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Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:06 pm
by Kahuna
Are to be had less than an hours hike from one's car as of the other day/mid-week.

Enjoy!
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Lakes above 10K are still frozen over with up to 24" of snow covering the ground in many locations..
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If one looks they can find some very solid and challenging "Spring" Couloir skiing conditions less than 1/2 an hour from the T/H as well:
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Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:35 am
by Kahuna
Today above Mammoth around Mammoth Rock teaching my Basic Snow Travel Course.
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Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:49 am
by Burchey
posthole without the shoes?

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:04 am
by artrock23
Burchey wrote:posthole without the shoes?


At Lower Lamarck Lake yesterday, I was post-holing with snowshoes. :evil:

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:10 pm
by iHartMK
Great photos!

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:57 pm
by Princess Buttercup
Same postholing w/ shoes above Gilbert Lake, 4+" crust over unconsolidated sugar up to about 12.7K on the north face of University. Forced to swallow a fukitol along with my pride and turn back since I really had no desire to swim up the mountain.

But gorgeous nonetheless!

-L

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 8:36 pm
by Burchey
Man, these reports are a bummer. It's going to be a lulz-fest getting up McAdie, I'd imagine.

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:39 am
by MCGusto
MooseTracks wrote:Same postholing w/ shoes above Gilbert Lake, 4+" crust over unconsolidated sugar up to about 12.7K on the north face of University. Forced to swallow a fukitol along with my pride and turn back since I really had no desire to swim up the mountain.

-L


Have you seen University's south side? Had a plan on heading up Kearsage Pass early May and overnighting at Kearsage Lakes. Following day heading up to University Shoulder, summit University, then loop around the Kearsage Pinnacles (up the JMT) back to camp and out. Traveling with someone with little snow experience and was hoping for dryer conditions. Snowshoes would be okay, but axe/crampons probably asking a little too much for my buddy.

Thanks,

Gusto

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:02 am
by artrock23
MooseTracks wrote:Same postholing w/ shoes above Gilbert Lake, 4+" crust over unconsolidated sugar up to about 12.7K on the north face of University. Forced to swallow a fukitol along with my pride and turn back since I really had no desire to swim up the mountain.

But gorgeous nonetheless!

-L


I feel for you. Humble pie on order for me too as I was forced to turn around between Lower and Upper Lamarck. Being alone and post-holing up to my waist (in snowshoes) was not confidence inspiring. So frustrating with the Lamarck summit only 2.5 or so miles away. :(

Anyway, it was awesome being up there in spectacular scenery nonetheless. And snowshoeing across a frozen lake for the first time certainly was an experience!

[url=http://s1136.photobucket.com/user/artrock23/media/IMG_2001_zps1fffbf18.jpg.html]Image

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:16 am
by Princess Buttercup
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Gusto, if the south faces in that drainage are any indication, I'd guess it's pretty burned out by now.

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:36 am
by Brian Frederick
MooseTracks, do you by chance have a pic of Mt Gould from your slogfest? I can see just a bit in the corner of the above shot. I am heading up there soon. Thanks

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:01 am
by Princess Buttercup
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Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:47 am
by Daria
artrock23 wrote:
Burchey wrote:posthole without the shoes?


At Lower Lamarck Lake yesterday, I was post-holing with snowshoes. :evil:


lol, this is why I am holding off on Sierra stuff still.

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:57 am
by mrchad9
It ain't holding Deb and MooseTracks back though.

Re: Beautiful Sierra Spring Conditions

PostPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:17 am
by Burchey
Yep. I'll be out this weekend enjoying the snow the lazies won't do.