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Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:11 am
by dsq
wondering how much snow fell in Sabrina basin,little lakes valley and south and north fork of bigpine lakes(never know what that area is called-big pine lakes or glacier lodge or palisades something??).

Thanx

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 1:42 am
by colinr
^^^In addition to the snow midweek, the low pressure system stalled over the area today (Friday) with significant snow accumulation down to the floor of the Owens Valley. Sunday is forecast to be chilly followed by a beautiful lead up to Thanksgiving, but who knows what will be easily accessible and by when?

Conditions and Forecast Discussion from 395.travel.com

webcams

http://mammothweather.com/howards-forecast/

whitney portal store-lone pine: chains and 4x4 can only do so much on steep, icy roads

Current Storm Weather Advisory


General Eastside Road Info.:

mono roads

Inyo NF Roads (White Mtn. Ranger District= Bishop area)

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 9:02 am
by dsq
thanks sr for that...the storm advisory link says up to 2 ft of snow when all is said and done....i hope that s true and how much will stick around for next weekend?however ive been checking out aspendell on nws for days now and its been only a few inches per day and not near 2 ft like the advisory suggests...
was thinking of going this weekend but nixed it cuz of strong wind and cloudy conditions and unknown road status...maybe i ll try local stuff like baldy or baden powell...nah,the roads will be clogged with tourons from LA!

ok i just read the wp and dennis accounts and seems like a big dump...sweeeet.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 3:30 pm
by Clydascope
just saw this on facebook

Image

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 5:00 pm
by Scott M.
Clark,
Charlotte Lake is about 8 miles west by trail from Onion Valley (~5 miles as the crow flies). Onion Valley is the primary Eastern Sierra trailhead out of Independence .

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 8:22 am
by mtneering
Hiked Thursday out of South Lake. Great conditions all morning then really started to dump and fog in near white out at 11k feet at Bishop Pass. Drove all the way to trailhead. Friday drove up to Aspendale road closed only feet out of town. Drove south to Big Pine up Glacier Lodge Road hiked up to Willow Lake I think. Heavy snows Friday roads were drivable in SUV 8+ when we left GLR in Big Pine.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:41 am
by dsq
mtneering wrote:Hiked Thursday out of South Lake. Great conditions all morning then really started to dump and fog in near white out at 11k feet at Bishop Pass. Drove all the way to trailhead. Friday drove up to Aspendale road closed only feet out of town. Drove south to Big Pine up Glacier Lodge Road hiked up to Willow Lake I think. Heavy snows Friday roads were drivable in SUV 8+ when we left GLR in Big Pine.


willow lake?so you took south fork trail?did you have problems crossing the creek or did they replace the bridge?
was there much snow from glacier lodge/trailhead up to willow lake ie enouggh for snowshoeing?thanks

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 5:26 pm
by mtneering
No bridge replacement yet. Went up stream quite a way, bushwhacked like hundreds of yards to find a crossing! Should have just gone over to Sam Mack Meadows or some of the lakes on N Fork. Snowshoes by the time we left Friday could have been used although not needed. Depending on what fell the rest of Friday I'd carry them maybe use up higher.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:46 am
by Greg Enright
Rock Creek Road is plowed to the upper corral, about half a mile from Mosquito Flat. About 8 inches of new snow from there on up. There is a ski track to the trailhead and snowshoe tracks up into Little Lakes Valley. You can walk it too.

Image

McGee Creek Road is passable to the trailhead, with a few inches of new on the trail. Hiking to the beaver pond would be no problem.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:00 am
by dsq
OMG,GREG!!!
THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!HOPEFULLY IT WONT MELT BY THANKSGIVING ...LOOKS LIKE AWESOME SNOWSHOEING....

btw,was it windy ?i assume that pic is from today 11/24 ??

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:23 am
by Greg Enright
No wind today. And yes, the pic is from this afternoon. Looks like some sunny, but cold days ahead, so the snow may not be so fluffy by Turkey Day. We were able to walk up there with just our boots, no snowshoes or skis.

By the way, the Whites got a few days of light snowfall without much wind. The range looks great with really good coverage. It's rare to see the Whites without the snow blown off the west side.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:14 am
by dsq
was just up...lots of snow...andits not melting...the whites looked like they got hammered...i tried to make it up to willow lake via snowshoe but i ran out of gas...camped hi up but set up badlyy in the dark and was sliding down all night i got about 1 hr sleep out of 13hours being inside tent...not sure if i llike snow camping!

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:06 pm
by Deb
Image
This morning from summit of Grouse Mtn. Lotsa snow and the wind is kicking up some serious plumes.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 5:23 am
by Greg Enright
Yeah, it's thin. But Tamarack Cross Country opened today and it was mighty fine skiing that thin strip of nicely packed powder. The next storm was blowing in as the sun went down this afternoon, and we are looking forward to a foot of new!

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:35 pm
by Deb
Image
I spent most of today in the Buttermilks and driving towards Basin Mtn. Gloriously horrid winter conditions with screaming winds and snow tornados. Snowed an inch in town, but I found a good 4" in the "country." Took the opportunity to ski while wimpy boulder-ers stayed in town drinking coffee. :)