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CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:27 pm
by Fletch
Went up to Lee Vining yesterday. Here's some shots... melting quick!

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Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:35 pm
by mtndonkey
Anyone up in the area of LVC or June Lake this past weekend and have any new beta on the conditions?

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:45 pm
by mtndonkey
bump....anyone?

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:20 pm
by Deb
Sorry. As warm as it has been since the last puny snow, it's not even worth drivng 60 miles to investigate. :/

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:25 pm
by mtndonkey
Thanks Deb...that pretty much confirms what I was already thinking.

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 7:21 pm
by fruitflyman
Any updates? Any ice worth climbing?

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:03 am
by Deb
Lee Vining has one good wall. When do you plan on going?

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 6:07 am
by fruitflyman
Deb: I am just back from Ouray and already feeling the withdrawal. No ice around Tahoe for sure. Just wondering if Lee Vining would be worth a 5-hour drive in the next couple of weeks?

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:14 am
by Deb
fruitflyman wrote:Deb: I am just back from Ouray and already feeling the withdrawal. No ice around Tahoe for sure. Just wondering if Lee Vining would be worth a 5-hour drive in the next couple of weeks?

Yep! Watch for updates of new snowfall early next week. Let me know if you need a partner with gear. Would like to meet up with you when you come.

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:49 pm
by fruitflyman
Deb - I checked my schedule, looks like next Tuesday is the only day I can escape from work. The storm should be over by then. Would that work for you?
Disclaimer: I am a beginner. I've led a couple of short WI2+/3- pitches, and climbed some WI4 and a couple of picked-out WI5 on top rope. I've never done multi-pitch ice (other than alpine couloirs). In LVC, I've only climbed Chouinard Falls, never the main wall.

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:14 pm
by fatdad
As most folks on this site probably know, Lee Vining Canyon is prone to avalanches. Since there is a big dump predicted later this week and possibly into the weekend, you'll probably want to wait a bit for the snow to settle (and/or for someone to break trail) before heading in.

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 6:00 am
by Deb
Yep, it has snowed over 3' in Mammoth in less than 24 hrs and it continues. The next week or so will not be a fun time to head into LVC. Storm ski or bag deserts peaks - here are your options. :)

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 12:36 am
by clmbr
We spent a couple of days (Tuesday and Wednesday) climbing in Lee Vining. The weather was great. We were completely alone almost all the time. Only on Wednesday early afternoon (we were leaving) one person came and set up top rope in the middle falls and soloed it. We climbed the right falls (see pic) and the ice was great. The very left (1st) falls were missing ice.

Approach: On Tuesday it was a bit challenging due to new snow. After breaking the trail it was not that bad.

This was the first time I did not see any other party there. Thanks fatdad and Deb. :D

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Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:28 am
by Deb
Hang in there! Gonna hit that bitch up tomorrow if the weather allows. :)

Re: CA Ice Conditions 2014

PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:22 pm
by fruitflyman
Please post conditions update if you go - I am hoping to go there early next week. Nights still in the 20s?