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Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:56 pm
by Monster5
Went up and down Thunderbolt via Underhill on Sunday. Snowshoes used and appreciated in the afternoon starting between Third lake and Sam Mack to camp on the moraine. Couloir was a mix of early season meh and decent ankle deep breaking. Full coverage ; easy mixed to bypass the minor cornice right. Ridge up to Tbolt was mostly dry with ice in the shady spots and snow along the final ridge. Ridge up to Starlight was a bit snowier, mixed scrambling, for 2/3rds of it. Drier after that but still plenty of snow on the ledges.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:04 am
by mfang
Really appreciate all the updates here. I'm visiting Bear Creek Spire and Seven Gables area this weekend and am worried that the lakes will still be frozen over?

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:11 pm
by Bascuela
Monster5 wrote:Went up and down Thunderbolt via Underhill on Sunday. Snowshoes used and appreciated in the afternoon starting between Third lake and Sam Mack to camp on the moraine. Couloir was a mix of early season meh and decent ankle deep breaking. Full coverage ; easy mixed to bypass the minor cornice right. Ridge up to Tbolt was mostly dry with ice in the shady spots and snow along the final ridge. Ridge up to Starlight was a bit snowier, mixed scrambling, for 2/3rds of it. Drier after that but still plenty of snow on the ledges.


Thanks for the info.
-Aaron

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2014 7:25 am
by Deb
Image
Climbed Pk 13172 today and was pretty surprised at the amount of snow at Lamarck Col. It appears that I may be the first person to go further than Upper Lamarck Lake this season. Great sense of solitude and breaking trail.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Tue May 13, 2014 7:17 pm
by Danielsan12
Deb wrote:Image
Climbed Pk 13721 today and was pretty surprised at the amount of snow at Lamarck Col. It appears that I may be the first person to go further than Upper Lamarck Lake this season. Great sense of solitude and breaking trail.


Did you notice if any lakes above 10k are thawed out yet or are they still frozen? Thanks for the report.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Wed May 14, 2014 1:17 am
by Deb
Everything is frozen from Lower Lamarck Lake and up. Small lake/pond below it is melted, as is Grass Lake.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Wed May 14, 2014 3:53 pm
by Scott M.
Maybe Peak 13172 rather than 13721?

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Wed May 14, 2014 10:53 pm
by Deb
Scott M. wrote:Maybe Peak 13172 rather than 13721?

Yes, I keep mixing the numbers up. Felt like Pk 27,321!!

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:55 pm
by Teresa Gergen
Pretty snowy from Tioga Road to Kuna. In the Parker Pass Creek drainage May 15:

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Looking down at Parker Pass from the traverse across the north face of Parker Peak:

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Kuna Peak:

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IMG_4312.JPG (462.16 KiB) Viewed 3610 times


Looking south from Kuna:

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Less snow farther south, but still plenty above 10K, with lots of postholing in the afternoon (although it's been hot up high the last few days). May 17, looking down on the third (melted out), fourth, and fifth Tyee Lakes:

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IMG_4334.JPG (716.04 KiB) Viewed 3610 times

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun May 25, 2014 4:31 am
by Alpenglow
Hello all! Anyone been up Mono Pass (Little Lakes Valley area) recently? Coming up this week interested in climbing Mt. Starr amongst others potentially.

Still lots of snow? I know there was 12 inches dropped this week but figure it will be melting fast since it will be hot this week.

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun May 25, 2014 6:49 am
by Deb
Was out there climbing Mills today. Snow conditions on trail to Mono Pass look quite pleasant, not totally covered passing Ruby Lake and switchbacks. BUT I would suspect the traverse to pass may be more covered. Good consolidation on the way to Mills. View of Starr showed less than full coverage on slope and ridge to summit. Very doable with minimal drama. Hope this helps - enjoy!

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun May 25, 2014 5:56 pm
by Alpenglow
Thanks Deb you da best!

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Sun May 25, 2014 7:50 pm
by Deb
Image
Sneak peek from our descent out of Mills' east couloir. 24 May 2014

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon May 26, 2014 10:28 am
by dsq
deb,that looks like great snowshoeing in late may!hope that last thru next weekend ...i really need to get up to the sierra...i wonder how kearsarge pass is snow wise

Re: Eastern Sierra snow condition updates?

PostPosted: Mon May 26, 2014 9:11 pm
by Deb
Deb wrote:Image
Sneak peek from our descent out of Mills' east couloir. 24 May 2014

Don't bother with snowshoes, good consolidation. Friends who did Morgan (S) the next day said it was good snow travel. I would suspect thst Kearsarge Pass is relatively melted out to less than full coverage; it was pretty naked a week ago.