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looking for current conditions on the high sierra

Original Post
Mickey Sensenbach · · San luis obispo CA · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 140

sooooo...

I am thinking of doing mount emerson...

has anyone ever done this route during this time of year? I am thinking of going to do something this next weekend (April 18-20) and am wandering if there is just too much snow or what? with the winter we had is the only reason why I am actually contemplating high sierra stuff when the Tioga road is not even open :)

anything would help, even info and snow reports from all you east siders!!!!!!!

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

There's a recent posting from Deb on Table Mt (near S Lake). Assuming you mean the SE Face, the chimney will likely be wet, but you can climb the face to the right to avoid it. Based on Deb's report I would expect to posthole in the upper gully and on the descent.

I see Todd commented on the route page. If the gate is locked you could bring a bike for the N Lake road.

Ryan Watts · · Bishop, CA · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 25

I'm also hoping to be able to cheat the weather a bit and get out on some sierra climbs earlier than usual.

Anyone know about conditions on Mt. Humphrey's? Or have any other suggestions of sierra routes that are likely to be relatively snow/ice free?

Ryan Marsters · · Golden, CO · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 1,431

4/20/14 V-notch, U-notch, Clyde, Underhill, etc:



TBolt


Starlight, Sill, etc:
Brent Butcher · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 275

High sierras just got pelted with more snow. Chains required on tioga pass

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

Nice pics, Ryan. Thanks for posting.

Bas Cuela · · Fresno, CA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 475

Palisades in the spring is amazing place. Great pics.

Mickey Sensenbach · · San luis obispo CA · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 140

I am thinken mount conness this weekend. the memorial day one!

any more info on the snow report?!

Rudy Gustafson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 5

Was up on Conness Sunday... We wanted to do the West Ridge but turned around where the East Ridge meets the summit plateau because the entire east side was corniced and we didn't have piolets or tools. Super beautiful, super snowy. Get out there!

Jeremy Foster · · Grass Valley, CA · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

We camped at the base of the Palisade Glacier last weekend and climbed the Swiss arête on Mt Sill. Conditions were absolutely perfect with the slight exception of some punchy post holing through shallow snow in the vicinity of Sam Mack Meadow. The route was clean and dry with a small patch of powdery snow or two encountered at the top of the route on blocky ledges. There's likely a bit more after the little storm these past few days.

Bas Cuela · · Fresno, CA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 475
Fresh powder for the palisades

We stayed at Gayley camp on Thursday (22nd) and got dumped on. About a foot of powder above 13,000'
fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

N Lake update as of 1 June

view SW from Emerson

The SE chute on Emerson is a little wet, but climbable. Not much snow in the upper gullies or on the descent.

SirTobyThe3rd M · · Salt Lake City · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 2,100

Thanks for the update fossana!

climbing coastie · · Wasilla, AK · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 95

Did V-notch last weekend and it looked very similar to Ryan's pic from 4/20. Ran into snow just under 11K, but it stayed pretty firm with minimal post-holing until about noon. Only about a pitch and a half of blue ice on the climb.

Spent this weekend in Tuolumne and did Matthes Crest on Sunday rappelling from the notch. We took the Cathedral Lakes trail out to it and returned via Echo Peak/Budd Lake. I'd recommend taking the Cathedral Lakes trail both ways for a few weeks. There was a lot of snow on exposed slopes down to Budd Lake (wished I'd had an ice axe).

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318
fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

adding Tbolt to Winchell from 22 June

Thunderbolt to Winchell

Parker Dial · · Meyers, CA · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 25

I'm planning an attempt on sill, July 10-12. Has anyone been in the area? With the drought I am afraid there will be no snow and it will be a tedious slog. I am shooting for the north couloir route. Is this feasible?

Alex. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 0

Definitely very little snow up here right now, so I would say don't expect much snow to be left by the time you get up here, the weather has been quite warm so the little that remains now may not be here much longer

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

I only caught the top of Sill, but here is the northern aspect of the more southerly Palisades from today to give you an idea of current snow coverage, which I don't expect to last.

southernish Palisades from 21 June 2015

bargainhunter · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 5

The summit view SE from Mt. Agassiz on June 20th at 6:30pm toward Thunderbolt, N. Pal., Mt. Sill, etc.

The summit view SE from Mt. Agassiz on June 20th at 6:30pm toward Thunderbolt, N. Pal., Mt. Sill, etc.

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

Crappy Sierra forecast yesterday, so did a big loop out of Sabrina/N Lake. Adding some pics of Evolution.

13322 and Darwin from Haeckel (5 July 2015)
Fiske & Huxley (5 Jul 2015)
Darwin, Mendel & 13,360 (Gould) from Lamarck Col (5 Jul 2015)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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