PICS! Why the Tioga Pass closed yesterday. Snow photos.

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Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 5, 2009 - 09:31am PT
So I was up climbing this weekend (well, Saturday only) in Tuolumne. Sunday morning we woke up down at our bivy near June Lake to snow. Figured we'd drive up to the pass to see what was up. Of course it closed, but looked gorgeous. First pics are from Saturday, the temp sign is from when we were leaving the park after climbing on Dozier. Then a great moonrise over Lembert. And Sunday morning snow fell. The snow shots were from around noon yesterday at the Lee Vining/395 side closure.

Leaving the park Saturday night.  It was COLD!
Leaving the park Saturday night. It was COLD!
Credit: Fluoride
Climbing Saturday...it was really cold.  Looks it.  Strong winds, temp...
Climbing Saturday...it was really cold. Looks it. Strong winds, temps in the low 40's/upper 30's. Descending Dozier Dome.
Credit: Fluoride
This was even more beautiful in person.  Full moon, meadow, Lembert, a...
This was even more beautiful in person. Full moon, meadow, Lembert, alpenglow.
Credit: Fluoride
October full moon rising.  Lembert and alpenglow.
October full moon rising. Lembert and alpenglow.
Credit: Fluoride
Anyone up for climbing Dana?
Anyone up for climbing Dana?
Credit: Fluoride
Drove up to the power station.
Drove up to the power station.
Credit: Fluoride
Yeah, imagine RV's on this.
Yeah, imagine RV's on this.
Credit: Fluoride
Credit: Fluoride
Dana under snow
Dana under snow
Credit: Fluoride
Credit: Fluoride
[phot
Credit: Fluoride
oid=129979]
This is why they closed the pass.
This is why they closed the pass.
Credit: Fluoride
Klimmer

Mountain climber
San Diego
Oct 5, 2009 - 09:34am PT
Perfect time to skate it on a CarveBoard! ;-))
Dingus Milktoast

Gym climber
Why'djya leave the ketchup on the table?
Oct 5, 2009 - 09:36am PT
Nice. Saturday morning, 6:30 AM... Angus and I slowed briefly at Crane Flat. Original plan had been to get one last Tuolumne day in for the year.

"Looks cold up there Dingus."

"Yup."

"Wanna go to the Valley instead?"

"HELLYEAH, thought you'd never ask!"

It was 70 degrees in the sunshine. I wondered what it had been like up there though, all day.

Thanks flouride

DMT
fattrad

Mountain climber
GOP Convention
Oct 5, 2009 - 09:36am PT
Beth,

Thanks for the pics. How's the noggin?


The evil one


Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 5, 2009 - 09:47am PT
The noggin is right again, thanks for asking. Took a month off to let it heal but have been back at it since, mainly Tuolumne and the Portal.

It was so damn cold there Saturday. We initially went to climb on Pywiak but the winds were too intense with the cold so we went over and climbed Dozier that afternoon. I needed much layers to climb cause it was upper 30's with wicked winds. Coldest early October climbing I think I've ever done in Cali.

Oh, and Russ - see I put that blue Kingsbury you made me to good use! As a neck warmer.

Credit: Fluoride
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 5, 2009 - 10:12am PT
The storm hit the eastside pretty well. Here's some pics. We did a late lunch in Mammoth and got dumped on. Checked out Rock Creek on the way home, snow levels started pretty low and the temp at Mosquito Flats was 20 degrees at 4:30pm. After dropping down to Bishop the snow was on the peaks all the way south of Big Pine then around Independence it stopped, no snow at all on the peaks.

Checked out Rock Creek on the way home.  They got snowed in as well.  ...
Checked out Rock Creek on the way home. They got snowed in as well. Rock Creek Lake.
Credit: Fluoride
Fall color and snow in Rock Creek.
Fall color and snow in Rock Creek.
Credit: Fluoride
Driving from near June up towards Lee Vining Sunday morning.
Driving from near June up towards Lee Vining Sunday morning.
Credit: Fluoride
Near June Lake, Carson Peak under snow.
Near June Lake, Carson Peak under snow.
Credit: Fluoride
From along the 395 heading to Lee Vining Sunday
From along the 395 heading to Lee Vining Sunday
Credit: Fluoride
Ended up in Mammoth for a late lunch and they were getting dumped on t...
Ended up in Mammoth for a late lunch and they were getting dumped on too.
Credit: Fluoride
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Oct 5, 2009 - 10:18am PT
Man, I miss weather, currently 51º in Walnut Creek, a Vedauwoo summer day.....
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 5, 2009 - 10:23am PT
It's okay Jaybro. I'm back in LA with my windows open and highs in the 70's for today.

