Am considering a complete overhaul of my backpacking calendar in response to this winter's weather. Effectively, if not literally, storms stopped hitting the state with the new year and we're on track for the third historically dry month in a row. We're already past the period when the Sierra typically collects the bulk of the seasonal snowpack, anything we ger from this point is sheer luck.

Even with "normal" weather from today, the high country will open up early--weeks early--and I'd count on fire closures and a lot of usually dependable water sources drying up.

Guess what I'm suggesting is if you have a big trip planned for August or September, consider moving it up (if permits aren't involved). In the meantime, amuse yourselves with the snow sensors.

Calif. Cooperative Snow Surveys

Cheers,

[ETA--d'oh! I meant to post this to the trip planning forum. User error.]

Rick, I was thinking along those lines too the last couple weeks. At work we usually all have certain weeks we like to take and I can squeeze my week in barely this year. I have an invite to hike with some folks I've never been with before, for a trip to Colorado. Seems I heard earlier this winter that further east they had received a few good storms, so maybe my luck will work out. At least bug season will end early then with a early start maybe. Trying to squeeze one more group snow camping trip in here soon I hope, other wise it will be just me on a few more trips before mud season starts.
Duane

I have several trips planned pending weather and as it looks now I'll be moving the proposed dates up for sure. I have a 3 generation trip planed, my father, my brother, and my son. I also want to cross country out of mono pass to Magee. North lake to pine creek with my son. And a couple desert hikes that need to be moved up. Icehouse canyon is pretty dry and I count on snow for water.

"How hot was it?" Happened to read this, today.



Have been cycling around town in a tshirt this week, but that's at zero altitude. Tahoe is over 6k feet and flirting with 70s, in mid-March. Crazy.

Well, yes and no. We just posted this:

We've had a ton of inquiries on our website about two major topics: routes and weather. And often, the two topics are linked. It's great to see so many folks getting ready to get up into the Sierra...but it's also a bit discomfitting to see them ask for specific information about snow levels and weather in June...

While it looks like a low snow year right now, the weather between today and Memorial Day will determine how much snow, more or less, there is in the Sierra and when the high passes will open.

And if it doesn't snow at all before the end of May, it can still snow in June...even down to 5,000, as is evidenced by this photo near Hetch-hetchy in June of 2011.



So go ahead and plan your trips--and be preparing to change your itinerary because of snow levels, high creeks due to snow melt, or inclement weather in the early summer!

At least the sun is out in that photo. I've been snowed on in mid July, but further north in the Thousand Lakes Wilderness 12-15 years ago.
Duane

Awwwww, it's all good stuff. But I was hoping for a better snow year. My schedule is dictated by family matters rather than snow pack, especially this year (daughter is off to college next school year). I have to take what's there if I want to go and a couple of inches of snow can be "nice". Note the word "can".