Current Conditions | Useful Links
SMG's Snow report is for the snow conditions in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. We report on conditions as we see them, or from reports we get from our friends. This snow report is for snow quality and coverage conditions, not for anything related to stability of the snowpack on backcountry slopes. For the backcountry avalanche advisory please visit the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center website. Be aware that snow conditions can change rapidly. You need to be aware and knowledgeable of factors leading to unstable snow, and perceptive enough to shift gears in poor conditions. We highly recommend taking an avalanche course that focuses on backcountry decision making before entering into avalanche terrain. Contact us with your snow observations!
Latest Update: May, 7, 2008
We got out for a quick ski this morning and realized we haven't updated the conditions report in a while. Here's what we found today and days past: We skied up towards Bishop Pass and found mostly smooth corn with a dusting of fresh snow. It even snowed on us a little. The South Lake road is fully open and one can ski on continuous snow after just 10 minutes walking on the Bishop Pass Trail. One of our guides reports from the Palisades that there is continuous snow above Second Lake. Slopes above Lake Sabrina last week were sun-cupped more than some places. The approach to Basin Peak is melted out up to between 9 and 10k and a buddy says the snow in the couloir is pretty rough. I guess it was a couple of weeks ago now, but skiing in Pine Creek area was good- relatively smooth corn, good coverage to down near the trailhead, and killer couloir skiing on Feather Peak. We ran a trip up Rock Creek and found great surface but disappearing snow. The road is plowed and open to the Pack Station and then spotty and rough to Mosquito Flat. Above Mosquito flat the going's smooth and steady, with one blank spot near Heart Lake. Up by Mammoth, there's still a drift blocking the road to Bloody. Big news is from Tioga Pass! The road's open from Lee Vining to the pass (not yet through the Park) and people are getting after it. The Dana Couloir is not well-covered (for skiing) this year, though Solstice looks good. No direct reports from Virginia or Twin Lakes.
April 14, 2008
Get it while you can! Spring corn is ripe for the harvest. Just finished guiding our Palisades Crest Tour, some Eastside Peak Descents, and classic ski mountaineering tours in the last couple weeks. Conditions are great for the big steep objectives. We managed to ski perfect corn down to 6700 ft on Saturday outside of Big Pine. All elevations on sunny slopes have been skiing reliably well on the clear and calmer days. Shaded aspects at higher elevations are starting to get some sun but cold temps and recent winds have kept them generally wintery, and mostly chalky firm. Nighttime temps have been cool and are promoting strong freeze. Look out for a rapid warm up and a spring shed cycle, especially on East aspects when spring finally arrives in full force. Until then, enjoy the desert spring skiing for a few more weeks while it lasts. Before long, the roads will be open again for easy access to the high country. The Onion Valley road was recently opened to the top. See you out here. - Howie
April 7th, 2008
Lots-o-corn around the Sierra! East facing wind swept couloirs are super variable. Lots of wind effect everywhere. Looks like a good chance of snow tonight, we'll keep you updated.
March 31, 2008
Mammoth reported 7 inches of fresh snow on Sunday and the Crowley lake area got about the same. High winds all weekend blew the snow around making for variable conditions; fun pockets of powder in some areas and unsoftened corn in others. McGee creek is drying out. From the back side of Mt. McGee we walked about 4 times while heading to the cars from the convict lake drainage. Snowmowbiling in that area would prove difficult. The Buttermilk road is open about 1 mile past the last parking area for the buttermilks.
March 23, 2008
Keeping up with our already sporadic snow report is not easy when the skiing is so good, but here goes: Sunny, warm weather with calm to light winds have made for perfect spring corn conditions in the Southern half of the Eastern Sierra this week. On steep, sun exposed aspects between 7000' and 12,500' the corn was creamy perfection from around mid morning until the sun left the slope. Today in Red Mountain Creek we skied down 6000' of perfect corn in the middle of the afternoon. Shaded aspects at all elevations was wind-hammered and variable winter snow, yet for the most part, pleasantly skiable. Similar conditions are being reported in the Northern part of the region. Surprising crowds of climbers, skiers, and splitboarders in the Red Mountain Creek drainage the last 3 days, but maybe it is a spring break thing. Or maybe just more people figuring out the goods the Eastside has to offer this time of year. Enjoy the big lines before the weather changes, as the forecast suggests it will... - Howie
March 17, 2008
June got about 6 inches of light snow above 9000 feet, just enough to quiet most of the crust underneath. Mammoth area reported 6 degrees on the summit with 100 MPH gusts around noon and got 6- 8 inches of fresh dry snow. Good consistant powder was found in the trees, wind board on north facing slopes and lots of cornice and sustrugi formation above tree line. Temps will continue to warm all week.
March 12, 2008
All over the Eastern Sierra we have been seeing good stable spring snow with very little wind transport. On calm days we are finding great corn on due south faces from 10am-11am below 11,000 ft. We have a storm coming in this Saturday with a 50% chance of precipitation on Saturday and Sunday so our nice spring feeling may be leaving us soon. We'll keep you updated!
-Annie
USEFUL LINKS:
Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center Advisory
ESAC Weather Links
Sierra Avalanche Center Advisory
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