Canebrake Road in Winter? / sanity check

[Flamingo]

Hi All,
I'm looking for information and trip reports about Canebrake Road in winter snow conditions. I can't find anything, which makes me think I need a sanity check on this trip idea -- My plan is to try a winter ascent of Lamont Peak on Tuesday Jan 31st, and then Sawtooth Peak on Wednesday Feb 1st. I'm bringing snowshoes, crampons, ice axe, and full winter kit, etc. I'll have a high clearance AWD. I'm currently monitoring weather on Mountain-Forecast.com, and snow coverage on Sentinel Hub. Canebrake Road looks snow-free, at least up to the Lamont trailhead. Anyway, what am I overlooking?

[Gogd]

Call Cal Trans or the CHP for specific road information. Ed

[Harlen]

Hey Victor Flamingo,
Where is it, and did you do it? Sounds like a plan, but I don't know the place. I am getting keen to go sliding on snow again too. Good luck, Ian.

[John Harper]

Where is it?

Domeland Wilderness, have not read any reports from that area in a few years, miss the occasional SF Kern trout report and rattlesnake pics.

John

[Flamingo]

Hi @Harlen, it's an old thread from 2023, but the info is relevant. . . I had mistakingly thought it was "Canebrake Road" but when I looked on Google Maps I see it's correctly named Chimney Peak Road. It's off Highway 178, approximately 9 miles west of Walker Pass. It provides good access to the PCT at Chimney Creek Campground, plus day-hiking Lamont Peak, Sawtooth Peak, and Spanish Needle.

Anyway. . . yes I did go in Jan31-Feb1, 2023, and I successfully climbed Lamont and Sawtooth with snowshoes over two consecutive days. The road itself was snow-free, and snow appeared higher up around 6500'. I dispersed camped with my car in a pullout below Lamont Peak. Following @Gogd's advice I did call Cal Trans and they said "we don't know the current conditions, but there's a good chance it's snow-free. Let us know how it goes!" LOL.

[Harlen]

I did find it, and it looks like a nice new area to expore. I love the sound of the peaks around there: "Stegasaurus Fin," "Sawtooth," and something or other "Needle." Is it as full of sharp rocky peaks as it seems? What do you think it would be like right now after today's snowfall? I have a new/old Honda Pilot van, that is supposed to have 4wd, but I've never explored its potential. Was the road in much of a challenge for your "high clearance AWD?
Thanks for the inspiration, and now advice, Ian.

[richlong8]

I drive this road a few times a year to day hike and fish. It is wash board here and there, and you have to keep your eye out for rocks, but it is not a four wheel drive road, and is accessible in winter. Most of the time, there is not going to be snow on the road, and if there is, it tends to melt fast after a storm. Hope that helps.

[Harlen]

Yes it does help, thanks richlong8. I am just out from a ski trip, and keen to get back in. It is melting fast though! I had to walk about 1 mile of road that had been skiable snow just 5 days prior.*

* The road to South Lake out of Bishop.