Spring Road Conditions 2014

[susan]

Dry weather and good temps were forecast last weekend, but Friday night we met with a lightning storm close to camp. Pleased and kind of amped by it, we set up to watch as if it were fireworks, but not 10, 20 minutes later, rain sent us for cover. The threat reared up again next day but didn't materialize. It was a little unnerving at times climbing high up a dome with threatening weather, but exciting and really beautiful out. Lots of big clouds would pass overhead and there would be no rain until the clouds moved on when under blue skies it would sprinkle. Great sunsets lately too.

One thing, if you come to the end of the road on Minarets toward the Balls as shown in Dan's photo, though awfully tempting to drive through because of wheel tracks showing someone made it all the way through, the snow there actually post-holes hip deep in places. Maybe it will be all clear in one or two weeks.

[John]

Anybody calling the bluff on the weather this weekend? My calculations come out as 90% blind stupidity divided by 20% chance of snow for Sat AM multiplied by the coefficient of Sunday being nice equals a potential 9 out of 10 if this doesn't blow up in our face. No I don't do math so good.

[jeff]

Mammoth Mountain is reporting 12-15" of snow so far and it is coming down hard here in June. Plus more tonight.

[John]

Wow. That sounds like a lot of snow for late April.

[jeff]

They are reporting a storm total of 28-40", kinda crazy!

[susan]

Mother nature sure faked us out. Or did we not get as much snow as predicted? I'm trying to checkout webcams. Looks sunny but NOAA predicts 20% more chance of rain/snow until Sunday 11 a.m.

http://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/customcf/webcamE


Surly the pass will open again soon with NOAA predicting 90 degree temps by next weekend!

[daniel banquo merrick]

Thinking of next weekend. Which roads to Big Sleep are open?

[susan]

We went to Big Sleep recently on Peckinpah out of North Fork. Some friends mozied down a road nearby that I think goes to the Whiskey camp area. The previous weekend we ran into that same log jam in your photo trying to get to Big Sleep from Minarets. I bet that's clear by now but haven't heard to be sure.

[John]

The FS just updated their road condition chart.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=stelprdb5399344

Some roads are officially closed but are otherwise currently open. The gates are all supposed to be unlocked on May 1st.

[John]

The road page was updated again. Gates should be unlocked.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=stelprdb5399344

[John]

Minarets Rd is clear all the way to the Balls. That's all I got.

[mike a]

morning, fresno dome is wide open, no snow on the road, perfect temps!!!, the season has started :-), happy climbing mike a.

[John]

Perrrrfect temps for sure. Did you work on your projects, Mike?

Oh yeah, the gates are all unlocked too!!! Woohoo!

[mike a]

morning, sure did, and started on 4 new ones, matt said he was going to meet amy and i for the first time up there sat, but he was a no show, his gang are working on new stuff, but as always it's top secret stuff can not trust anyone they may go up there and rip off his new stuff lol :-), the one route we did, golden eye arete is really fun stuff, if you get some time  you should chech it out, i think you will like it, happy open season and climbing mike a.

[DaveyTree]

Cool Mike. If I don't make it up there before, I will be at Fresno Dome May 23rd-25th. I would love to check out your new route. Can you post or send me the topo. Also email or inbox me locations of your new routes because I plan on taking gear for FAs in case something catches my eye. Don't want to take yours.