As folks are planning visits to the eastside, it would be great and mucho appreciated if people could share news, rumors, hopes, dreams of road openings and TH access up and down the 395.

- Sonora
- virginia lakes
- tioga (yeah, i know there's a bet on this)
- saddlebag
- minaret summit
- mosquito flat
- buttermilks
- north/south lake
etc. etc.

Any info on snowline, snow conditions would be great too.

Road is clear and open to North Lake ( a little muddy by the lake), South Lake, Sabrina, and Buttermilks. Big grader parked at Buttermilk Road/ Highway 168 today. Maybe smoothing out some washboards....but the road is certainly drive able to Peabody and beyond.

Thanks Scott M. Looks like based on the other thread that Rock Creek is also open (some time ago) up to the pack station
road-and-snow-conditions-for-rock-creek-t73072.html#p992243

Of course, it is forecasted to snow for the next few days, so some of these may only be soft openings right now. Sonora and Tioga are definitely closed though. Minaret Vista has been getting one lane plowed but I wouldn't count on driving up there just yet.
Scott, where is Peabody? I drove up to 8870' to access Checkered Demon about a week ago, large snowfield blocked road to trailhead parking lot. Horton Lakes trailhead is clear and driveable.

Sorry Deb. Writing Peabody wasn't very specific of me. Meant Peabody Boulders/Buttermilk bouldering area which you know well.

Does anyone have updated information on the latest conditions in the Southern High Sierra? I'm a mere mortal potentially interested in hiking there this weekend, but I don't know if the snow conditions will make normal hiking impossible or impractical. In other words, I don't mind crossing some snow, but do not have an ice ax and cannot do anything that would be dangerous to someone not trained in hiking in snow and ice. I do see that most of the roads are now open -- http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/inyo/ ... rdb5192379 -- but what are snow conditions at 10,000-12,000 feet?

I would greatly appreciate any input. Thanks!

> - saddlebag

via Mono County here's what Saddlebag Lake Resort currently looks like (and the road is reportedly open):

any updates on when rock creek will open to mosquito flat?

any snow condition reports from North Lake to Lamarack or Piute Pass?

The 120 is closed 5 miles west of 395. Bummer! So much skiing to be done out there.
The Piute Pass trail is relatively snow-free to Loch Leven, then more so covered to the pass. Over the pass is just about full coverage with all lakes frozen.

Was up to Grass Lake this AM and xc to Lamarck. Some fresh snow from last night. Not too bad, though. Trails are easy enough to follow.

Hoping to get out in next week or two, any word on access to Mosquito Flats? Still blocked at packstation??
How about the road to Cold Water Creek Campground, can you get to it yet?

Thinking a day hike to Mt Starr or over Duck Pass is in order.

two weeks ago it was still gated but the road from pack station to flats was mostly bare with the exception of the sporadic "too large to really drive over" snowpiles. If it isn't open already, it must be close. This week's heat should help...

The road to Mosquito Flat trailhead opened a few days ago