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Hi. I'm seeking advice on good places to go this weekend.

I will be in Bishop area with a friend on Thursday and Friday and in Lone Pine from Sat-Mon. I was contemplating hiking Mt Tom, Hurd Peak, University Peak, Mt Mallory, Mt Irvine.

However, with the snowfall, seems I need to re-evaluate my plans.

Any suggestions on interesting peaks I could hike (class 1/2/easy3) given the current conditions? I don't have much snow equipment nor do I have chains for my car or a 4x4 Also.. I know very little about avy dangers, not sure how big a factor this would be.

Thanks!

And will Tioga Pass still re-open this weekend??

Luciano136 wrote:And will Tioga Pass still re-open this weekend??

Not with over 5-8' drifts of snow. Spoke to my local Cal-Trans buddy and he was pretty much told that it is closed for the season. Will confirm that later when I get the official word.

Just got off the phone with the Lee Vining CT office Sup...

"Don't look very good for it to reopen this season."

It's currently closed at the lower gate just above LV and the LV CT road crew hasn't even considered going up to plow past the gate.

Chief,

Can you comment on snow levels? They said the snow would turn to rain around 10K towards the end of the storm, but your report on Tioga suggests otherwise. Where does the snow level lie out your front window? I saw your pic in the other thread, but hard to tell where the snow starts. Trying to figure out if 10K is too high to try for this coming weekend. Thanks in advance.

The Chief wrote:

Luciano136 wrote:And will Tioga Pass still re-open this weekend??

Not with over 5-8' drifts of snow. Spoke to my local Cal-Trans buddy and he was pretty much told that it is closed for the season. Will confirm that later when I get the official word.

Thanks Chief! I was actually wondering how much fell below 10k. I have some family over that was planning on driving up to Yosemite on Sunday but I guess they'll have to stick to the valley. Bad timing.

Bob...

15-18" at the Main Lodge with over 5' drifts above 10K'.

Looking up at N Morgan and Nevahbe Ridge shows some very substantial coverage of at least 3-5 feet if not greater. All the gully's are completely covered and the depth is obvious. Starting to see obvious beginnings of Slides and there is some definite wind loading all over the Eastern facing slopes.

The Mountain is making tracks to possibly open asap....

http://www.mammothmountain.com/MyMammoth/

Here is the Hills Snow Survey Site as well...

http://patrol.mammothmountain.com/RTMCs ... Screen.png

That is the best I can tell ya right now.

The snow level on Mt. Tom and the Bishop Creek area is around the 8,000 ft. mark. Lower not much, a few inches but up high it looks like feet of snow.

Thanks Chief!! Any idea if the road to South Lake will be open by Oct 24th? Didn't expect to see that much snow below 10k! Storm must've been a bit colder than initially expected.

The Chief wrote:15-18" at the Main Lodge with over 5' drifts above 10K'.

WOW! Much more snow than I originally thought..

im pretty bummed about this. took friday and monday off to spend my 40th baggin peaks.

Luciano136 wrote:Thanks Chief!! Any idea if the road to South Lake will be open by Oct 24th? Didn't expect to see that much snow below 10k! Storm must've been a bit colder than initially expected.

Let me do some calling around to Inyo Road crew and find out. They do the plowing up there.


J**** Edit! Just got off the Phone with Twila in Bishop Inyo Rd Dept.

She doesn't know as of yet what they intend to do as they are out and checking the conditions. She will call me as soon as she gets some definitive word and I will post that as soon as I get the call.

The Chief wrote:

Luciano136 wrote:Thanks Chief!! Any idea if the road to South Lake will be open by Oct 24th? Didn't expect to see that much snow below 10k! Storm must've been a bit colder than initially expected.

Let me do some calling around to Inyo Road crew and find out. They do the plowing up there.


J**** Edit! Just got off the Phone with Twila in Bishop Inyo Rd Dept.

She doesn't know as of yet what they intend to do as they are out and checking the conditions. She will call me as soon as she gets some definitive word and I will post that as soon as I get the call.

Thanks! You da man !!

thanks chief.

the other thing that stinks is the roads will really dirty and rocky. still brining my longboard though.

Mammoth Mtn. opens Fri. and I hear that it's going to be a free day

Looks like Tioga might be down for the count -