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8ballrollin · 06-10-2008, 06:14 AM

It's snowing above 2,500' in the Cascades tonight. We have a backpacking trip planed with the boys the second week of July. I checked on the spot last week and it's still under snow after about five miles of trail - not a ton, but it's there. And there will be more snow further up. Not sure what we're going to if we don't get melt. None of the boys sounded very stoked on Sunday when I told them we may have to camp on snow in July.

I may need a bike trip audible in my back pocket.

How's the snow pack/melt in other parts of the West? Is anyone else running into similar issues?

bigpiney · 06-10-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8ballrollin

It's snowing above 2,500' in the Cascades tonight. We have a backpacking trip planed with the boys the second week of July. I checked on the spot last week and it's still under snow after about five miles of trail - not a ton, but it's there. And there will be more snow further up. Not sure what we're going to if we don't get melt. None of the boys sounded very stoked on Sunday when I told them we may have to camp on snow in July.

I may need a bike trip audible in my back pocket.

How's the snow pack/melt in other parts of the West? Is anyone else running into similar issues?

Even though it has been hot lately we still have quite a bit of snow here in the Sierras. Most of my friends are planning lower elevation trips right now and trying to stay below 12,000. It is not that the show is blanketed up there, but on many of hte steep north facing slopes a big snow field creates enough of a hazard that most are smart enough to wait till it melts and hold off till the end of July.

I have no problem dealing with the snow during the summer, but it all depends on the steepness of the slope that you are going to be on. Around here we have some pretty significant slopes that I would not want to take a group of scouts across. But if it was only hiking through an area of snow that didn't have that much risk, it could actually be fun.

What does that elevation profile of your proposed trip look like?

MikeWaters · 06-10-2008, 03:01 PM

Yes, I have heard the horror stories of campers who didn't expect snow and got it. And died or almost died. Always be prepared.

bluegoose · 06-10-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigpiney

Even though it has been hot lately we still have quite a bit of snow here in the Sierras.

See creekster - SierraS, with an S. And he lives in the Sierras.

creekster · 06-10-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

See creekster - SierraS, with an S. And he lives in the Sierras.

Well, your existence is controlled by DNA but you proabbly can't spell the word behind that acronym and your misspelling will nto be correct.

You have been nursing this quite a while, eh?

bigpiney · 06-10-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

See creekster - SierraS, with an S. And he lives in the Sierras.

lol I must have missed something at some point. But mno making fun of crrekster fro typing, he and I are blood brothers when it comes to typing. I got his back and you mess with him you mess iwth me.

bluegoose · 06-11-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creekster

Well, your existence is controlled by DNA but you proabbly can't spell the word behind that acronym and your misspelling will nto be correct.

You have been nursing this quite a while, eh?

Just waiting patiently for the right opportunity, cr33$t3r. And do you really think 14 months is a long time? Hmmm. I guess not all of us can have an eternal perspective.

Deoxyribonucleic acid. So there.

myboynoah · 06-11-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

Just waiting patiently for the right opportunity, cr33$t3r. And do you really think 14 months is a long time? Hmmm. I guess not all of us can have an eternal perspective.

Deoxyribonucleic acid. So there.

Yes! bluegoose strikes one for all the little guys out there.

8ballrollin · 06-16-2008, 05:29 PM

Well, it looks like it's starting to thaw, so maybe it will not be bad. Here are pics (not mine) from last week from one of the lakes...

I'm going to head up on Saturday to check it out.

8ballrollin · 06-26-2008, 04:51 PM

Check out these conditions from Rainier...I'm glad we're going to the eastern-facing slopes.

Quote:

NOTE: The park received snow as low as 2000 feet on June 10. As of June 12 two parties have attempted the Wonderland Trail and both have failed... one after one night and one after four hours. Conditions are harsh. There WILL BE a late melt-out.

The winter of 2007/2008 has brought a significant amount of snow to the backcountry of Mount Rainier National Park. As of April 29, the season snowfall total is over 800 inches with upwards of 18 feet on the ground at the 5000 foot elevation. Snow may be found covering portions of trails well into August.

http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisi...ess-alerts.htm

06-10-2008, 06:14 AM	#1
8ballrollin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: WA Posts: 1,287	Snow It's snowing above 2,500' in the Cascades tonight. We have a backpacking trip planed with the boys the second week of July. I checked on the spot last week and it's still under snow after about five miles of trail - not a ton, but it's there. And there will be more snow further up. Not sure what we're going to if we don't get melt. None of the boys sounded very stoked on Sunday when I told them we may have to camp on snow in July. I may need a bike trip audible in my back pocket. How's the snow pack/melt in other parts of the West? Is anyone else running into similar issues? __________________ "Five to one... One in five No one here gets out alive"

06-16-2008, 05:29 PM	#9
8ballrollin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: WA Posts: 1,287	Well, it looks like it's starting to thaw, so maybe it will not be bad. Here are pics (not mine) from last week from one of the lakes... I'm going to head up on Saturday to check it out. __________________ "Five to one... One in five No one here gets out alive"

06-10-2008, 03:01 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Yes, I have heard the horror stories of campers who didn't expect snow and got it. And died or almost died. Always be prepared.