Southern Yosemite Climbing Discussions

Southern Yosemite Categories => General Discussion => Topic started by: mungeclimber on January 01, 2017, 10:59:44 am

Title: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on January 01, 2017, 10:59:44 am
Happy New Year!!!

Anyone going up today? ;)

Title: Re: Condtions thread (road, weather, etc) 2017
Post by: John on January 02, 2017, 08:58:15 am
Happy New Year!!

Today? Probably too crowded.
Title: Re: Condtions thread (road, weather, etc) 2017
Post by: mungeclimber on January 02, 2017, 11:54:26 am
Happy New Year!!

Today? Probably too crowded.

I know, right?! Lol
Title: Re: Condtions thread (road, weather, etc) 2017
Post by: susan on January 03, 2017, 05:26:05 pm
Yes Happy New Years! Hopefully we'll keep getting a lot more snow this year.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on January 12, 2017, 12:46:02 pm
We need a reliable web cam for the ridge.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on January 18, 2017, 07:13:30 pm
Purchase of Pisten Bully continues...
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mike a on January 23, 2017, 12:53:29 pm
super snowy today, down to 2000' deadwood closed until 10am this morning, Shuteye and fresno dome buried in snow, at this rate will not be getting up to shuteye until lake May early June.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: splitclimber on March 14, 2017, 12:14:04 pm
all it takes is a bit of warm weather - so I gotta ask...................

is anything accessible/climbable this weekend? 

Fresno Dome maybe??? hopefully???  I doubt it. :(



Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on March 15, 2017, 09:39:25 am
Hi!

I doubt it but would like to know otherwise. Am trying to get John interested in checking things out, but we've spent so many early seasons foiled from climbing for a day.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on March 16, 2017, 12:04:02 pm
Road to Tollhouse is clear.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mike a on March 17, 2017, 08:29:13 am
fresno dome is still super snowed in, but can get out to chiquito dome, yosemite valley last weekend was super nice with no climbers. Mike A.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on March 17, 2017, 08:42:47 am
You can get to Chiquito?? Wow, really surprised. Thanks Mike!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: splitclimber on March 21, 2017, 12:21:15 pm
Tollhouse was great this weekend.  mostly overcast and not hot.  Best part - only one other climbing party out each day. 

elephant walk and free and easy with the sunset strip finish were sooooo good.  center crack and beginner's left were also fun leads.  top roped beginner's delight and p1 of shining path.

Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on March 23, 2017, 08:06:01 am
Glad you got out Splitclimber. You never know, that could be the last weekend for a while the way this year has been going with the rain and all. No dry rock this weekend. Grrr.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: DaveyTree on March 24, 2017, 08:08:19 pm
It was dry enough at Tollhouse this morning. Was able to get 8 pitches in before the rain came in. Topped out in the rain up a dirty finish I hadn't done before. Good day ending with a beer in the rain.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: DG on March 28, 2017, 08:12:05 pm
Anyone know how deep the snow is around Fresno Dome? Any chance the road to the campground would at least be accessible this Friday?
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on March 30, 2017, 09:58:10 am
DG - I wish I knew but suspect the snow is still deep there.

Maybe you already tried this? But here's a link stating that the campground is inaccessible due to snow:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sierra/recarea/?recid=45556

The link also offers phone numbers to call to hopefully reach people for live updates of conditions.

 
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: DG on March 30, 2017, 11:34:57 pm
Thanks, Susan! Given that, will probably end up just going to the valley!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mike a on March 31, 2017, 07:50:17 am
Morning happy Friday/climbing, snow at fresno dome deep will not be able to drive up there at the earliest late May!!! Still been going to Yosemite Valley on the week days and it's been nice climbing in the sun, happy climbing mike a.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 06, 2017, 01:44:41 pm
Of course DG, you're welcome! Can't beat the Valley this time of year, before the crowds and traffic really get going. Already begun a bit though especially traffic with 120 closed and detours up valley. 

 There were more obstructions for Shuteye. Last weekend a friend phoned a Bass Lake ranger who reported some sort of tree blockage on Minarets near Shuteye Creek, and so big a snow bank that they could not get over it with 4wd.

New storm this weekend to bring more snow, but hopefully nothing sticks. Sunday looks sunny and may finally be the beginning of a much better trend going forward.

