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Ediza lake, Finger lake (near mid pal) in early-mid june?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:00 am
by shoenberg3
Hello, new here:D
I am thinking of planning a backpacking trip to these areas at around early to mid june. I know we have a relatively big snow year.
Will the lakes be frozen? Will there be 100 percent snow cover at the elevation of the lakes?
I am thinking crampons might be a good idea but not necessarily ice axe.
What do you think?
Thanks

PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 4:08 pm
by Kurt Wedberg
It's still too early to tell how quickly things will melt off. Last year was not a relatively heavy snow year but we had a stormy June with cold temperatures so the melt was slow. They seem to be calling this year a somewhat normal year (depending on what part of the Sierra you're talking about) but if we keep getting storms in April and cold temperatures in the spring that could slow down how the snow melts.

I would think the lakes you're talking about will at least be partially open by mid June. Finger Lake sits among some rather high canyon walls so this may make the ice melt slower.

Image
Finger Lake from the outlet.

Image
Finger Lake from above.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:23 pm
by ExploreABitMore
Ediza Lake is lower than Finger Lake in elevation, so that might work in your favor there. I say might, only because those northern areas always seem to have more snow.

That might even be an ideal time for Ediza. I'd rather have snow, than the rapacious mosquitos you would probably have shortly after :wink:

PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:29 pm
by Luciano136
Here it is after a relatively big snow year on July 1st 2006. We encountered snow around 10.5k I'm guessing.



Image

Lake Ediza snow levels

PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 7:24 pm
by robertjoy
Last year there was not so much snow, but May and June were cold and the melt was delayed. At the last week of June the Shadow Lake trail to Ediza was completely snow free, and the lakeside campsites were snow free. The basin above the lake was still covered in snow with deep sun cups. Crampons are not a bad idea to enable you to handle any conditions. I am going back this year and closely watching the snow level website for (near) this area: http://wsoweb.ladwp.com/Aqueduct/snow/PrecipConditions/laprecip.htm

PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2010 3:31 am
by shoenberg3
So, how is it looking now?
Seems like we definitely above-average year. I've decided on ediza lake but am worried about what it would look like at around june 15. On the latest google earth imagery, which is taken on june 5, 2009, ediza seems to be around quarter frozen and the trail to it almost free of snow. Minaret Lake, however, seems completely frozen over. I am wondering how june 5 2009 would compare to june 15 of this year (when I am going)

Would the road to agnew meadows be even open?
Thank you again for the help