Season Reports: Summer-August-September 2011 in the High Sierra

Welcome to the Summer 2011 High Sierra Reports

Summer's over! Check out the Fall 2011 Reports.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the Summer conditions you encounterd. Post up your experiences with mosquitoes, river conditions, trail conditions, as well as reports about trail culture, backpackers, trail crew and cowboys you experienced on High Sierra Trails during the short Summer of 2011. All experiences are all welcome.

Rapidly Changing Conditions

Fall conditions are now deepening, bringing cooler temps and the threat of snow. This means that conditions in the Sierra can change rapidly. You will now need to anticipate the possibility of snow obscuring the trail and cold conditions requiring thicker gear. You must be prepared for the physical difficulities of snow travel.

The most important information you will likely need revolves around deepening cold, impending weather and storms, and road conditions.

Road Conditions

Caltrans Mountain Road Conditions by Region

Caltrans Mountain Road Conditions: Lake Tahoe Basin 

Caltrans Road Conditions: Enter Hwy Number.

Call 1-800.427.7623 for current highway conditions.

Snow and Weather

As of Oct 5 the Sierra just experienced it's first dusting of snow. Everyone freaks out... Let's get some solid information from "on the spot" about snowfall, precipitation, and temps.

Local Reporting Stations

Federal; List: All California SNOTEL Sites

Federal: Mesowest Station Map: Northern California.

Federal: Mesowest Station Map: Southern California.

California: CDEC Station Locator Map.

The Big Picture

Federal; Regional Snow Analyses: Western Coastal.

Weather

Weather Maps. Note the 

Big Picture: Satellites

Big Picture: Radar

You can post up your notes on High Sierra Fall Trail conditions on this page through the comments link, or you can post up your own page in the Seasonal Reports:Forum.

Check out the Spring Thaw Report page, which will give you background information to bring you up to speed on the evolution of High Sierra trail and weather conditions this year, up to August 21, 2011.

I'm still recovering from an injury, so you guys have got to send in your reports, or post them up here on this page through the comments link below, or as your own article in this, the Summer 2011 Conditions Reports Forum.

This Forum is the belated Kick off of the Summer Backpacking Season Reports from the High Sierra, as Spring snow and runoff conditions had persisted into mid August.

Here's our first report from Ken and Theo at Mammoth Lakes:

AUGUST 21, 2011 Ken and Theo just called from Reds Meadow with this late report on conditions between Tuolumne Meadows and Reds. Very light snow at high elevation passes. Donohue Pass almost clear. Mosquito populations way down. Creek levels down to almost normal levels. Easy fording. Knee deep and do-able. Lots of trail traffic: seeing hikers at thirty minute intervals.