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| Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic |
doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 16, 2017 - 08:24am PT
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I think the Mineral King Road opens today. Any guesses as to how ski touring out of Mineral King would be right now? I'd like to avoid excessive dirt walking or sketchy water crossings. Thanks in advance for any advice or speculation. My daughter wants to go to Sonora Pass and I'm trying to talk her into considering Mineral King.
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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Jun 16, 2017 - 09:31am PT
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Hey, read your post about Mineral King. I think the road has been open for a week or two already. And, even though it snowed there last weekend, its actually pretty snow free in the valley. Check out this webcam from today.
This is looking North to Timber Gap. Glacier Pass is to the right about an inch and out of view.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Jun 16, 2017 - 09:34am PT
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Glacier Pass .... right above where the road turns due south before it ends is a huge slope.... maybe 1,500 vert. this was going to be the "Big Hill" for the proposed Ski area, it is a big treeless Mt. slope. The official trail has been rerouted way to the south and is switch back boring. The old Glacier Pass trail goes up hill directly and stays on the climbers left.... at the top of the pass you drop down maybe 1,000 feet to the basin containing Spring Lake .....and peak 11,440, both of these slopes hold snow, esp the back side.
If you have never been to MK and the road just opened up.... there must be snow still. The view from Glacier Pass of the Kewieas (sp)and the Big Arroyo is killer.
The place is beautiful and is worth the drive on that thin twisty road.
EDIT.... Radish's web cam... I don't think the view is up towards Glacier Pass... but as you can see the snow is melting out fast.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Jun 16, 2017 - 09:50am PT
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Little bit of both. By 9k on northish slopes the snow is still very deep in many place. Then lower or southish facing it can be dirt. Still plenty of snow for some long runs but a couple miles of dirt walking on the way is likely.
Haven't been all the way in the valley this year but have had good views in from nearby areas.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Jun 16, 2017 - 09:56am PT
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I'd head to Sonora Pass.
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 16, 2017 - 10:14am PT
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Ok Sonora pass with the masses, then Lassen. Thanks for the help.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Jun 16, 2017 - 10:34am PT
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Lassen road open?
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ShawnInPaso
climber
Paso Robles, CA
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Jun 16, 2017 - 12:11pm PT
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Yes, there is still lots of snow above the MK valley.
I haven't been up there (yet) this year, but in past years I've seen most people skiing the same bowl, probably because of its easy access. Of course anything in the area is probably great right now (Empire Mountain, Glacier Pass, etc.).
The big red arrow points to the area mentioned and the photo of the same area was taken in June of 2005 - the tiny dot near the middle is a skier.
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bvandewa
climber
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Jun 16, 2017 - 05:01pm PT
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I was camping next to monarch lake on Memorial Day Weekend, snow started at around 10.000 feets back then, still a crazy amount of snow pretty much everywhere, but the road and the ranger station was open.
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 19, 2017 - 01:55pm PT
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Went to Sonora pass then Lassen Park. Sonora Pass conditions C+, Lassen Park conditions A, great snow almost no suncups.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Jun 19, 2017 - 02:12pm PT
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Hey MapleBaristan!
What do you mean by conditions c+? Overall snow quality, depth, etc? Was it your timing in the day? Thinking I might make a quick fam trip(in 1.5 weeks and a lot can change I understand)) and I'd like to cruise a pass and get some skiing in and maybe a little bouldering too.. Thanks in advance
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 19, 2017 - 03:37pm PT
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Plenty of snow at Sonsora pass, but lot's of sun cups lower down (we skied Leavitt Peak). We got going early and were skiing back down by 10am. Snow on the upper mountain was pretty good. It's so hot now I'd say it might be way worse in a week or so. If skiing is your main objective and the road is open to lake Helen or farther go to Lassen and maybe someone cant point to you to bouldering in the area.
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Jun 20, 2017 - 09:38am PT
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Hey Cragar,
Shasta is skiing really well and I've heard Lassen is too. Easiest hit would be devastated area and the NE face of Lassen. There is bouldering right off the road.
There is some bouldering around Mt. Shasta too at Castle Lake and upstream of Lake Siskiyou.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Jun 20, 2017 - 10:31am PT
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Thanks for the info y'all and enjoy your super snowness year!
I may have to detour if I can make it.
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| Messages 1 - 14 of total 14 in this topic |
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