SummitPost.org

Princess Buttercup wrote:Deb: Register was in a white tube right next to the summit. Hurm...

Well, I guess that's what I get for not circumnavigating every pile of rocks up there. I wasn't sure if it was really white rock or lotsa bird shit. I peed up there, that peak is TAGGED!

anybody know if Little Lakes got any accumulation today? amount?
thanks!

Doubtful: it's pretty warm out, even up in June and Crowley today it was merely drizzling. I would categorize accumulation as "meh"...

But then again, I'm not checking any machines or anything. Just judging on the fact that it was socked in as I drove by.

Been enjoying the cloud action this week, this morning's lenticular wave was superb

The wave seen from the west side yesterday:

Long day of driving for work but it was worth every minute as I cruised north to Benton, west to June, and back to Crowley and home. I opted not to get rained on and hiked instead up one of my favorite roads in the Whites just out of Bishop, affording some pretty awesome views of the storm sitting on the Crest.

Sagehen Summit:



Mono Craters and Lake from just west of Mono Mills:



Looking back to the Crest:

Heading up to Bishop now. Hopefully the weather will be good this weekend!

Highway 395 from Bridgeport to Lone Pine looking at the eastern Sierra is some of the most scenic land in the U.S. IMHO. I think I could drive it every day for the rest of my life and not be bored. Even if a person can no longer hike or climb, it is a special place to visit. Mammoth Lakes is a bit too commercialized for my taste: to much love! Otherwise, it is pretty small townish. Hope it doesn't get to the point where nobody who grew up here lives here anymore.

I was commuting from Crowley to Independence for work, now it's Crowley to Devils Gate. You are right, it never gets boring. Hard to keep the truck on the road, cause I'm looking around so much.

One of the biggest changes in Mammoth Lakes since the '80's is that now the community is large enough that a wider range of jobs are available to local kids who wish to stay in town or return after college. I love seeing our kid's friends around town, some have changed so much, some not at all.

I found Mammoth too commercial and touristy, but that's how they survive.

Anyway, I also found that Abbot's NE couloir was pretty soft at 8AM yesterday! Made for a fine glissade on descent though.

Yesterday on my way down a fun peak to Loch Leven. The trail to Piute Pass looks pleasant with "some" snow, the upper elevations are still holding a decent amount.

Does anyone have any idea what things look like up Horton Creek, or up the road toward Mt. Tom? Thinking about a little Memorial Day peakbagging, maybe camping as high as Upper Horton Lakes, and trying to figure out how much snow to prepare for . . .

Had run up last Saturday to the area Deb was photographing near Loch Leven which is at 10,700' and quite a bit lower than Horton Lakes with almost no snow the whole way except a little in some staircase steps along the way above 10,500'. Easily traversed in running shoes. Horton Lakes are quite a bit lower so I wouldn't expect much snow.

This last weekend (May 18-20), I did a 3 day trip to Piute Pass, one of the days spent climbing Muriel Peak.

Just below Piute Pass


At the pass, looking back towards Piute Lake and Loch Leven


Humphreys Basin


"The Keyhole" and Southern summit of Muriel Peak


Mt. Humphreys from the Northern summit of Muriel Peak

Yeah it's really nice up there right now. On opening day I went up to Conness (almost) and last weekend Koip Peak. I posted some photos here:

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,66248
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,66461

The last couple of weeks have been nice sunny days and hard freezes at night. And that seems to be the forecast. Great for snow travel and no skeeters.