This is a summary of snow conditions, the overall avalanche situation and road access in the Eastern Sierra at the beginning of May 2023. Winter is on the retreat in the Sierra. The massive amount of snow we received is giving way to spring at lower...
Part 1: Shelter and Water What possesses an individual to take on the challenges of a mountain environment in the winter? The coldest season with the least daylight. Add in the additional hazards of avalanches, ice and rock fall, and cold injuries; it seems logical for...
Snow. It is the leading topic of conversation among winter recreationalist, and this year even more so. While we are often worried about the lack of storms as we navigate dry winters, this year is one for the record books and there is no sign...
Presidents Day is a holiday most Americans look forward to in the year 2023. Gathering with family and friends to buy deeply discounted furniture and mattresses from wholesale distributers, while others escape on mid-winter vacations to ski and recreate in the mountains. This is exactly...
Winter has finally decided to settle in here in the Eastern Sierra, and the ice seems to be forming up quite nicely at the moment. This past Tuesday I had the chance to check out June Lake and Lee Vining Canyon with my friend and...
Lee Vining Canyon February 12th I just finished up two days of guiding in Lee Vining Canyon with an incredible group for an introductory ice climbing program. Here are some of the conditions updates for anyone interested in getting out there in the next few days. Pool Power...
As I sit down to write this Eastern Sierra Ice conditions report, I am reminded of the classic Simpsons episode where Homer is hired by the local newspaper to be the new Restaurant critic. Homer is hired because of his incredible appetite and enjoyment of...
I think we’re in for a very interesting season of ice climbing here in the Eastern Sierra. I was out guiding in June Lake and in Lee Vining Canyon over the last couple of days and the times, they are changin’! June Lake // Dec 28th This...
The great Ella Fitzgerald is spot on as she sang “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” As the snow melts out from the high country and we transition from boots to approach shoes, it’s hard to find a more enjoyable mountain range in the United...
Scroll through any social media feed, and you’ll notice that everyone’s posts seem preoccupied with “ests”. The biggest, the longest, the hardest, the fastest. In a crowded field, to stand out there has to be something somehow special about everything we do. Even as guides,...
While sitting on the Kahiltna Glacier towards the end of May, I received a message on my InReach that read “Its full-on Summer in the Sierra.” After weeks of hauling sleds and digging cache holes, I was ready for a change of pace. Daydreams of...
If you look at the numbers, skiing in the Sierra Nevada seems like a challenging undertaking. The April 1 snow totals are out, and by all measurements, we are at 35% of average statewide, although local drainages like the Mono basin is closer to 50%...
