Welcome to the High Sierra Backpacker's Magazine, including forums for local and long-distance hikers sharing info about hiking the Sierra between Tahoe and Whitney.
This Magazine covers everything Sierra. Its Forums cover TYT, PCT, & JMT and alt-route hiker input from the Guide. The Tahoe to Whitney Trail Guide explores the trails & the necessary skills, fitness, and gear required to hike from Tahoe to Whitney. This evolving Magazine covers Current Conditions, News, the Arts, Sciences, Physicality, Spirituality, Gear, Environment, History, and Cultures of hiking Tahoe to Whitney.
Purposes: Expand Knowledge, Explore Potential
for Beginners: To get you off the couch, gear you up, get you into Sierra Shape, and onto the High Sierra Trails. Find info. Ask questions, get feedback, generate self-understanding and terrain awareness. Find killer short routes up and down the High Sierra Crest.
for Backpackers: Get you in deeper, longer, and higher. Train for the long trails. Find your next-steps trips. Hit the Long Trails. Hike the TYT and JMT. Find and explore side trails, alternative, and cross-country routes until you hike your skills into Winter compentency. Explore your potential.
for Experts: The information to come from anywhere in the US or world and backpack from Tahoe to Whitney. The Sierra Nevada is the ultimate wonderland for expert backpackers in top shape. But don't get cocky! The Sierra is bigger, stronger, and has been, and will be here much longer than any of us.
Water Expert's Long Term Views: There Never Was Enough Water in the Colorado River
COLORADO RIVER WATER, HOOVER DAM, HISTORY & FUTURE
Hoover Dam Intake Towers Exposed by Low Level of Lake Mead
Trend lines for the Colorado River & Her Reservoirs are pointing downward rapidly as illegal populations in the Southwestern US continue to explode. Image by egorshitikov, Pixabay.
Water Expert's Long Term Views: There Never Was Enough Water
From “The Great Mistake” to “Science Be Dammed,”
JFleck at Inkstain, October 9, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Sibert's Pre-Construction Analysis
"A retired Army officer and engineer, he headed a panel chartered by Congress in 1928 to review the feasibility of the..." Hoover Dam Project.
The Question
"...does the Colorado River really have enough water to honor the allocations in the legislation Congress was about to approve?"
September 2019 in the USA brings Extremes of Wet, Warm, and Dry
CLIMATE, WATER, & WEATHER: US SEPTEMBER
Extremes of Wet & Dry
Assessing the U.S. Climate in September 2019,
NCEI, October 8, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Second Warmest Month
"...second warmest September in the 125-year period of record. The warmest September on record occurred in 1998 and was 0.5°F warmer than in 2019."
Average Precip
"...September precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 2.42 inches, 0.07 inch below average, ranking in the middle third of the 125-year period of record."
Note the division of record precipitation and record dryness across the US during September. The extremes dry of the Southeast and extreme wet of the Upper Midwest balanced into an average of extremes.
Drought Growing in Southeast
Bovine Antibiotic Effects Not Limited to Bacteria: Soil Efficiencies Reduced
HEALTH & FITNESS
How Now, Brown Cow?
Brown Cow, Art Tower, Pixabay.
Antibiotic Effects Not Limited to Bacteria
Researchers Find Multiple Effects on Soil from Manure from Cows Administered Antibiotics,
Colorado State University, October 9, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Bovine Antibiotics
"...more stringent use of antibiotics in medical settings, the use of antibiotics in the livestock sector is gaining increased attention."
Levels of Use
"In the U.S., 80 percent of antibiotics are used in livestock production. Globally, livestock antibiotic use is projected to increase by 67 percent by the year 2030."
The Study
"...researchers analyzed ecosystems exposed to manure from cattle given no antibiotics and manure from cattle given a common antibiotic, as well as a control sample not exposed to manure. All of the manure samples were collected from standard dairy operations maintained by researchers from the Virginia Tech Department of Dairy Science."
The Heat Always Flows Somewhere
CLIMATE CHANGE
Pumping Atmospheric Warming into World Oceans
The greenhouse (GHG) effect caused by CO2 and other GHG gases acts as a "pump", feeding more and more energy into the Earth system. Most of this energy is ultimately stored in the ocean, and the warming rate of the atmosphere is affected by the air-sea energy transport, by Jing Xu,Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Heat Always Flows Somewhere
Has Global Warming Stopped? The Tap of Incoming Energy Cannot be Turned Off,
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, October 10, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Issue
The "Pause" in Global Warming
"...the observational global mean atmospheric temperature leveled off over the first decade of the 21st century, in contrast to the rapid warming during the late 20th century."
2019 Season High Sierra Fire, Smoke, and Mountain Safety Information
Resources
SUMMER & FALL
BACKPACKING SEASONS
of
2019
FIRE & SMOKE INFORMATION
ALL
FIRE & SMOKE
INFORMATION & RESOURCES
FIRE
All Federally Managed Fires
Parks, Forests, and Federal Lands
Inciweb has been downgraded in services and quality by their redesign. For a list of National and California Fires, now see:
NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER, note fire lists by states...
