Southern Yosemite roads

[mike a]

Hi all, when up Beasore Rd and Skyranch Rd this last weekend, on Skyranch Rd lots of down trees snow on the road just past Paradise Springs/Nelder Grove and on Beasore Rd a lot of down trees and snow on the road a few miles past Chilkoot Camp Grounds. The past few weeks I have been climbing at Chiquito Dome and Mammoth Pools area, lots of down trees but passable! In a couple weeks you will be able to get to Willow creek wall area! It's great to be able to climb in the Southern Yosemite area again, I am a little over going to Yosemite Valley!!! this winter early spring, with all the road work on highways 41/140 it takes over 2 hour to get to the Valley from Oakhurst. Hope to see you all up there this season, happy climbing Mike A.

[John]

Thanks for the update Mike see you around!

[susan]

Thanks Mike - Chilkoot campground? That's not Cold Springs Summit, right, as that would be way up there?

I heard snow blocks the way past Jackass Rock on Minarets. We saw a lot of trees cut through and debris on Minarets last weekend. A mess but no less great to get out there! 

The way many east facing domes and peaks around 5k & up look, could be several weeks to access? Those areas are so blanketed with snow almost looks like avalanche zones.

[susan]

What I wish could be accessible this weekend!

If I recall, that Chilkoot campground is really low down on Beasore....

[mungeclimber]

thx Mike


Susan...

Chilkoot Campground Location:
4½ miles northeast of Bass Lake on Road 274 (Beasore Rd.)
Elevation:
4,700 feet

[susan]

Thanks Rob!

And what the heck about the forecast 30% chance of rain Saturday. Bleh!

[SoYo Climber]

Finally, counting down the last few days to the start of the spring trip.  So, the obvious question is, what's the latest word on road conditions?

Yes, more than one chainsaw is coming along.

Someone I know mentioned they might trade a topo (maybe even two - wow!) for an accurate road conditions report...  (targeted hint..., haha)

Of particular interest if anyone knows the answers:

Is the last bit of shaded road before the Hell's Half Acre turnoff melted out enough to be passable?  I know from past experience that section of road can hold substantial snow way later than expected.

Has anyone ventured up the Little Jackass Campground road past the campground?  If so, what's the downed tree situation and how far is it open?

[John]

HHA Road has got to be clear of snow...trees are another thing of course. The Forest Service site even says the road is clear up to Arch Rock.

Little Jackass was tinkertoys for miles as of a few weeks ago. Weird thing...someone had cut a big tree down to block the start of the road, thoroughly cut out about a mile and then stopped. We moved the blocking tree and cut about another additional mile and soon gave up, even with three chainsaws. Waaaay too many trees down with about 4 miles ahead. I wouldn't expect it to be all clear but you never know out there, some folks are more motivated to cut out roads all weekend than others.

I will expect a stack of topos now............

[mungeclimber]

Lol

Heavy metal and tinker toys has already been used as a route  name

[mike a]

Morning all, was up at Minarets Rd yesterday and can get a mile past Arch rock, put up a couple super shorty routes and boulder problems the past few weeks by Jackass rock area, the other week show Matt Splat's truck at Jackass rock so i am sure he is bolting something up there? The gate to Gray Eagle and the gate to the big sleep area are open but i am sure their are down trees on those roads? Spent the night last night at Kelty meadows camp site still a little snow there but not much. I am super psyched things are opening up, happy climbing Mike A.

[SoYo Climber]

Thanks for the conditions reports.

The weather forecast is looking pretty bleak for the next couple of weeks out.  Since our trips tend to be on the longish side we're not in the mood for multiple days of wet/cold.  Kind of a crazy weather year, the way this is going the MP spillway will be cranking the entire year.  Probably pushing our trip into next month.

J&S, hope to see you.  Will give you a heads up on our revised dates and hopefully we can hook up.  If so, and your hands are fast enough (minimal alcohol consumption usually helps) maybe you'll be lucky enough to keep the paper(s?) out of the fire this time (I guess you're owed after the conditions report.)  This is killing me, I have a couple of brilliant pitches on EF to RP that I'm way psyched to do, and the weather isn't cooperating.

[susan]

Would be good to see you guys! Sounds like we’ll need to exercise the fast twitch muscles for a visit.

Can’t believe it’s nearly Memorial weekend as we’ve hardly climbed at all yet - shocked to see the forecast now that you mention it. I just took it for granted that it would be fine this weekend. Even in Yosemite there’s a winter storm warning. But didn’t the forecast predict gloom and doom last weekend only for it to turn out bluebird?

[mungeclimber]

Feet of snow on Sonora Pass forecasted. 

Memorial weekend in another week?


Cray cray

[mike a]

Hi all, week ago today it was t-shirt weather at Fresno Dome and camped there for the night.Today there is. Over a foot of snow on Fresno Dome it looks super snowy on the Dome! More snow to come tonight and tomorrow. Looks like this weekend is a wash as well. 👎😔