MoapaPk wrote:Damn, I'd be happy if the weather abated for this weekend's hike near Las Vegas. Base of 76" at 8600', much more higher up, 184" at 8600' so far this year. Had a good consolidated base last Saturday, then got 17" of powder in 48 hours. I don't like powder on hardpack. More to come; ugh, hard to self-arrest.

jhodlof wrote:

Castlereagh wrote:hopefully the weather will hold up for my attempt next Wed or Thursday

jhodlof, another question for you. Since the Dutchman takes you to the ridge above the saddle, if I wanted to hit Agassiz, afterwards should I hit straight down reaching the low point in the saddle or should I try to retrace my route coming up?

It's easiest to follow the rim edge and go through the saddle. It is the only way to go and lose the least amount of elevation.

Thanks. Last question, hopefully: I'll have in my car an ice axe, crampons, and snowshoes? Would all 3 be needed, or do I only need to bring the axe and snowshoes?

jhodlof wrote:

Snow in last 24 hour 6"
Snow past 7 days 27-44"
Settled snow depth at 9,500 ft 71"
Settled snow depth at 10,800 ft 115"
Season to date snowfall 312"

Snowbowl is swimming in it. I was thinking of doing Humphrey from the east side of Sugarloaf tomorrow, but I think I may have to do it from Snowbowl and take in Agassiz again. With snow like that its going to be really nice out. We don't see this very often.

Good luck. I'm tentatively planning Wednesday for Humphreys. Weather forecast has 60 degrees. It's nice weather, but hopefully the postholing won't be too awful.

made Humphreys Wednesday. Couldn't find the Dutchman but went straight up and traversed over to the West Ridge. Beautiful day but it was way too warm. The traverse to the saddle was treacherous as hell, I went up a little after the saddle but decided not to do Agassiz since I couldn't see a good descent route with the slushy snow

If I wanted to do a Humphreys-Aggassiz link-up next Sunday, May 9, what sort of conditions would I be looking at? Is there even enough snow to do Aggasiz legally? Will I be pulled over and taken into custody for looking like an illegal immigrant before I even get to the TH?

from my kitchen window, it looks like there is still alot of snow up there. Haven't skied recently. Weather is suppose to go to #$!! this weekend

McCannster wrote:If I wanted to do a Humphreys-Aggassiz link-up next Sunday, May 9, what sort of conditions would I be looking at? Is there even enough snow to do Aggasiz legally? Will I be pulled over and taken into custody for looking like an illegal immigrant before I even get to the TH?

No, it's not legal now... unless you can find a way to stay in the snow the whole way, which I couldn't see when I was up on the peak. In fact, if you do it you'll not only be deported as an illegal alien - you'll be fined the extra $500 for being on the peak. Hell, just do Humphreys - it's a blast in its own right.

Weather might improve by then but it's going to be shitty this weekend. Might even get some more snow.

Yeah, that's really a pisser!

As you can see, the fire burned to the northeast of the origin,
because that's the direction the wind was blowing.

In a few more years, the elk will be "thriving" in that burned-out
area!

Thanks for the link, man!

Here is an interesting trip report from somebody hiking Humphreys Peak the day the fire started. Really good photos.

http://spleen-me.com/blog/?p=1914

Steven Cross wrote:Here is an interesting trip report from somebody hiking Humphreys Peak the day the fire started. Really good photos.

http://spleen-me.com/blog/?p=1914

Excellent link, Steve... I was up there that day and yes, the flames seemed to be a couple hundred feet high at times. Incredible.

My parents live just east of the burn area. Their neighborhood was under alert to be evacuated. Thankfully they never had to leave there area. But now they had a pretty bad flood wash down the mountain and flood the neighborhood out. Many house were pretty badly damaged, but their house was fine. The worst part of the flood was a 12 year old girl got swept away and died. It's going to be crazy going back to this area again seeing the fire and flood damage.

They received 9"-14" of snow at Snowbowl, with more expected tonight.

That fire really burned a huge acreage of land, as seen from Highway 89.

Gotta love a ski resort that closes every time there is fresh snow.

Right on, Papa Bear! Kinda makes a guy want to drive to Colorado!