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Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:51 pmby wrecky848
Has anyone been in or near any of these areas yet in 2017?
Last year I solo hiked thru Piute Pass from North Lake....
but with all the snowfall this winter, wondering if anyone has gone through Piute Pass or Bishop Pass or anywhere near either of these.
Any info, please post.
Thanks in advance!
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Thu Apr 20, 2017 5:54 amby Foxtail
We've had 200% of "normal" snowfall this Winter (that's about 70'' of water and 16' of snow for those passes). Paiute will hold snow until July, and Bishop Pass is higher and North facing, so it takes a bit longer. It will be skiing until mid June, and after that it's messy suncup season.
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:00 amby wrecky848
great info, much appreciated....
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:06 amby sierraman
Mike, at the Bishop Pack Station, told me there is so much snow they may not be able to get stock over Bishop Pass all year.
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:50 pmby seano
The last time the Sierra had a big winter, the packers were shoveling a path through snowbanks on the way to Bishop Pass in late July 2011.
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:29 amby asmrz
Another heavy and comparable snow year, 1983, my partner and I skied to Bishop Pass on July 13th. We started (on skis) at South Lake and didn't take them off until our camp at Dusy Basin. True Story..
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Mon Jun 19, 2017 12:03 amby Deb
North Lake Campground is open as of 17 Jun. Trails are running water/ snow drifts abt an hour from trailhead. Fun runnels and sun cups await you!
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Mon Jun 19, 2017 12:18 amby dshoshone
Bishop Pass has snow from the parking lot on. PAiute pass was clear about the first mile then all snow as of a couple of days ago.
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Mon Jun 19, 2017 2:13 amby ScottHanson
Looks like we might have more reason to carry an ice axe and crampons while climbing a peak this year. I am always looking to climb another SPS peak in the Sierra's. Are there any peaks in particular folks have climbed that are made easier to climb from the standard route up a snow chute rather than loose, crumbly rock in the chute. I have already climbed Mt Powell, but have heard its chute to be "more approachable" with snow rather than rock? Another might be Treasure Col between Johnson and Gilbert? Others?
Thanks,
Scott
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Mon Jun 19, 2017 4:37 amby Deb
I climbed Powell on Mon, perfect conditions and snow to the top of chute. Feather would be another good one, as well as Mills and Round Top.
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Tue Jun 20, 2017 6:53 pmby Scott M.
Footnote to Deb's post above. Inyo County closed the road to North Lake yesterday (6/19) due to damage from high water runoff.
Re: Bishop/Piute Pass - Hiking Conditions?
Posted:
Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:34 amby Tom Kenney
ScottHanson wrote:Looks like we might have more reason to carry an ice axe and crampons while climbing a peak this year. I am always looking to climb another SPS peak in the Sierra's. Are there any peaks in particular folks have climbed that are made easier to climb from the standard route up a snow chute rather than loose, crumbly rock in the chute. I have already climbed Mt Powell, but have heard its chute to be "more approachable" with snow rather than rock? Another might be Treasure Col between Johnson and Gilbert? Others?
Thanks,
Scott
Royce and Merriam are probably better with snow.