The Winter of 2012 in the High Sierra

"What a long, strange trip its been..."

January 6, 2012: The incredibly strange weather we have been experiencing for the past 30 years on the West Coast of the United States years has now come to full fruition: The Western United States, and especially the Sierra Nevada Mountains are experiencing a Winter that is not Winter.

The High Sierra Weather Page offers a wide range of resources to track current Sierra Nevada conditions from a web of ground reporting stations, forecast and reporting tools, satellite and radar resources, as well as road and park conditions.

All of these resources indicate that the change in seasonal patterns we have been experiencing have now "crossed the Rubicon." We now hike in mountains, heck, we now walk in a world that has completely different weather patterns than those of 30 years ago.

***

Thirty years ago I was first made uneasy by the rise of strange shifts in the prevailing winds. Twenty years ago I observed and warned of grim omens indicated by the general change in the direction of the prevailing winds. Winds from the South and West have replaced the prevailing Northwest Winds during Wintertime.

The replacement of Northern with Southern winds has brought radical disruptions to the ocean current circulation and nutrient rich upwellings along the Pacific Coast. These trends are reinforced by the failure of the heat of Summertime to retreat during Fall and Winter. Combined, these factors have now radically altered the timing and character of the seasons.

Today the winds no longer cycle through their historic patterns through their seasonal progression, the seasons have different lengths and characters, the traditional nutrient-rich ocean current upwellings along the Pacific Coast are disturbed, if not stopped, and the length and character of all of the seasons have radically shifted.

Normal wind patterns and seasons are now abnormal, abnormal weather patterns are now the "New Normal." Get used to it. This current screwed-up weather pattern is only one quick step along the short trail we are hiking to a completely different climate.

Winter winds and storm now blow into the Sierras from the West and Southwest, rather than the traditional prevailing Winter winds out of the Northwest. The Arctic has lost its power as the generator of Winter weather patterns for the Northern Pacific and Western United States. Tropical heat from the Equator now dominates our Winter weather pattern.

I was so disturbed by these devastating changes as they were emerging that in 2006 I began publicly warning of the gravity and consequences of the changes that few noticed, and now this pattern is the basis of "the new normal" along the Western shore of North America. Well, it's the new normal for a "minute."

The changes in the climate and seasons are happening so rapidly that each year is bringing new and completely unprecedented weather patterns and catastrophic events. (Brief Article. Environmental Link List.) A review of this massive list of environmental breakdowns may indicate to you the gravity of the situation we now confront.

We have unhinged the Engines of Life on the planet Earth.

The consequences of these changes are devastating the Sierra Eco System, and have already removed the ability of the State of California to provide water to its bloated population before the end of this decade.

Our idiot leaders have not yet figured this out, but it will be both amusing and depressing to watch as they come to full realization of the desperate situation their irresponsible growth and endless development policies, the products of policies of corruption and greed, have carved into the face of nature, as well as critically damaging our polity, our society, and our economy.

Corporations and their legions of consumers have eaten our democracy, our country, and our planet.

You should be very worried when our weather is as volatile as our markets as unstable as our society, and as dangerous as our politicians. Especially as all of our environmental and social systems have been driven to the very edge of failure by the corruption of our most fundamental values...

Enough preaching. Here's some solid Winter Backpacking Information. Not that you will need it anytime soon...

Winter Backpacking Information

Winter Gear Selection: Text and Videos

Winter planning and food considerations: Text and Videos

Winter Trips

Videos

Winter Trip Videos I

Winter Trip Videos II

Scroll Down this page to find more Winter Backpacking Information

Coming Soon:

Is this the End of Winter Backpacking in the Sierra?

You are a witness to the END of the traditional Winter backpacking and Ski seasons in the Sierra Nevada, and the ancient weather patterns that supported both.

I will examine what this means for Winter backpackers, and how this change in the weather is going to continue to radically alter the character of the Sierra Nevada for Summer, Spring and Fall backpackers, as well as Winter backpackers for centuries to come.

