Eastern Sierra Backcountry Thread 2020-21

[mr. hankey]

awesome post JsonP!

[liv2ski]

awesome post JsonP!

Right? Some great photos in that one for sure.

[priapism]

Have u driven up little walker recently pdork? how high up can u drive right now?

Hey, was up there Monday and had to park at the lot before the bridge in the Benson guidebook for Mt Emma. Tried to drive up further but didn't have the necessary lift in my car, and there were a few snow patches. Had to hike parts of the road which was dirt at times but was able to mostly skin thru the woods up to Stockade flat and Emma Lake trailhead. Ran out of time so didn't go up further.


On the other hand, VA lakes were good (south peak and red lake). Green creek seemed promising too

[abcdethan]

Is there some thread of truth that the 120 will open up this Friday? The second gate?

[jorion]

Just before 6-12” of snow in the forecast? That would seem odd no?

[CaliKid]

Caltrans is closing Monitor Pass at 4am on Saturday ahead of the potential storm so I highly doubt any additional gates are opened on 108 or 120.


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[MTT]

Caltrans is closing Monitor Pass at 4am on Saturday ahead of the potential storm so I highly doubt any additional gates are opened on 108 or 120.


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This will be interesting to follow. Late April big storms are not unheard-of. But?

[jsonP]

Thanks for the stoke. How is the coverage down low for the point to point from Excelsior down to Lundy?

Never got a good look but id assume it was thin, didnt see many tracks heading down that way.

Thanks all, my first real post. Had to contribute!

[davjr96]

From Caltrans

Due to a late-season snowstorm set to impact higher elevations in the District this weekend, State Route 120 W at the Lee Vining gate will not open this week. Depending on the severity of the storm, State Route 89/Monitor Pass may close too.

One or more of the following roads may close as well:

• State Route 120 E/Mono Mills Road
• State Route 158 N/North June Lake Loop
• State Route 270/Bodie Road
• State Route 168 W at the Aspendell Gate

Three roads remain in winter closure:

• State Route 120 W at Lee Vining Gate
• State Route 108/Sonora Pass
• State Route 203 at Mammoth Mountain Inn

Caltrans will assess State Route 120 W after the storm has passed.

[enlosandes]

In case anyone is wondering, I drove up Rock Creek today and could get to about halfway between pack station and mosquito flat. From there is was patchy snow until Mack Lake.

South of Mammoth received very little snow this season and that was evident today. Normally Rock Creek serves it up this time of year.

[meter-man]

Thanks for the beta and shot ELA!

Davr - where do you get this Caltrans info? The book of faces?

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[davjr96]

Thanks for the beta and shot ELA!

Davr - where do you get this Caltrans info? The book of faces?

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Yep, Caltrans district 9 and 10 have FB pages and are fairly active.

[jorion]

In case anyone is wondering, I drove up Rock Creek today and could get to about halfway between pack station and mosquito flat. From there is was patchy snow until Mack Lake.

South of Mammoth received very little snow this season and that was evident today. Normally Rock Creek serves it up this time of year.

Thanks for that! Hoping to camp back in there next weekend. Doesn’t look totally not worth it.

I can’t tell how peppery cat ears is in that pic. Do you have a higher res than what you posted that is clearer? Or did you happen to look closely at it on person?

[AKbruin]

Thanks for that! Hoping to camp back in there next weekend. Doesn’t look totally not worth it.

I can’t tell how peppery cat ears is in that pic. Do you have a higher res than what you posted that is clearer? Or did you happen to look closely at it on person?

You can't really see the crux until you're behind Treasure Peak. Anyhow, having made a couple unsuccessful trips to ski it before succeeding in 2017, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that it doesn't go (or is at least pretty sketchy) right now. But you never know.

[jorion]

Good to know, thanks akb.

[stoepstyle]

My buddy and I were thinking of doing a tour next week from North Lake -> Goddard -> South Lake. It seems like close attractions are pretty melted out but peering out over into the *higher* Sierra how does it look?

[jorion]

I’ve been using sentinelhub playground lately. It’s pretty rad: you can see pretty recent satellite photos (no older than a week I think) to see what coverage is generally like.

[jorion]

I wasn’t sure what to expect today from the sawtooths but I definitely did not expect to spend several hours wallowing in waist-deep pow. I’d say I need to buy verts but I wouldn’t have brought them today anyway. A partner to share the load would’ve been good though. I’m guessing the southwest winds loaded it up during the storm and then the north winds have deposited all the snow from the apron up higher.

Mostly crap skiing and several hours of dryland hiking, but hey, there was an insanely good 500’ or so and face shots are face shots

[splitter]

120 is open to the summit.

https://www.facebook.com/17860306222...811921198/?d=n

[gimpy]

Thanks splitter......would be nice if caltrans updated their road conditions page instead of putting the word out on facebook.......cuz....fuck facebook

[splitter]

Thanks splitter......would be nice if caltrans updated their road conditions page instead of putting the word out on facebook.......cuz....fuck facebook

I agree. NPS.gov/yose could do a helluvalot better at updating the tioga plowing page as well.

[CS]

I agree. NPS.gov/yose could do a helluvalot better at updating the tioga plowing page as well.

Or update it at all. Yosemite has become a complete disaster with how it is run now.

[jorion]

Short clip of the fun part of the Hulk Left Tuesday.

https://youtu.be/dbsv92ODXCo

[mr. hankey]

Awesome Hulk vid Jorion! looks like you had great powder

on 120 opening - great to see, but i saw a pic from a couple weeks ago looking at Solstice from the Plateau. looked doable but more than the usual rocks showing to navigate around. Hopefully conditions up there are still good.

[gimpy]

I’m fired up to shred Dana couloir is prime blue ice climbing conditions.......at least that run won’t be mush with the lack of a solid overnight freeze
Saw a pic of Main/far right north peak couloir and there was already exposed blue ice on the skiers right side of the upper pitch.....check out daieks insta......unreal,how fast he flashes that thing
Xmas poo- did that pic you looked at show if unknown is in shape?.....thanks