Does anybody have suggestions on ways to get to the snowline in the Sierra around the end of May that won't require 4WD or too many miles of hiking in from a trailhead? I'm looking to test out some crampons and an ice ax and will be driving from the SF Bay area.

Hi Graeme,

Tioga Pass is a likely candidate. You can following the plowing schedule here:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm

Carson Pass and Echo Summit are always open and will give access to snowfields nearby. Sonora Pass and Ebbets passes are plowed annually and if open will definitely get you to the snow you crave :-)

Crunchy in the morning, moosh in the afternoon.

Cheers,

Rick

Edited by halfturbo on 05/11/2009 14:38:53 MDT.

a coupla years back i did a pre-SHR tune-up in Desolation Wilderness. just a quick overnighter, to dial in the gear for a multi-week hike. parked at Echo Lake (upper parking lot) and hiked in, hitting snow pretty quickly. hiked around the south shore of Aloha, camped on some rock, played around with crampons, and headed out the next afternoon. (accessed via Highway 50.)

Ellery Bowl.

Just on the east side of Tioga, above Ellery Lake.
You can park at the lake, walk across the dam, and your approach is complete.
Faces northeast, so the snow will be there well into June.
The slope ramps up gently, so you can go as steep or not steep as you feel comfortable.
It is sometimes used for beginner snow-mountaineering instruction.

Here's some pictures:
http://yosemiteexplorer.com/photos/v/ski/ellery-bowl/

Dave's idea is real good too.

- Klas

(who hasn't skiied ellery yet...)

Edited by klaseklof on 05/11/2009 22:54:31 MDT.

How is the snow melting? Anybody have info? When can we start hiking? I am looking at June 13th maybe first hike.

-Jay

They're supposed to open Hwy's 4 & 108 this week or was it last week. Hwy 120 is not too far off either

You'll be able to follow the snowpack by watching here:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/index2.html

It's a 66% (average across the ranges) snowpack this year, so will be an early season. Again.

Rick

Thanks Ken and Rick!!!

I just looked at the Tioga pass web page (cited in a previous message in this thread) and it says:

"There is no estimated opening date for the Tioga Road, although it usually opens in late May or early June, conditions permitting."

should open on May 22


and if you come from the east side, it's open anyway, you can drive right ot the top. See webcam:


http://tenaya.ucsd.edu/tioga/

Looks like the snow is on decline faster than last year. Very hot days in the last 10 days have really hit the snow cover. Look at the graph compared to last year, which was the warmest spring in record (the third one on the bottom is probably the most relevant)

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/PLOT_SWC

just announced

if this pace continues, there will be some pretty high, pretty open places before june

charlotte lake's (elev 10,500 ft) snow gauge reports ~6 inches of snow today & had ~16 inches a week ago

crabtree meadow (10,700 ft) already reports no snow

Virginia Lakes (9300 ft) at 1.7 inches today, ~8 inches a week ago

fast melt!

Let the games begin!! It is officially Backpacking season in the Sierras. The only upside of three years of drought is a sooner and easier access to the Sierras.. Darn-