New Trail Guide Construction

Recent additions to the Guide and Forum

The Trail Guide and Forum

Lake Tahoe to Mount Whitney: Crown Jewel of the Pacific Crest Trail is composed of this trail guide and its related High Sierra Backpacker's Forum.

This Trail Guide and the related Forum are both under construction. The links on the Left Sidebar will bring you to the completed elements of the Trail Guide dealing with the trails, maps, mileages, weather, and gear. The right sidebar links deal with developing sound backpacking skills, fitness, and experience in the various arts of backpacking and walking.

The trail guide is complete from Meeks Bay at Lake Tahoe to Highway 4. I am currently writing/editing the trail guide Southward from Lake Alpine and Ebbetts Pass on the Tahoe to Yosemite and the Pacific Crest Trails. Check out the Highway 4 to 108 index for all my resources on the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.

Every page on this Trail Guide, its related maps and mileage pages, and all of the gear, weather, and "Arts of Backpacking" topics herein are interlinked to the related Forum Topic page in the Forum. You can read my take on a trail or backpacking topic in this Guide, and you can post up your comments, questions, experiences, and general feedback to supplement that particular topic or trail.

My perspective and experiences are only one view among many, but it's a good place to start.

Check out the Forum for the topics and trails currently covered.

Join the Conversation

You are invited to post up your trail experiences on the Forum. Find the topic or trail forum that suits your issue or trail, and post up a page. Or you can approach the Forum from the links on this Trail Guide.

Every page on this guide has a comments link to the Forum page for that location or topic. You can add your experiences by posting up through the comments link on that page, or you can put up your own page in that section of the Forum.

If you need more information about the trails I cover, or how to use the Forum, my email link is on the bottom of every page.

That's why I'm here. I'm the man in the machine that drives TW, and I'll address your issue, and bring it to the attention of the full membership, if necessary.

The membership of TW has a lot of experience, wisdom, and love of backpacking.

Everyone's experience in any particular location or on a backpacking topic adds depth and an extra dimension to each guide and topic page.

So don't hesitate to supplement the guide and forum with your information.

You have another option for posting up notes about your trips. You can post up notes as a comment on the current Trail Conditions Reports page, or as a stand-alone article in the Seasonal Reports: Summer 2011 forum.

You can also post up your own trip reports and articles in the Trails Forum, but I have only completed the Forum from Lake Tahoe to Lake Alpine on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail, and from Lake Tahoe to Ebbetts Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail.

As you can see, I have a lot of work ahead to complete this project. Come by every now and again to check out my progress, and post up about your trips.

I'm constantly posting recent news, science, and backpacker information. I will eventually be featuring an active front page featuring current backpacking news, scientific and news articles about Sierra Ecology, as well as articles about backpacking trips, stories, gear, and skills. For now I am satisfied with the front page being a static portal to good information while I'm working to finish the Guide and Forum.

Information Central?--Stay Tuned!

As you scroll down on this page you will see that I've posted fundamental information about four-season backpacking in the Sierra Nevada.

This home page will remain fairly static until I finish the underlying content of the Trail Guide. I have all the video, images, trail notes, and experiences lined up. I've just got to put it together in the guide.

At this point in time I am busy writing the drafts of the Art of Walking and Fitness sections. Then I'm going to edit out the Weather and Gear sections to the next level of sophistication, then I'm finally going to get back to building the Trail Guide itself.

As soon as construction of this Trail Guide is mostly complete this home page format will change radically.

The plan is to publish two new backpacking Front Pages a month. These front pages will feature current & classic backpacking stories, a treasure chest of killer scrambles and side routes, your favorite High Sierra backpacking trips, and features on Trail Crew, Backpackers, Re supply Points, and interesting people, things, and animals we encounter along the long trails.

The high points and hidden delights of the trails between Tahoe and Whitney will be explored. Current seasonal information about trail conditions, weather, and fording information will be standard fare.