 
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 06, 2017, 01:46:02 pm
O and Good running into you Mike A. Hope you had a great day climbing!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on April 06, 2017, 03:12:54 pm
thx for the updates Mike and Susan

I don't feel so bad now. Time to try and ski a little more with this new snow.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: DaveyTree on April 06, 2017, 10:32:05 pm
Yikes, I have been running up to Tollhouse every weekend to get some laps in.  Hope it warms soon. Gotta get on those projects we all hope to summit. Can't wait to see all the wild flowers with all the water this year. Lunesta may be walk up only from the Hawk Dome side this year.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on April 17, 2017, 07:47:49 am
We went to the Valley this weekend and it took us 1-1/2 hrs to just get in the gate!! That sucked so much that later in our day we took a detour to Soyo to get some peace and quiet in and were pleasantly surprised with the conditions. Chiquito was the only easily-accessible formation we could get to.

Minarets is unlocked and clear to almost Jackass where a big ol tree is waiting to be cut out. Really big tree. From there who knows. Lots of debris on the roads up to there.

The Minarets end of Grizzly is a mess just past Lower Chiquito CG. Not done cooking yet.

We went to Mammoth Pools at one point to see the spillway doing its thing and the road towards the dam is totally washed out....gone...kuput...not gonna happen. One might be able to drive way around the washout in the field to the right once the ground dries up but it will be a while.

Thats all I got for now.

Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on April 17, 2017, 09:17:47 am
 :o
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: DaveyTree on April 17, 2017, 11:28:05 am
Went up to Patterson Bluff this last Friday trying to find some dry rock. Almost everything was wet. Drove all the way up past Black Rock Res. to the gate near the turn off for the upper power station. Beside being wet there was no snow to see. The area was engulfed in a cloud all day keeping moisture up and views of the bluff limited. Went back down and TR'd a few climbs just below the upper bridge on Black Rock Rd. They were a full 100' but didn't look it. Climbs were good fun .9-.10a/b with an amazing view.

The Luponic added to it all.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: wingnut on April 17, 2017, 12:01:36 pm
John;

How wet was Chiquito? I was thinking of driving in there next weekend to climb
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on April 17, 2017, 04:37:01 pm
John;

How wet was Chiquito? I was thinking of driving in there next weekend to climb

Really dry. We didn't go up the left side all the way so can't confirm every inch is dry but it looked dry from below.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: squiddo on April 17, 2017, 10:15:42 pm
Adventure to be had!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 18, 2017, 12:19:58 pm
More news of the ridge with some cell phone visuals to add to what John said.

It was so exciting getting back here, I snapped way too many cell phone photos and videos to sift through, but here is as good a shot as I could nab of the east side of the ridge. So much more snow than usual for this time of year in recent years at roughly 6k or so and up.

 (http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/canvas_resized.jpg)

Even though Shuteye was peaceful, anyone could see Minarets Rd suffered major damage from the record breaking winter and wet spring. As mentioned, the road to Mammoth Pool just past the turn for the Wagner Store was devastated:

(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/roadout_resized.jpg)

(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/maw_resized.jpg)

A bit of haunting of a sight when thinking of another area on Minarets with a major crack in the middle of the road marked with caution stands. There are so many spots along the sides of Minarets with caution stands where the side of the road gave out.

Also, falling trees and even giant branches are as we all know a more common danger in these times.
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/safety_resized.jpg)
There are many stacks of logs and areas where the burned forest is getting thinned out with a seemingly impossible amount of work yet to be done.

Get a load of the size of the tree that blocks access to Jackass Rock, and John bouldering its limbs.
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/bouldering tree jpg_resized.jpg)


The Balls are socked in good still.
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/balls_resized.jpg)

The gate at Rock Creek to Big Sleep was shut and so was the one to Gray Eagle area. Grizzly Road to Beasore was blocked early on by much snow and fallen trees. So, not much climbing to go around yet, but lots of anticipation. Hope it won't be as late as June or even July before we can get much of anywhere!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: squiddo on April 18, 2017, 01:42:57 pm
Wow sue....that tree is amazing! I'm beyond excited.....
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 18, 2017, 04:06:17 pm
Yeah, squiddo, crazy huge fallen tree!

Can't wait til next time either...





Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on April 18, 2017, 10:49:46 pm
Thx for the trip pics

btw, we could have that thing bucked and rounds in a couple hours. Just sayin. :)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: sneville on April 19, 2017, 11:24:16 am
Also saw on the bass lake ranger station that the pekanpaw (sp?) road, the back way up to big sleep from north fork is gone....see ya bye bye.  Take a look at the pictures.  Doubt it will get fixed anytime this year.

Sean out!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on April 19, 2017, 07:43:24 pm
No can find pics on the SF web page or on their FB feed recently. Got a link handy?
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 21, 2017, 10:36:59 am
Yeah, I can't find the photos either, just the closed notice about Forest Road 8S09 Peckinpah Road and Whiskey Falls:

 https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=stelprdb5399344 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sierra/home/?cid=stelprdb5399344)

Bummer. That's one long road. Wonder where along it all the damaged areas are located. Assuming this is referring mainly to the section of the road from around North Fork up to Big Sleep, but it also makes me doubtful about the section of the road from Rock Creek to Big Sleep.

At least the Whiskey Falls Road itself doesn't have any damage notes next to it on the list.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 23, 2017, 11:32:14 pm
Not done cooking. Here is the tree corridor just past Jackass.
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/DSCN6132_resized.jpg)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on April 24, 2017, 09:23:58 am
Set the oven for 85F for 6 days, baste liberally with PBR, sage, and pine nuts.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 24, 2017, 09:50:42 am
On it!

I wish...

Also, this is happening - Jackass Creek.

https://vimeo.com/214453589 (https://vimeo.com/214453589)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: sneville on April 24, 2017, 10:09:00 am
Munge,
I just shared the link on facebook about the road being washed out.

Sean
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 24, 2017, 10:22:22 am
https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/photos/pcb.1920572321546705/1920571828213421/?type=3&theater (https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/photos/pcb.1920572321546705/1920571828213421/?type=3&theater)

Yikes!

Hopefully those photos are able to be shared via the link above.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on April 24, 2017, 10:27:41 am
Pools will be great this year! 

I wonder if certain lower dome approach will be impassable with creeks running that high.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 24, 2017, 10:45:31 am
Don't think so.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: SoYo Climber on April 24, 2017, 01:01:25 pm
Please keep the condition info coming, and thanks as well.  The comments, pictures, and video are helpful.  Where was the Jackass Creek video shot from?  I'm watching with interest as the spring trip is starting to loom on the horizon.  Could be an interesting spring, that's for sure.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on April 24, 2017, 02:49:26 pm
Sure thing! That video was shot from Minarets at the bridge over the creek right there at Jackass Rock. I wouldn't have recognized it either with all that water!

Some keep saying it could be months for the snow to melt sufficiently, even into July, but I'm hopeful. Thinking late May maybe give or take.

That's not knowing about road conditions and downed trees everywhere we're currently blocked from getting to because of the snow.

Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on May 16, 2017, 03:27:56 pm
Was snowing at Mammoth yesterday...

And this was taken last weekend...

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4157/34542567342_83c4715710_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on May 17, 2017, 04:37:18 pm
Don't you just love it when finally you get a forecast that looks like this:
http://f1.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-119.28031712947421&lat=37.43043352193726#.WRzddsa1tPY (http://f1.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-119.37259290580225&lat=37.39239013841822#.WRzd0Ma1tPY)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: Slim on May 17, 2017, 09:57:12 pm
Thanks for updates. Watching intently...I've got plans for easy fuller butte in a few weekends. Hoping I'm in good shape...
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: sneville on May 17, 2017, 10:19:01 pm
Fuller is good to go!  What do you usually climb down there?

Sean
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: Slim on May 18, 2017, 06:50:33 am
Thanks, Sean.

Headed to check out the Anderson's "walking with Walt". Looks beautiful.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on May 18, 2017, 07:34:36 am
Slim are you aiding or free climbing it? The Andersons ignored the fact that the lower part of WWW is actually the free climb Narrow Gauge and the thin cracks were getting ruined from their pins. No reason it can't be climbed clean. Narrow Gauge is one of the best cracks in Soyo for sure so we hope it doesn't get any crumblier at the crux from pins. Let us know how it goes!!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: Slim on May 18, 2017, 09:15:14 am
Thanks, John. I've talked that through with Jerry and seen the other posts on here.

All will be free/clean.

