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.
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:
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.
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.
The Balls are socked in good still.
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!
