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Does anybody know what conditions to expect on telescope peak this time of the year? Can I expect the road to Charcoal Kilns be usable with a 2wd?

You should be able to get all the way to Mahogany Flats with 2WD.

Last I asked was just before Halloween and it was free of snow. I don't think they got much of anything since.

I'm headed for Shorty's Well on Friday since jury duty and work screwed me over on Halloween.

Enjoy. Looks like a nice weekend.

It looked completely dry on Sunday. I didn't see the road to Mahogany Flat; I was only looking at the peak from the Death Valley side, but I did make a deliberate observation of the lack of snow on Telescope, figuring someone on this site might ask.

Saturday was quite hazy, probably from dust, but Sunday was clear, and that's when I could really get a good look, albeit from Badwater Road.

Sean Kenney wrote:Last I asked was just before Halloween and it was free of snow. I don't think they got much of anything since.

I'm headed for Shorty's Well on Friday since jury duty and work screwed me over on Halloween.

Enjoy. Looks like a nice weekend.

Days are short! Good luck and be paranoid about extra headlamps. The moon will favor a late night, but not an early morning.

Checked the weather for Saturday?? Forecasts with 40 to 60% precip.....likely snow at that elevation. Oh, yeah....winds 20 to 30 mph. Have fun.

Right now it's raining in Ridgecrest, temp 44F. The low center should just about pass over Telescope. Check the park service Web site for conditions before you go; the last bit of the road to Mahogany Flat faces north.

Snow down to about 6000' in the foothills around Big Pine last light. Both the east side and west side of the valley are pretty white. I'd bet Telescope changed dramatically last night, too.

Snow on the ground above about 5500 feet in the Panamints this afternoon (Sunday). I heard it was snowing quite a bit lower than that the night before.

Charcoal Kilns are at about 6900 feet, and Mahogany Flat is at about 8150. I was not on that road, but I was only about 14 miles northwest of it, in the same range, where I observed the snow.

Just looked at a friends pictures with an inch of snow at Mahogony Flats as of yesterday.

Snowed on Telescope Peak on Saturday- not much, but it was the white stuff. Nice little dusting, covering the upper reaches of the peak (maybe 6 or 7k' & above). Upper reaches of the peak were in the clouds basically all day Saturday- it was a GREAT day to make an attempt... (not) Yesterday saw great weather pretty much the whole day. No problem getting up to Charcoal Kilns with a 2WD currently. Looks like I'll be making a 3rd drive back to Shorty's Well...

Diggler wrote:Snowed on Telescope Peak on Saturday- not much, but it was the white stuff. Nice little dusting, covering the upper reaches of the peak (maybe 6 or 7k' & above). Upper reaches of the peak were in the clouds basically all day Saturday- it was a GREAT day to make an attempt... (not) Yesterday saw great weather pretty much the whole day. No problem getting up to Charcoal Kilns with a 2WD currently. Looks like I'll be making a 3rd drive back to Shorty's Well...

Saturday was my target hike day, glad I canceled at the last minute. I stayed in Death Valley. On Friday the panamint range was clear of snow and by Saturday, the range had a dusting of it. Hiked around and in the ubehebe craters instead. Very windy, stunning scenery.

Again didn't make it up there. Saw the weather report change at the last minute and decided I didn't want to take a little standard rental car up there. Which was fine because I came down with the flu on Saturday. Not sure it's Swine Flu or not. The Kaiser phone service said not to come in if you're not in a high risk group. Spent most of a week in my #^%% apartment.

Maybe aroud X-mass.

Anyone get up there recently?

Planning to head to D.V. on the 1st. Not sure what I want to do while I'm there though.

there is canyoneering if you into that.