Choquito Dome Access

[Sparkydwight]

I'm new here... and to forums in general. I was wondering if Choquito dome is accessible right now. The main obstacle being mile high overlook?

Dwight

[John]

Welcome Dwight!

Minarets Road is officially closed for storm damage repair from last winter but is apparently passable for local traffic which I am not sure how that works on a weekend or at night. Your next issue would be ice and snow that tends to stick around longer from Mile High Overlook up to near Chiquito Dome due to how shady it is. I couldn't tell you how deep it is from the last storm though. Short answer is you have a 50/50 chance of getting through.

Hope that helps.

[susan]

Hi,

I wish I knew for sure, but I doubt snow or ice would be an issue like it normally is this time of year on Minarets. Going the other way (Beasore to Grizzly to Minarets) takes roughly the same amount of time depending on your starting point and road conditions. This time of year though you may be likely to run into not only snow and ice obstacles but downed trees. I think it is worth a try if you bring shovels and a chainsaw...

I posted a photo of Beasore (conditions thread) in late December of a spot way past the Cold Springs summit and near the currently closed Jones Store where we turned around due to the many snow and ice patches surrounding us on the road at that point. Apparently we could have made it all the way to the Balls though as Wingnut and Mike A. later indicated they did around that time. Instead we had no issue getting to Fresno Dome back then.

So if you try it, I would like to hear what you find!

[susan]

So many of the rock formations in the area  are south and west facing and would be perfect for climbing right now if only we could get the all clear on the roads!

[mike a]

Hi all, was up on Minarets Rd today bouldering and driving around, had lunch at Mile Hight Lookout and talked to a ranger and she said the road work should be done in 3 weeks or so. I went up using Beasore Rd, css had a very little ice on the road, almost no snow, and the gate on Minarets rd by Mammoth Poor Rd to the lake was open, so can get to Chiquito Dome no problems. Was hot up there today felt like spring, so it would be a great weekend to come up and climb!!!, happy climbing Mike A.

[susan]

But what about now? Too icy over Cold Springs Summit after a little recent weather and cold nights?

[DaveyTree]

I had a bit of frost on my windows the last few mornings on the the north side of Clovis so I imagine there would be some ice. It snowed on Sunday night at Calvin Crest up Sky Ranch Road.

[mungeclimber]

average ambient temp has dropped as well, so melting opportunities during the days are going to be difficult to estimate.

[wingnut]

I climbed there today - no snow, almost everything was day. Beautiful warm day! Still a fair amount of snow up on the main ridge, and all the gates are still locked on the other roads.

[mungeclimber]

I climbed there today - no snow, almost everything was day. Beautiful warm day! Still a fair amount of snow up on the main ridge, and all the gates are still locked on the other roads.

Wingnut, was the gate at the MMP cut off still locked? Or could one get to the snow line via Minarets?

[wingnut]

Has anyone been into Chiquito dome this season? I am guessing that the road would be clear and good to go around now

[susan]

Sounds like Mke made it out that way last weekend and hear there’s lots of need of chainsaws...

[wingnut]

I went into Chiquito Dome today and climbed Constellation. No problem reaching Chiquito Dome. There is a TON of snow on Shuteye ridge proper, Its going to be a long time before all that melts!

[susan]

Very nice there recently - here's a photo.