Spring Road Conditions 2014

[John]

Howdy all
Just wanted to share what we know about the roads so far. Mostly from two weekends ago but probably the same right now.

Beasore Rd is still really snowy before Cold Springs Summit but Central Camp Rd gate is open up there. How passable it is may be another story.

Fresno Dome is reachable but the roads are really muddy. 2WD and determination will easily get you there.

Minarets Rd is open to just past Squaw. Squaw has a fair amount of snow still on it though. The South Fork Trail Rd is pretty snowy still.

Grizzly Rd gate is open but we don't know how much of the road is dry. Obviously blocked by snow on the Beasore end since Cold Springs is so snowy still.

Gray Rd locked, road to the Beaks, Big Sleep, etc  from Rock Creek was still locked.

That is all I got.

[Jerry]

Drove to Fresno Dome trailhead parking easily on Saturday Mar 22 with a Subaru that had highway tires. One little patch of snow at the base of Mule Train. That will change if the stormds come in over the next two weeks.

[mungeclimber]

Road to Mammoth Pools is wide open.

[mungeclimber]

Minarets had patchy snow in shady spots out to Jackass, but the snow will melt fast down low. e.g. easy to get to Chiquito right now.

The ridge however looked to have a fair bit of snow. Gates still closed.

here's a shot of Grey

[daniel banquo merrick]

Almost time for the early trip to Balloon Dome. Mosquitos, gnats, poison oak and a miserable slog.

[John]

Mosquitos, gnats, poison oak and a miserable slog.

You sound so enthusiastic!

[daniel banquo merrick]

I thought perhaps you would find it appealing and tag along.

[mike a]

that hike down and out of there is tough!!!, bob says it's only about a 1.5 hike, NO WAY!!!, but man it's surely beautiful down there :-)

[daniel banquo merrick]

As the crow flies it is 1.5 miles from the car to the camp slab. The hiking route itself is about 2.5 miles. It's the 3000' elevation that kills you.

[daniel banquo merrick]

The hike in and out aren't really so bad. The part I dislike the most is the worn out quads which are so sore after I get home that I hobble around like a cripple for a week. I guess I should do more training hikes.

[John]

Whenever Sue and I are huffing on a hike we always bring up how much more miserable we would be on the BD hike out then we feel better. We need to get down there regardless. Are you planning a trip soon?

[daniel banquo merrick]

No specific plans yet but Bob will no doubt want to go when the roads are open. I haven't heard about conditions since the last set of storms.

[John]

I am 99% sure that particular road is good to go by this week. It was about two weeks from being clear 2.5 weeks ago and the snow isn't too bad from the last storm. We will try and confirm soon.

[John]

Update for 4/14
Minarets open and clear to about a mile past McCreary Trailhead
South Fork Trail Rd clear
Grizzly from Minarets clear to Lost Eagle turnoff. LE road still a little snowy but otherwise passable.
Pekinpah open to Big Sleep/Open on Rock Creek end too but tree needs to be cut out.

[daniel banquo merrick]

On Saturday the gate to Big Sleep at Rock Creek was still closed but it is possible to bypass the gate if you have 4wd by going up the Slide Creek 4wd trail which connects to Rock Creek. This trail has some high dirt beams and my lifted 4Runner bumped bottom on one. A chainsaw would fix the downed tree but of course there may be more farther along.