Until I finish putting up the enormous content of the trail guide I will just try to provide essential information for the four-season High Sierra Backpacker on this front page.

I'm going to need the help of all you High Sierra Backpackers and hikers. I'll be looking to you to share your favorite routes, your interesting trail experiences, great stories, and your experiences with various gear bits. Register, and join our expanding body of knowledge and experience.

This guide represents decades of my hiking experiences in the Sierra Nevada, and I've barely scratched the surface of what's there. The Forum is where I hope we can access the centuries of backpacker experiences held by The Members of the Tahoe to Whitney Backpacker's Forum.

I look forward to meeting more excellent backpackers and good people here. So far So Good!

I will lay out an extensive framework depicting the main trails, and I hope this information will be supplemented by your experiences, be it your first hike, or your latest exploration of the nooks and crannies of your favorite places.

Shared Experience is what this site is all about.

Fall Resources: Weather, Forecasts, Trail Conditions and Reports

Deep Spring Snows considerably shortened the beginning of this Summer's High Sierra backpacking season. (see below, and The Summer Report for historical information)

Early precipitation (compared to recent years!) and impending North Pacific fronts threaten to bring a quick end to Summertime backpacking conditions early in Fall this year. (9-30-2011)

Significant drops in temps and the potential for snowfall is your constant companion on the high trails during Fall. Be careful, observant, and ready for radical changes in conditions.

Don't get me wrong! This is a great time to hit the Sierras. Fall has given me many incredible backpacking experiences. Yet you must thicken up your gear to anticipate the wider range of conditions you may experience during Fall.

You must also be able to ascertain and follow the location of your trail route if snow obliterates it for a couple of days.

It's About Time!

September 2, 2011

The long, wet, snowy conditions that have persisted through the majority of this year's Summer backpacking season have finally passed-mostly.

Snow berms are remaining in deeply shaded NE facing aspects.

If you have information about general Sierra conditions, specific reports on Sierra Trails, or trip reports, please post it up on the Summer Reports 2011 page.

For information about the weird trajectory of the Spring Thaw tracking the conditions until late August 2011, see

Tracking the Sierra Nevada Spring into Summer Thaw of 2011

Current Status

Snow persisting through August has really shortened this Summer's effective backpacking season.

Expect heavy backpacker traffic on the JMT late into Fall.

I expect to see PCT hikers passing through the Sierra through Fall due to the heavy early season snow conditions.

A huge number of PCTers bypassed the Sierra due to the heavy Spring and Summer snowpack. I expect to see them doubling-back to hike the Sierra deep into Fall.

See the Spring Reports 2011 for information about the extended snow coverage that persisted deep into the Summer Months.

Gear List

Weather Information

Camp and Trail Skills

Backpacking Links

News and Science

Overall Report

It's was epic!

Though Spring has long been over, we have had a Heavy Winter followed by a Heavy Spring in 2011. Storms from the North brought Heavy early Winter Storms and a deep snow pack. Mid May has brought a steady flow of Spring Storms through late June.

The Massive Spring Snow Pack has morphed into a massive Summer Snow Pack!

This massive snow pack delayed the opening of High Sierra trails for snow-free Summer backpacking until mid-August.

Summer 2011 July 28

The days are now delightfully longer, and the temps are now up to Summer levels.

Yet Summer Conditions are not yet here. Heavy snow still sits down to 9000 feet on N flanks, and lower under forest cover.

Heavy snows still blanket the High Sierra passes. We're melting off about 10' a week under the current temps, but North facing flanks and shaded areas are maintaining substantial snow.

The rivers are still moving heavy flows at high water levels.

For the latest information, or to contribute your report, check out the

The Spring Thaw of 2011

August 28 2011

UPDATE

Summer Conditions are finally here.

Information

Track the Spring Thaw of 2011

I've collected information to keep you posted. Contribute: Post up your observations about the Spring Thaw of 2011.

My Status

I did a four night trip in the Tahoe Basin during early January.

