trail is flooded in two places above California Falls. I camped at Return Creek (bottom of Waterwheel) the first night and on the cascades/falls above the final plunge of LeConte the second. The campsite along the river at the top of Waterwheel does not seem to be there anymore; the entire area was covered with bushes with no side paths or even gaps heading off towards the river. There was one small campsite (space for one tent) half-way down Waterwheel if you snake through the bushes to find it. If you want to see the falls, now is the time to go.
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gabe&mel
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2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by gabe&mel »

Route taken: South Lake TH - Saddlerock lake - Bishop Pass - Dusy Basin - Bishop Pass - South Lake TH

Difficult section encountered:
- Bishop Pass, snow covering switchbacks at base of climb for last ~300 feet of elevation gain. We ascended straight up snow fields just east of switchbacks on 6/4/15, we descended same exact way on 6/7/15. Snow field continues from switchbacks through plateau but ends a few hundred feet from Bishop Pass Sign. We postholed a couple of times on ascent (~10 am), and bit more on descent (9am).


Saddlerock lake 95% covered with Ice
Bishop Lakes ~50% covered with Ice
Dusy Basin almost devoid of snow except some small bits of trail

Special equipment needed/used:
- microspikes
- trekking poles with baskets

Possible alternative routes:
After descending Bishop pass and eating snack at base of switchbacks we noticed several groups of hikers heading up the switchbacks but hiking on exposed rocks adjacent to trail.
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Wandering Daisy
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by Wandering Daisy »

Desolation
Bayview-Velma-Rubicon-4Q Lks-Horseshoe Lk-Leland Lk-Schmidell Lk-LoisLk-Doris Lk-Rockbound trail to Rubicon-Clyde Lake-Mosquito Pass-Aloha Lake-Suzie Lk-Dicks Pass-Dicks Lk-Bayview.
June 6-9

Tahoe slopes quite dry - Bayview trail very dry. Once into Velma Lakes basin, streamflows lower than normal for this time of year, but lots of snowmelt puddles due to melting of recent snow. Trails well maintained.

Rubicon River actually low- 4 crossings required wading, but ankle to knee deep. Only the uppermost crossing was thigh deep. Rubicon trail from Rockbound Pass to Mosquito Pass in good shape. Trail north of Camper Flat (downstream) is a swampy mess.

"Trail" to 4Q Lakes very hard to find, poor shape. Continuing trail to Horseshoe Lake totally is gone - crossed too early and ended up in the McConnell drainage - which is HORRIBLE. Trail from Horseshoe to McConnell Lake OK - but gets totally lost in wet swamp. Never found the trail to Lower Leland Lake. If you can find the trail it appears in OK condition. Upper part of pass to Schmidell still very snowy. Snow in good condition - easy to kick steps - but it is steep. VERY wet going down to Schmidell. A bit of snow going up to Lois Lake. Trail from Schmidell to Doris Lk and Rockbound Trail in very good shape. Spotty small snow patches. Clyde Lake bare of snow - campsites dry. The trail is covered with some snow up to Mosquito Pass. Totally dry on Aloha side. PCT in good shape, no snow until north side of Dicks Pass. Quite snowy up top and the "path" of tracks actually drops down too early. We kept on top longer and then dropped down.

Note on weather report: although it was 80% chance of rain, we got very little. Yesterday (June 9) it was very threatening but the clouds would build up, sprinkle a few drops, then clear up, then build again. We prepared for rain, and got VERY HOT temperatures! (was 106 in Sacramento). We may have just lucked out with weather. We could hear thunder in the distance but never were under any stormy spots.
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RaiderFanMan
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by RaiderFanMan »

Nice rpt Wandering Daisy on Deso. Heading up there this weekend for 5 days to most of the places you mentioned so having some good intel ahead of time is great. Appreciate you reporting it.
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Bradg
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by Bradg »

Went over Piute Pass into Humphreys Basin.
6-20 to 6-22
Virtually no snow except on north facing slopes

Streams were full but easily crossed

Weather perfect

Fish hungry!
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Bradg
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by Bradg »

Meant to say 6-15 to 6-17

Sorry
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sparky
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Re: 2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

Post by sparky »

lamarck col is open for buisness
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