Environmental Estrogens Penetrate Placenta
HEALTH & FITNESS
Estrogen Migrates through the Placenta
The xenoestrogen zearalenone migrates through the placenta, as researchers have now been able to show for the first time. Credit to the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Environmental Estrogens Penetrate Placenta
Babies Burdened by Environmental Estrogens in Mothers' Wombs,
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), October 10, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Danger: Natural Sources
"Xenoestrogens are absorbed through the environment, especially through food. As oestrogen-like substances, they can have a profound effect on the body's hormonal balance."
Environmental Estrogen Penetrates Placenta
"The placental barrier offers the unborn child a certain protection against bacteria, viruses and some substances such as some medications or environmental toxins absorbed by the body. But zearalenone migrates through the placenta, as we have now been able to show for the first time..."
Arctic Birds Breeding Timing Changing
BIRDS & CLIMATE CHANGE
Black-Legged Kittiwake
In Arctic regions, the time period with optimal conditions for the reproduction of seabirds is quite limited. Fine shot by Sébastien Descamps, University of Barcelona.
Breeding Timing Changing
Early Breeding Season for Some Arctic Seabirds Due to Global Warming,
University of Barcelona, October 7, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Dramatic Changes
"The Arctic is one of the most sensitive areas to the global warming effects. Ice melting and the continuous rise of temperatures -higher than the average worldwide- are dramatically altering the structure of the Arctic ecosystems."
WEATHER for High Sierra Backpackers: REPORTS, FORECASTS, PREDICTIONS, SNOW, ROADS, CONDITIONS
ALL
HIGH SIERRA WEATHER RESOURCES
NEW
GOES-17-WEST
TWO VIEWS
of the
NE PACIFIC, CALIFORNIA COAST, & THE HIGH SIERRA
NOW
THE WIDE VIEW
The NOAA VIEWER
Northern Pacific GeoColor
The Last 11 Hours over the Northeastern Pacific
Also See
NE Pacific Water Vapor
Climate Warming Directly Responsible for 400% Increase in California Fires
WARMING TREES & FORESTS BURNING
Recent Extreme Warming
The years 2014-2018, averaged on this map, were the warmest years in the modern record compared to GISTEMP's 1951-1980 baseline. The areas in red experienced warmer than normal temperatures, while the areas in blue were cooler than normal during this period. NASA, Big.
Climate Warming Directly Responsible for 400% Increase in California Fires
Rising Global Temperatures Influence California’s Fire Season,
NASA Earth Observatory, August 30, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Increasing Fire
"...the annual burned area across California has increased fivefold over the past five decades, and the main driver is higher temperatures."
Huge Heat Waves Coming
ECO-CRASHING NEWS
Our Hot Future
Heat waves are predicted to be more frequent and more intense. Now this research says they could be up to twice as large by 2050. Image on Pixabay, by Gellinger.
Huge Heat Waves Are Coming
Heat Waves Could Increase Substantially in Size by Mid-Century, says New Study,
NOAA Headquarters, October 7, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
The Situation
"...scientists expect the frequency and intensity of heat waves to increase. However, a commonly overlooked aspect is the spatial size of heat waves, despite its important implications."
Northern Forests in Deep Trouble
PLANTS, FORESTS, & TREES
The Changing Snowy Forest Scene
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found clear signs of a decline in frost and snow days and other indicators of winter that could have lasting impacts on ecosystems, water supplies, the economy, tourism and human health, by MaxPixel.
Northern Forests in Deep Trouble
UNH Researchers Find Northern Forests Have Lost Crucial Cold, Snowy Conditions,
University of New Hampshire, October 4, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Winter Changes
"...have found clear signs of a decline in frost days, snow covered days and other indicators of winter that could have lasting impacts on ecosystems, water supplies, the economy, tourism and human health."
Snow to Rain
"Whether precipitation falls as snow or rain makes a big difference, whether you're talking about a forest stream, a snowshoe hare or even a skier."
High Sierra Forests: Plant Diversity a Casualty of High-Severity Wildfires
HIGH SIERRA FOREST SUCCESSION
Researcher in Sierra Nevada Forest
UC Davis' Clark Richter investigates plant diversity within a transect line of a Sierra Nevada forest affected by drought and wildfire, Courtesy Clark Richter.
High Sierra Forest Decline
Plant Diversity a Casualty of High-Severity Wildfires,
University of California - Davis, October 3, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
"Sierra Nevada forests are losing plant diversity due to high-severity fires."
Forest Succession
"These fires are turning patches of forest into shrub fields -- indefinitely, in some cases."
Legacy of Suppression
"...scientists analyzed plant diversity across a spectrum of fire severity -- from low to moderate to high. They found the sweet spot for plant diversity exists where tree stands burned with low-to-moderate severity, as mixed conifer forests did in this region for millennia...