I caught a case of frostbite hitching out of the Tahoe Basin after the trip.

I had the gear for the snowshoeing, I had the gear for static in camp. But I did not have the proper gear for standing by the road hitch-hiking.

Camp booties were not up for highway-side slush, and the boots must move to generate heat.

Normally this would not be a problem, but a series of contributing factors altered the situation.

This has kept me off the trail for the last 7 months and 3 weeks.

I am going frkn CRAZY.

I've taken this as an opportunity to work on the trail guide.

Video One:

Winter Gear Selection I: Figuring your Route, Miles, Elevations, and Exposure

Video Two:

Figuring Weather History, Current Conditions, and Future Forecasts

Video Three:

Gear Tour and Basic Layering

Backpacking gear>Layering

Video Four:

Shell, Head, Hands and Feet

Backpacking gear>Gear List

Video Five;

Gear Selection thoughts, Worse Case Scenario, First Aid Kit

Backpacking gear>First Aid

Spring and Summer in the Sierra

Some Cool Pictures to get you excited

Snow Pack Info

Regional Snow Analyses: Sierra Nevada

Snow Cover

All Snow Reporting Stations

California Department of Water Resources (snow-navigate the map for more sensors)

Sno Tel (Federal)

All Stations Fed

Rivers

California Department of Water Resources

Weather Links

Forecast: NWS Carson Pass

Greater Tahoe Region Forecast

Current Winter Storm Warnings in Sierra Nevada

Radar

Reno  Radar Map

National Radar

Satellite

Northeast Pacific Imagery

Pacific Crest Trail Notes

The conditions and weather during Spring have determined that the few Pacific Crest Trail hikers who did not bypass the Sierra entered the Sierra very late this year.

The approaches to the mountain passes are finally free of snow, but the high altitude passes and Northern flanks of the mountains are not.

At this late date this year's "early" PCTers are already North of Tahoe, but the PCTers who bypassed the Sierra are going to be seen along the Sierra Crest all Summer long. That's rare. On "normal" years they are all long gone by early-to-mid July.

Last Year: 2010

Last year the Sierra also saw an amazing amount of Spring Snow, though less than this year. This really screwed up Pacific Crest Trailers...

Access to the mountains was delayed until mid July, when sufficient snow had melted off the high passes to allow the average-skilled backpacker to pass through.

This Year: 2011

Record early season snow gave way to a series of late-Spring Storms.

From Mid May until late June a series of late-season storms fed and preserved an already record snowpack.

April has brought record high temps, but May and June brought unseasonable storms. Wow.

These constant storms from March through the end of June determined that the PCTer entry into the High Sierra would again be significantly delayed as it was last year.

It looks like we again dodged a bullet: We avoided a catastrophic thaw. It almost happened last year...

This vast amount of moisture also promises a thick mosquito season.

Of Additional Interest

Mosquitoes

New Forum Topics

Sierra History

Information

Boot Selection Draft Edition

Art of Walking Draft Edition

Living Things

Post up pictures and accounts of your wildlife encounters!

Summer 2012 Plans

Planning a John Muir Trail trip this Summer? A run down the Tahoe to Yosemite Route? Or are you going to see the entirety of the Sierra Crest, and walk the whole Tahoe to Whitney?

The last two Summers have been too short! I'll bet we've got a lot of pent-up backpacker energy out there...

Then it is time to get your logistics down. You need to start working on mileage between resupply points, the days this will take you to cross these miles, and the amount of food necessary at each re supply point.

Well, judging by the impending Winter, you have some extra time... So let's start thinking right now.

Let's look at putting together a five day backpacking food supply.

As you plan your menu, you also need to know each re supply point's specific re supply policy.

You must send off your re supply packages properly addressed and timed to comply with each re supply point's specific policies. It is time to start getting your plans together!

Resupply

Are you hiking the long trails? Are you featured in the trail culture section? Do you want to leave a message for a hiker?

