High Sierra Topix

I know we don’t know what the snow depth will be this year but I have a question. Is Volgelsang Pass usually clear late June during an average snow fall season? I will take micro spikes anyways.

I would say you might have patches of snow but not too bad. Note that the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp historically opens around July4. Of course, all this is for a "normal" snow year, whatever that means these days.

I haven't done Vogelsang in snow conditions, but the north side (the one you care about) isn't steep. So even if there is some snow, just walk on it. The south side will be clear.

C9 write:

I haven't done Vogelsang in snow conditions, but the north side (the one you care about) isn't steep. So even if there is some snow, just walk on it. The south side will be clear.

He is right ...... I have been down it from the west in winter, and the slope can be made reasonably safe. By June, if it is still big snowfields, your worry will most likely be soft snow, point release avalanches, which generally release from under warmed rock, later in the day. So your safety, along with those spikes, would be to cross pretty early in the morning. I hope you have a great trip!

I hope you have a great trip! I can at least say that again, until Sam sorts this out..

Harlen wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 10:55 amyour worry will most likely be soft snow, point release avalanches

If anything is steep enough to slide more than a few feet up there, I'd be shocked. Especially in June.

Gotta boost the ole' post count by double posting eh?

Hey Sam, you'd be surprised to learn just how fickle avalanches can be; turns out, you can trigger one by just diving in the lake below the slope, and then making high-pitched screams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HiOf-ewrr4

Thanks all, I appreciate the inputs