2015 Backcountry Conditions Reports

[gary c.]

I just read that the FS reported 20" of new snow in Tuolumne Meadows.

[Jimr]

He must have broken off the snotcicles before snapping the selfie.

[Bluewater]

Thanks for the links Hobbes! All those great pxts make me want to get out there ASAP.

BTW, I've never read the word "your" used instead of "you're" so many times in a row:)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jkl123]

This is Glen Pass as of May 10th - it did get some new snow, but was softening up in the afternoon sun

[maverick]

When posting a Conditions Report, please try to follow the guidelines in the initial post.

Please update the "Subject" box with the area you visited and include the dates of your
trip, this way members can scan thru the Subject titles, and choose their area of their interest,
instead of having to read each report for the where and the when the trip took place. Thank you.

[markskor]

Quick update from Mammoth Lakes - 8:35 AM. - for those thinking of possibly heading out to higher climes this weekend.
Just now started snowing with bitter cold - Weather channel here says 12" expected - this system supposedly containing more water than last week's storm.
Be careful out there.

[Hobbes]

For those interested in a detailed analysis of what is occurring and what to expect, Howard @

http://mammothweather.com/

provides some great information. If you read further down the page, you will note that he believes we're seeing the incipient results of a late El Nino formation.

[KevinDo]

This is Glen Pass as of May 10th - it did get some new snow, but was softening up in the afternoon sun

Ill be doing the rae lakes loop on the 23rd (ccw). How deep is the snow? Passable?

Thanks!
Kevin

[dapperdave]

Already out of date considering yesterday's storm, the wife and I did a loop from the valley up to Glen Aulin via Snow creek ,North dome and May lake, returning through Tuolumne meadows, Rafferty creek, Fletcher creek and the Merced valley.

Snow from last weeks storm was melting quickly below about 9000ft with lots of wet trails. As we climbed above 9500 ft we encountered significant snow on West facing aspects (2-3 ft drifts covering about 50% of the upper part of the Fletcher creek trail) Trails were passable in trail runners.

Creek crossings were no trouble ( we only had to wet our feet once, crossing Murphy creek on the way down from May lake)

From Bunnell point to about 600 yards east of the LYV campsite has been badly burnt with most trees likely dead, some nice patches of wildflowers starting to recolonise the area and aspens beginning to sprout from the base of burnt trunks.

We saw a single mosquito at Mirror lake.

Dave.

[dougieb]

I'm thinking about heading to Big Wet Meadow past the Roaring River Ranger Station this coming Memorial Day weekend and I'm trying to determine whether this will be a nasty slog or a relatively snow-free trip. I'd be heading from Marvin Pass trailhead. Most of the route is from 7500-9000 ft with just a couple points above 9000 ft. PS I've never been to this trailhead or traveled any of these trails.

I checked some of the snow accumulation charts and I called and left a message at the SEKI office but haven't heard back yet.

Any thoughts folks?