SummitPost.org

I figure Summitpost would be good as any other forum to ask this question...

Trying to figure out when the Sierra Nevada back country might start icing out so i can get in some fly fishing trips. I'm hoping by late May, do you suppose this is feasible?

Called the Sonora ranger station, they said they haven't had anyone go into the back country so they have no idea.

Thanks

Not backcountry but as a point of reference North Lake above Aspendell at about 9000' was mostly frozen last weekend. Maybe 4000 square feet of surface thawed at the outlet. Snowing here now but fairly warm so I doubt much change.

Another point of reference: Red Lake, just east of Carson Pass at ~7600 ft, is mostly melted out. The south side of the lake is tucked in under a ridge and ice fishermen frequent it--in season.

bump for any updates.

Called El Dorado Ranger Station today, they still don't have people going out to the back country so no updates from them.

I might either head up this weekend to Tahoe area or weekend after next to Sonora Pass area so ill post updates.

Gilmore still frozen!

Got back from Emigrant Wilderness, Crabtree trailhead area. 7500-8000 (Camp, Grouse, Piute) no snow, lakes are unfrozen. Fishing quite good.

Was planning on heading farther in 8500-9000 feet but found a lost dog so i had to bail on my planned itinerary a bit earlier. Found the owner so all is well. Except i broke my fly rod.

Will be back here Memorial weekend for another go, hopefully will go to where i planned to and will update.

Flew home from Truckee yesterday. Frog, paradise and warren all clear. Five lakes mostly clear. Devils oven frozen as well as Lyons. Scott

FWIW, as of a few days ago Lake Aloha SW of Tahoe was hard enough to walk across, though some lower-elevation lakes nearby were melted. The lower lakes near and north of Sierra Buttes were all melted, as were the ones just north of Truckee.

this is peeler lake above twin lakes on the east side, my buddy was up there this weekend. #beta

Thanks, Jareds. Hard to tell from the photo - is this snow/ice on the lake?

What are the conditions of Echo Lake and surrounding areas? How much ice/snow left? Hoping it will be mostly clear of ice/snow by mid June with maybe just enough patches to make it fun.

Got back from Emigrant Wilderness again. Lake are all clear up to ~8700 feet if any one cares.(gem, deer, piute, jewelry) Only patches of snow on the ground. Mosquitos galore.

Id like to make a special shout out to whoever stole my sierra nevada beers that i left cooling in the creek. twat.

Memorial Day weekend had the lakes in Granite Park still frozen over. This was all over 11,000'.

Memorial Day Weekend had the Mosquito Lakes out of Mineral King all thawed except the uppermost lake (~10,100') which is still 40% frozen.

Red Lake by Split Mtn was almost entirely melted out by May23. Further north, driving through Tuolumne, lakes looked more solid (e.g. Tioga lake) but still broken up enough to draw water.