Tracking Fall into Winter, 2019-2020, Early Season Snow
Clear & Warm
Lite Breezes
Warm Days and Cold Nights
Potentially Very Cold Nights
GEAR NOTE
It is Time to Supplement our Fall Gear Kit
with
Elements of our Winter Gear Kit as Required by Cooling Conditions
Fall Gear
Sept 27
Warm
Moderate Breezes
Analysis
In the Fire Section
About the Great PGE California POWERDOWN
PGE & Politics: How they Cheat us
On the
High Sierra Backpacker's Calendar
October of 2019 All High Sierra Backpacker, Hiker, Outdoors, & Nature News Index
LATEST HIGH SIERRA TRAIL NEWS
BELOW
LATEST HIGH SIERRA GENERAL NEWS
BELOW
SEPTEMBER ALL HIGH SIERRA NEWS
Latest
High Sierra Backpacker's News
Man and Nature
October, 2019
Happenings in the relationship between Man and Nature affecting our hike down life's trail through both worlds. We study both the reality created by humans and the uncreated reality reflected in, and tended by Nature.
The vast majority of our reporting on Nature comes from the American Association of Scientists summarizations of each day's bounty of the peer-reviewed research published by academic institutions and journals around the world.
Massive 2019 Blob Forms
OCEANS, ICE, WATER, & THE BLOB
Comparing The Blobs of 2014 & 2019
NOAA Sea Surface Temperatures representing the 2014 & 2019 Blobs, Big Maps.
UPDATE
Marine Heat Wave Returns to the Northeast Pacific,
NASA Earth Observatory, September 12, 2019.
Massive 2019 Blob Forms
New Marine Heatwave Emerges off West Coast, Resembles "the Blob,"
NOAA Fisheries, September 5, 2019.
WATCH the BLOB
Current & Recent
Sea Surface Temperatures
(Scroll up for El Nino Information)
MAIN POINTS
Who’s Responsible for Your Mountain Safety?
Repost
MOUNTAIN SAFETY & WILDERNESS ETHICS
The Folks Who Pull Us Out:
California Mountain Rescue Association
I'm Seeing Red! MRA met in Mammoth Lakes California in 2016 to test in "Snow and Ice" for their yearly Re-Accreditation test, hosted by Inyo County SAR. Map. Photo Credit, Adorabutton, Wiki.
Who’s Responsible for Your Mountain Safety?
Should we stop rescuing people in wilderness?
Adirondack Explorer, February 12, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Jerry Brown, Bribed Corporate Tool, UPDATED: Limits PG&E’s liability for Fire Damages
Oct 2019 REVIEW of July 2018
PGE, FIRE, & DEMOCRATS
The Past Fortells and Explains the Present and shows us the Future....
Jerry Brown Legacy
Burning forests, a Ruined Climate, a Broken Middle Class, Poverty, and Dying Ecosystems
Our Corrupted Present & Future...
Pretty-Pretty Gavin Newsom: How Our Financial-Political-Social Aristocracy Works
How We Got Here, to
The Great PGE California Power-Down:
Oct 2019 REVIEW
A brief look at our past and present political and press breakdowns into corruption (the page below...) quickly reveals the clear path of greed driving political corruption driving irresponsible growth that's brought California, and the whole world, to our current status of widespread Environmental and Ecosystem Breakdowns, Planet-Wide Chemical Poisoning, highlighted by the rapidly rising forces of yet more Heat, Darkness and Fire.
Two Articles: Did Camp Fire Violate PGE Probation, and, Was Camp Fire a State Crime?
UPDATED STORY!
Oct 9, 2019
WHY
The Great
PGE California POWER-DOWN
More & More Physical Consequences of Political Corruption...
Background
The Past
Jerry Brown, Bribed Corporate Tool, UPDATED: Limits PG&E’s liability for Fire Damages
The Present,
"Jerry's Kid..."
Pretty-Pretty Gavin Newsom: How Our Financial-Political-Social Aristocracy Works
PGE BANCRUPTCY?
October 9 Review...
What are the Real Causes & the Status of this Disturbing Situation with PG&E?
Where did this Hot Mess with PG&E Come From?
Let's Review the Recent Past to Find Out!
For the Climate Skeptics-Deniers, Straight Talk From an Expert on Climate Change, & The Paris Accord is a TOTAL Corporate Farce
ECO-CRASHING NEWS
For the Skeptics
Straight Talk From an Expert on Climate Change,
AGU Blog, September 21, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
A powerful set of Warming-Skeptical Questions and Powerful Statistical Chart Answers.
Charts
Solar Energy
Orbital Cycles
Earth Total Heat Content
Grim New Model Updates 2007 Model Run: Nuke War Still Bad News
UPDATES
Princeton's, "Plan A," Nuke Destruction Video Report & Coalition of Physicists
War between India and Pakistan Would Have Global Consequences
POTENTIAL ANTHROPOCENE-ECO-CRASH NEWS: NUKE WAR
Modeling a Major Nuke Exchange
Kiss your ass goodby, Image FEMA, ready.gov. Big Image.
Grim New Model Updates 2007 Model Run: Nuke War Still Bad News
Nuclear Winter Would Threaten Nearly Everyone on Earth,
Rutgers University, August 28, 2019.
MAIN POINTS
Modern Modeling
"...modern climate model to simulate the climatic effects of an all-out nuclear war between the United States and Russia."