But it sure was nice to get a taste of winter. This is what the rig looked like when we woke up.

Credit: Fluoride

Credit: Fluoride
Prod

Trad climber
Dodge Sprinter Dreaming
Oct 5, 2009 - 10:31am PT
Yuck Foo. I do not want to see snow for a while.... Ever again!

Prod.
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 5, 2009 - 10:36am PT
Nah, snow is GREAT!!

As long as you can play in it all day and drive away from it to a warm place where you never have to have it rule your life. :)
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Oct 5, 2009 - 10:41am PT
Neat shots, Flouride.
We didn't get any in Denver, but frost took the last of my late
tomatoes.

I love winter, but I hate losing tomatoes!!!!
10b4me

Ice climber
the reticient boulder at the Happies
Oct 5, 2009 - 10:55am PT
got the Dana couloir just in time(last week)
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Oct 5, 2009 - 11:06am PT
Oh yeah, Beth, that's the stuff!
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 5, 2009 - 11:10am PT
It was a great weekend. Here's what we woke up to Saturday morning in the A-Hills as we started the trek up north. I knew those clouds were up to no good!! Would love to see what it was like atop Whitney at that point.
Credit: Fluoride
Credit: Fluoride

stich

Trad climber
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Oct 5, 2009 - 11:10am PT
Very cool, Beth. I'm still enjoying the rock climbing, but am looking forward to more ski touring with Tarbuster and now Laura. It'll take a few snows to get a base down, so lots of inter-seasonal fun in between.

Glad your noggin is feeling good. You look very nice in the photo, too.
Jeremy

Social climber
Hanging with your mom...
Oct 5, 2009 - 11:11am PT
Thanks for the AWESOME pics Beth!!!!!

Jeremy
Blitzo

Social climber
Earth
Oct 5, 2009 - 12:06pm PT
It's freezing in Joshua Tree!

Did you go up to Blitzo's Balcony (Incarceration Station, originally) on Dozier Dome?

Is Miles still at Alabama Hills?

Hope to see you soon Beth.
rhyang

climber
SJC
Oct 5, 2009 - 12:17pm PT
Nice shots ! I wonder if alpine ice season is really over for good now ..
lansing

Mountain climber
San Francisco, CA
Oct 5, 2009 - 02:29pm PT
A buddy and I did the approach to Dana Couloir on Saturday morning. The winds were about 30 mph sustained at Tioga, so we figured a summit would be out of the question, but since it was our first time out that way we decided to hike in and check it out anyway.

Well, the conditions were more challenging than I would have imagined. We made it up to Dana Glacier, and at that point the gusts were strong enough to make it difficult to stand up reliably. I took my shell gloves off to snap a few pictures, and despite keeping the liners on, my fingers were completely numb in a minute or two. The wind on the crest sounded like several airplanes were circling overhead, constantly.

The route looked great, though (about half neve and half ice).
nutjob

Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
Oct 5, 2009 - 03:01pm PT
Saturday late start from Berkeley, ended up in the valley Saturday afternoon, late hike up the cathedral gulley to start on Higher Cathedral Spire at about 4:30pm. Did 2 pitches then decided it was a good time to bail. We had brought a tent and sleeping bags, etc., headed over to base of Braille Book and camped out for an early Sunday morning start.

Doh! Woke up in middle of the night to rain, then hail and slush, then snow.... Slept in late and lingered, still snowing... headed down by afternoon still snowing. Then rain, then back to mellow weather in the valley.

By the way SOMEONE has an EPIC ADVENTURE to share... we saw a party rapping off NEB Higher Cathedral Rock several hours after dawn, going straight down from the first traverse area. We called out enough to verify they were alive and had gear to burn, they seemed OK and moving well, and when we looped back by the parking lot (after a trip by the curry pizza deck), their truck was gone. Yikes, unplanned bivy on NEB HCR in the rain/hail/slush/snow? Holy toughness.
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