Eastern Sierra BC 2022-23

[bodywhomper]

I really enjoyed that documentary. Incredible tour!

The time and dedication to put that together is like another job.

The kwood patroller group photo shows at least one other that used to live out of his truck or a sleeping bag on the east side mid/late spring for many years.

[byates1]

Stop that.

I agree it's irritating af, will keep it to a dull roar

[Danno]

I agree it's irritating af, will keep it to a dull roar

what do you think you're doing with that crap? showing everyone how annoying AI created crap can be? We know.

[byates1]

Well I've succeeded in irritating you so my day just got better

[fleaches]

Trying to put together a few days in early May, how's it looking down there? Sounds like Mammoth-->north is in OK shape this year?

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[claymond]

Trying to put together a few days in early May, how's it looking down there? Sounds like Mammoth-->north is in OK shape this year?

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I haven't been down there a ton, but we were around bishop and big Pine this weekend and overall coverage is bad to nonexistent below 8k, aspect dependent but pretty thin below 10k, and pretty good above that. Bring hiking shoes and a good four wheel drive and get some!

[claymond]

Got only our second trip this year on the Eastside this weekend.

One of the north chutes on Basin on day one. Drove to about 8k in the Buttermilks before getting stopped by a drift. Hiked the road/trail for about half an gour then got on snow. Booting the chute took forever, trapdoor breakable crust over deep soft snow. It rode good on the way down though, the crust melted without the rest of the snow getting too wet. Few frozen rollerballs thrown in for good measure.


The next day was supposed to be shitty and very windy so we did a short run in the Sherwin than did our favorite down day or post ski activity, bowling in bishop. I hadn't gotten any better since last year.

Sunday and Monday we did an overnight in the Palisades. Weather was still looking poor, with snow Sunday and northwest winds Monday but we decided to give it a try. Hiked the trail for about 2.5 miles before getting continuous snow. As we got closer to the crest the weather got worse. It was snowing lightly and viz was quite low. Got to the tongue of palisade glacier and got a spot dug out and the tent setup in moderate snowfall. Winds picked up and a blizzard ensued for a couple hours, then it cleared up late afternoon. Went for a short tour to the top of the glacier in sunny cold calm weather. There was about a foot of new blower pow that seemed fairly stable. Hopes were high that winds would stay slow through the night and we could get into some couloirs the next day. About midnight, winds came in again. We woke up to plumes and gusty mostly northwest winds. U Notch looked like it might be protected and not getting loaded so we went to the base. Started feeling a shallow soft slab and could see small wind pillows in the couloir. Made the disappointing choice to pull the plug. If we had been on top with what we were seeing i think we would have probably skied it, but we werent gonna climb through that stuff. Skied the glacier back to camp, broke it down, and headed out.

[meter-man]

Claymond, Rad TR! Thanks for sharing the stoke. Looks like an awesome trip. Always a success when you come back from deep in the mountains!


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[meter-man]

Anybody got the magic linky for updates on Tioga Pass opening schedule? I think it used to be on Caltrans District 9's FB page, but they have not posted in 2024. Interested in when the road is open TO the pass - don't really care when it will fully open through the Park.

[frorider]

Rescue in Coke chute: https://fb.watch/rE_AEFYxS3/

Meter man, I was getting updates on instagram last year on the caltransd9 instagram account

[claymond]

That's a good video. Great reminder of how long rescues can take.

[Big Tim]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...ibextid=cr9u03

[byates1]

[GKWood]

Does anyone have recent beta on conditions? I'm mostly curious about timing of corn w.r.t. aspect and elevation. Trying to figure out if Saturday will be too cold/windy to be hunting N-ish facing corn up high or not.

[bobz]

I just got back from touring Onion to Symmes Creek, and (1) Onion Valley road has a hard closure at 7000', so there's some walking to be done until their road work wraps up, (2) Shepherd Pass trail has an annoying bit below Symmes Notch where there's up to a couple feet of heavy slurpee snow on no base that needs to be sloshed through unless I guess you're there very early in the morning. And (3) Snow gets quite soft not too much after noon, on account of how much late season snow we got, so those people who were going "woo hoo, spring powder" a few weeks ago, blame them.

Nice time though, having Vidette Canyon all to myself after popping over Kearsarge. Then I took Ski Mtneers Pass to Tyndall basin, and skied down Super Bowl from Polychrome Peak almost continuously down to Shepherd Creek.

Ugh, I'm not able to post pics, so click to see 'em:
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