Will definitely post up once we're back. Hoping the falcons don't boot us off the face...
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: DG on May 27, 2017, 03:24:33 pm
Anyone know what the access and conditions are like at the needles? Haven't been there before but if the conditions are good, might be checking it out next week.

Thanks!
DG
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on May 30, 2017, 10:18:25 pm
I don't know about Needles, but ShutEye Ridge proper looks completely dry based on Vitaliy's pics.

On ST... Talk of 4x4 access with winching and real 4x tactics to get to the Talon.

Mooch posted up LE and Squaw approach beta as well.

Guess the season is fully on.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: Dave on May 31, 2017, 01:45:41 pm
It's gonna take chain saws and another week or so for the snow to melt out. Several large trees down. Of course, we hiked in from Grizzly. 
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on June 29, 2017, 03:43:49 pm
This is a first...

http://www.sierrastar.com/news/local/article158925709.html

Quote
This year the Sierra NF will not be implementing campfire restrictions this Fourth of July holiday.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on June 29, 2017, 03:58:18 pm
Then I will celebrate the fourth with lighting our legal campfire with bottle rockets. Yay Merika!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on July 02, 2017, 09:53:47 pm
Just saw vid of the spillway running. Water this year!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on July 04, 2017, 08:27:47 am
It's so spectacular. Will post up video and photos.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: SoYo Climber on July 05, 2017, 04:09:21 pm
Not sure what it looks like now, but when we were there in May the spillway was quite impressive.  You could easily see the spray in the air from the Mile High Curve overlook.  We would have loved to walk down the paved access road that starts just past the bridge because I'm sure it would have been spectacular, possibly even kind of scary, given how close that road is to the spillway channel and how much water was going down it.  Unfortunately the deer migration and the washout prevented checking it out in May.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on July 05, 2017, 06:16:49 pm
So pissed, we just realized all of our photos from the four day weekend on our new camera have a stupid time stamp in the corner!! And in European format too!! Arrg!!

Spillway up...
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/IMG_0090_resized.jpg)

Spillway down...
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/IMG_0088_resized.jpg)

Teehee...
(http://www.southernyosemiteclimbing.com/SMF/photo_album_resized/IMG_0098_resized.jpg)

It really is cool having that much water rushing beneath you.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: mungeclimber on July 05, 2017, 08:28:28 pm
February was lovely!  ;)

Just redo the time stamp settings and re-export. Disregard if you already deleted the photos from your camera.

 btw, format your card each time you put it back in your camera in order to delete old images. Don't use a PC or import software to 'delete after downloading.' Better for the card integrity from almost all photogs I've talked to.
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on July 06, 2017, 07:30:11 am
Yes February was lovely!

I Googled how to get rid of timestamps and the verdict is we are screwed as far as I can tell. Timestamps aren't a layer you can turn on/off, the pixels we want back, underneath the stamp, are gone. Seriously, I would be more OK with the stamp if it was in the right format!! The February thing drives me nuts! Total OCD...
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: daniel banquo merrick on July 06, 2017, 08:18:34 am
Photoshop is your solution. Actually, I'm too cheap to buy Photoshop and use GIMP. Same same.

(http://danielmerrick.com/SOYO_photos/98.jpg)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: John on July 07, 2017, 07:57:39 am
I see you augmented my tits








crew photo. Thanks!
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on July 07, 2017, 12:22:15 pm
Just saw the news that these area campgrounds will remain closed the rest of the year:
Quote
Sierra NF, Bass Lake Ranger District has added campgrounds to Forest Order #05-15-00-17-11 Recreation Site and Road Closure. The following campgrounds will remain closed through the 2017 season due to"Public Safety" concerns.
Chilkoot Campground
Crane Valley Group Campground
Fish Creek Campground
Fresno Dome Campground
Grey's Mountain Campground
Jerseydale Campground
Lower Chiquito Campground
Mammoth Pool Campground
Placer Campground
Rock Creek Campground
Ross Cabin
Soda Springs Campground
Sweetwater Campground
Texas Flat Campground
Upper Chiquito Campground
For more information please see the following link.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sierra/alerts-notices (https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sierra/alerts-notices)
Title: Re: Condtions thread 2017 (road, weather, etc)
Post by: susan on July 10, 2017, 10:50:17 am
Also, now roads that won't be open til summer 2019 include Peckinpah and Stumps Creek!