High Sierra Topix

SSSdave wrote: ↑Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:13 pmFor longer trips one should be gear prepared for whatever nature throws at us.

Well, yeah. Be prepared. But that's a kind of punt on the question. Sometimes knowing the forecast can be quite valuable in making intra-trip decisions.

I suppose a satellite phone and a willing person on the other end to read the forecast verbally would be one way to do it. But I wish there were a simpler way.

Do weather radios still exist?

longri wrote: ↑Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:01 am

Do weather radios still exist?
[/quote]
Yes, they do. Battery powered and/or hand cranked. But they tend to be big and bulky so backpackers probably don't want to carry them. More suitable for an emergency kit at home.

I was just over half way through an 18 day trip when I went over Italy Pass on September 11, into Granite Park. The wind was fairly high up at the pass, but nothing compared to what I got that night in Granite Park. I spent the entire night trying to hold my tarp together in the worst wind conditions I have ever experienced while backpacking. With no sleep, I packed up that morning and headed out at sunrise down to MTR where I got some food from the buckets and a respite from the wind. I heard some people talk about the wind at Marie Lake the night of the 13th, and had to chuckle at the gentle breezes that night compared to Granite Park. No, I did not enjoy Granite Park. P.S. it was literally freezing too with frozen over ponds and ice in my water bottle.

Well the forecast sure looks good right now. Wish I were there.

Here's my under 160 character text with the forecast for the High Sierra:

Th:S F:S Sa:S Su:S M:S Tu:S W:S Wnd<15 all week
Weak ridge, no precip expected, wind to return next Sun

It's easy to do when the weather is so consistent.

I just came out yesterday at Taboose. It was just as windy yesterday as it was a week ago when I went in. The winds were not as bad when you got away from that Taboose corridor but still breezy all day... but the crest areas were crazy day and night.