How’s it going Sierra Ice Climbers?! I was just out for a few days of ice climbing this past week and weekend and here is a quick update on what things have been like out there. Thursday (Feb 6) I hiked out to LVC on a very nice boot pack which made the approach a breeze and surprisingly there is still a lot of climbable ice up there! Chouinard’s has nice fat ice through the middle sections with the outer …
Lee Vining Ice Conditions Update Jan 23rd, 2020
Hey all, I have been out climbing in LV the last three days- the climbing has been interesting and fun. However, yesterday on the Main Wall (specifically) the flows were climbing like it was Spring time. At one point I could push screws in. It was basically raining on us. Things are getting thin out there, but still climbable. Chouinards climbing fun. Definitely “hero” ice but getting better screws. There are two paths: one going up to Main Wall and …
Eastern Sierra: Lee Vining After Jan 16, 2020 Storm
Hey All, I went in yesterday, Jan 17th to put in a track with snowshoes after the storm. I recommend snowshoes, but it will be a packed down track for boots soon, I’m sure. Climbs still look in good shape. Road is plowed. Happy Climbing!
Eastern Sierra Ice Report- Jan 5th
Hello Ice Climbers, I wanted to update everyone on the hiking conditions and the routes. Hike in is packed down- I have been walking in with crampons which helps with the firm snow in the mornings and I have been hiking back down in them as well. You can get away with just walking in, but its been nice having a little extra security. Micro spikes could be a good option too. Main Wall- I climbed the Center Flow yesterday. It …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – Dec. 28, 2019
ICE, ICE BABY! To my fellow ice climbers: First off, the road into Poole Plant is driving well, packed down. Make sure to park smart for others to get a spot too. The trail has been redirected across the creek- you will go over it twice, but in great shape. You will want snowshoes to travel into the canyon. The trail in packed down and good to go. The Main Wall Is still looking thin, however, the Center Flow is …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – April 19, 2019 (Main Wall update)
Caveman Dies….. Well even though Chouinard falls will have some good early morning sticks Main wall is on its way out with a few warm days in the Sierra in the later part of this week Here is a post I received on FB tonight from Liz Lampson. Thanks for sharing the photos Liz 🙂 “Since you’re apparently the curator of Sierra ice conditions, here’s a before/after from about 2 pm today in Lee Vining Canyon (I was just hiking, …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – April 18, 2019
Hi Ice climbers! Tax season may be over but the Ice is still holding on in Lee Vining Canyon. I was out guiding Ice last Tuesday and was happy to find ideal ice climbing conditions. We had a good hard freeze over night and even a few inches of fresh snow fell overnight. The road in has improved and is less rutted and muddy as much of the water and frozen mud has dried. We brought snowshoes in the car …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – April 6, 2019
 Hey there Ice climbers – we are having an incredible spring in the eastern Sierra. The snowpack is holding up giving ski and approach conditions a nice base. I was guiding ice in Lee vining canyon on Monday and Thursday this week and found ideal spring conditions. The approach is still filled in really well with snow and we have been able to approach the climbing without floatation. On Thursday at about 3:30 I was able to hike out …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – March 25, 2019
Hey Ice climbers – I was out last Wednesday and over the weekend climbing ice in Lee Vining Canyon. It is fantastic and the long days, mild temps, filled in approach and fat hero ice has been really fun. Ice in June Lake has been seeing too much sun to be climbable so lee vining has been seeing most if the climber traffic but crowds have been minimal. We were the only people on main wall yesterday and there have …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – March 17, 2019
Hey there Ice Climbers!!! This week has felt like spring has arrived in full force to the Sierra. Sunny skies, warm temps, dry roads, and filled in approaches has made Eastern Sierra ice climbing ideal this week. I was out guiding last Tuesday and Wednesday on Chouinard falls and the Main wall in Lee Vining Canyon and Lindsey Hamm was out this weekend teaching an Ice 101. There is not much change in conditions in the past week besides really …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – March 11th, 2019
Hey there Ice climbers – March looks like it will be a fantastic month for the ice this year in Lee Vining Canyon and if we can keep freezing temps at night we may even have a long April season. We had 2 guided groups in Lee Vining last weekend. Lindsey Had a 1:1 and I had a 2:1 PVT. Beautiful temps and conditions for climbing ice this weekend The Pool Power Plant road was well plowed and there were …
Eastern Sierra Ice Report – March 6th, 2019
Hey Ice Climbers – some quick reports from Monday and Tuesday from some of our SMG guides. Lindsey Hamm was out there on Monday and Geoff Unger and Tim Dobbins were out on Tuesday. From Lindsey…. (3/4) Today was a great day out at Lee Vining. The road was fine to the plant- we drove in with a Subaru. Our group plus two other groups had either skis or snowshoes- (we had snowshoes) going into the canyon. There will be …