Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Golden State. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the California Climbing Partners forum.
Still alot of snow up there. I haven't been but it just looks that way from afar. Maybe I can snap a pic tomorrow. Things are melting quickly, but I don't have the historical perspective to share regarding the snow depths around the end of May.
Seems like the snowpack is melting out a month earlier than usual. Previously, I have measured snowpack melting as much as six inches each day at 8000 ft in the sun. If that holds true this next month, the snowpack will be looking pretty thin by the end of May.
How does the snow level look at Matterhorn now? we are trying to climb the east route (couloir), June 1st. Do you think there will be enough snow? I just don't want to deal with scree. Thanks for any info in advance.
Climbed most of the couloir on 4 May 2012 and it was already 1/2 melted out scree/boulder mess and 1/2 rotten snow/ice. We left our skis at the base of the summit (where the two couloirs split) and scrambled to within <100ft of the notch, and were turned by wind.