There is so little snow that I keep looking up Tioga Road to see if they have opened the pass. I think if they want to keep the pass closed, they will need to bring in some snowmaking equipment to boost the snowpack on the road.

The cross country skiing has been good, but there is pavement peeking through at Tamarack. Might be time to head out to bag some desert peaks.

Any new reports on conditions from this w/e(4th-5th) - ? Jeebus; 180 into Kings is still open; anyone been taking advantage of west side adventuring in there?

Things are not looking good:

The California Department of Water Resources has conducted its first snow survey of the winter. Officials said they found “more bare ground than snow.”

http://www.sierrawave.net/28055/show-grim-picture/

If anyone is desparate to get into the Sierra, the road to South Lake is not gated, just a "road closed" sign but I drove around it anyway. Be advised you better have burly tires and chains on-hand though. Coverage situation on road is a cruel mix of hard ice and soft dry snow. I got stuck and had to "cry" for help (after running 3 miles to get reception) :/

has anyone been up towards langley? we are looking at the northeast couloir if conditions are ok. it looks like that area may actually be one of the areas with good snow cover?

Anyone know how far the road is open that heads up to Mosquito Flat.

Headed up the 395 for the first time this winter over the Holidays. Shocked how low the snow was!

EDIT: After reading Deb's post, I'm guessing much past Rock Creek Lake might be tough

The road was open to the lake a few days ago.

I just happened to drive up Rock Creek Rd on my way home from Mammoth today. The road is open to pack station and looks about 90% coverage just past the gate (as far as you can see). You'll still have that thick top crust and dry pow underneath to deal with once you get deeper into wilderness. I'm jonesing!

Looks like a lot of TH are still reachable! Going to Mammoth next weekend. With no new snow in the forecast, I guess I can plan on doing some peak in the area. It looks like October?!

This morning...feels like late Spring.

Crazy!

Anyone been into the west side Sequoias? Silliman, Alta? Curious where the snow starts and the conditions, etc.
Thanks!

Wow, that is sad news. But if memory serves me the last drought of this magnitude was 88-92 (roughly) and in the fall of 92 it ended with a dramatic El Nino rain.

Any specific west-side Sierra snow info would be greatly appreciated. I've heard likely little to no snow until 9500 feet then lousy conditions after that. Thanks

The 1975 - 1977 season has been called, "...the granddaddy of California droughts..." (http://www.science.calwater.ca.gov/publications/sci_news_0409_expert.html).

I took this picture from the summit of Mount Williamson on December 25, 1976 (merry Christmas) looking toward the Kaweahs:

Later that same season, I made an attempt on Whitney in April, 1977. Even near Consultation Lake the snow was never more than a foot or so deep...

I attempted the MR in late 1977. Cold, but very little snow...

1978 was a very heavy snow year. So much for the 'granddaddy of California droughts...'

So the thread is East Side, but since West Side conditions were asked:

SEKI - general's highway is still open; will close after the next snow, according to the Park's website; CalTrans website says that 180 is open to Road's End; that is NOT true; it's closed up high in the usual spot.

Conditions: let me put it this way: I was on top of Mount Stewart yesterday over Valhalla via Crescent Meadow and the High Sierra Trail (about 18 miles into the range due East from Moro Rock) - no snowshoes, barely any ground cover even at Kaweah Gap.

If you want to climb Moro Rock, Alta Peak, the Kaweahs, Lippencot, Angel Wings (I'm looking at you, Brandon, and your poop tube in the Bear Box at Hamilton lakes) Stewart or any other major peaks around the Great Western Divide, sadly, access is pretty much late spring conditions easy.

Nighttime temps maybe 20F and daytime 45, zero precip, zero groundcover until Hamilton lakes proper, where it's about 6"