Status Report and Notice

This homepage is fairly static as I point all my energies towards editing and building the content of the Tahoe to Whitney Trail Guide and the Backpacker's Forums.

Therefore I have put specific information about seasonal gear, food, and weather information that can be of use to the four season High Sierra backpacker here.

As I continue to get the massive content of the Trail Guide and Forums online, this homepage will come out of its hibernation, and come alive with current hiking stories and information tailored for each season.

Stay Tuned!

The Very Latest

I caught a case of frostbite hitching out of the Sierras in early January 2011. This has knocked me for a loop, as far as backpacking is concerned.

As of late July I have a wad of dead skin covering the bone at the end of my Right big toe. Everything else has come back pretty well.

Doc Skradski says "It's a miracle." If you are lucky you will get a doc like her! Thanks for keeping the Surgeons at bay, doc!

After the pain diminished to the point where I could walk, and sit to work on the website, I have restarted both. Now I'm starting to jog little sections of my walk.

I have completed an edit of the first 92 miles of the trails I have covered in the guide.

These trails span from Meeks Bay to both Ebbetts Pass and Lake Alpine on Highway 4, covering both the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trail routes.

Maps, mileages and elevations information down to Tuolumne Meadows are almost complete.

Check these fine trails out.

I have now turned to filling out the information in the sidebar links that decorate every page.

Unfortunately, I have had to miss my traditional Spring Snow trips from Tahoe to Round Top, and the East Carson to Sonora Pass this year.

This has limited the scouting information I can present you this Spring.

Fall 2011 Update! Hiking with a hole in my toe!

The trip pictured above was taken out of the South Upper Truckee trailhead in Meyers between Jan 4 and Jan 8 2011.

For more on this trailhead see:

South Upper Truckee Trailhead

Map

Videos of Spring Snow Trips at this trail head

We've been working on some new features

Check out the TahoeToWhitney YouTube Channel

Investigate the Backpacker's Forums

Have something to say about your stove?

Gear in General?

Things Change, and you're looking for a past feature?

Check out the Last Home Page

Pictures featured on previous Home Pages

Weather Information

Comprehensive Sierra Nevada Weather Resource

Southwest Shore of Lake Tahoe

Carson Pass Region

As I complete the trail guide I will expand the weather maps to cover the trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney.

Analytical Survival

Building your capacity to be a self-contained individual in time and across space is the goal of this backpacking website.

Analytical Survival takes this a step further, and shows you how to be a self-contained individual able to control your time and space.

Analytical Survival's approach translates your backpacking gear and skills into an intelligent emergency setup, and will show you how to back it up with intelligent emergency planning and preparation.

welcome to your wilderness window

There are 69 more videos of wilderness shot between Meeks Bay and Ebbetts Pass at

TaheotoWhitney on YouTube

Trail Guide with Pictures, Videos, Directions, and a complete trail guide for long and short distance High Sierra backpackers

The Gear Section is coming on line:

A work in progress....

Jumping Spider, family Salticidae, in granite camouflage, at 10,000 feet, Big Sam Emigrant Wilderness. Thanks to Dr John Hafernik, San Francisco State University, for the identification.

See a list of all the Snow Camping Articles and Videos at

TahoetoWhitney.Org

High Emigrant Wilderness Sunset

Let's put your pictures or Videos Here!

Submit your videos, pictures, and trail stories to be featured here at

TahoetoWhitney.ORG

or email me:

Hiker1@TahoetoWhitney.com

TahoetoWhitney

This Trail Guide and the related Forum were built to encourage and inform those who seek natural engagement.

As those of you who have contacted me well know, I offer my experiences, knowledge and advice freely. I see natural experience as the source and foundation of wealth.

If you feel my efforts are worth supporting, send cash to:

Alex Wierbinski

2437 Piedmont, #202

Berkeley, California.

I will continue to provide free full-service backpacking consultation independent of my financial situation or physical condition.

(Cash: I have not had a bank account for decades. This site is the result of decades of being a backpacking bum...)