2015 Snow Level Thread

[-Q-]

The Olallie lake basin plateau is pretty much entirely melted out as of 5/16-5/17 weekend.

No snow anywhere on the northern lake loop (lower-fish-si-fork-sheep-wall-cigar-scharf).

Hardly any snow on the summit hike of Ruddy Hill (timber-top-cigar-upper-ruddy hill summit).
Maybe 200 steps on snow in 10 miles RT.

Mosquitos... there are swarms and swarms of them, thousands of them... however, they have not yet learned that they are vampires. They are not active in biting at all. Much more interested in sitting on the warm truck than biting. 0 bites in 2 days

[FeeWolf86]

Anyone know what the snow around Goat rocks and packwood lake is like now? Going up next week for a circuit, doing 3 nights 4 days. Never been, really excited but nervous about snow in the upper elevations, don't think I'll be over 6,000.

[Aimless]

Expect to see snow and walk on snow, but if you stay off steep slopes and are willing to adapt your plans to the conditions as you discover them, then you should be safe and still have fun. Just don't force things when you feel uncertain. Know when you need to bail out, if necessary.

[arundodonax]

It looks like Goat Rocks still has a good deal of snow:

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/ ... &js=1&uc=0

That being said, if you are staying below 6k, you probably will be okay, but it might involve turning back instead of making a loop.

[drm]

!!

[woodswalker]

No snow at all in the Serene Lake- Cache Meadows loop. None visible in the surrounding watershed.
Woodswalker

[drm]

I know I just posted the snow basin map above from last week. I just checked again and all of the Oregon Cascades basins are at 0%. Only eastside basins list anything at all. Of course we all know there is snow if you go up higher. But they don't measure there. The north side of the Columbia is at 3%.

The PCT on Mt Adams is melted out at it's southern section to Horseshoe Meadow. Going north from there you hit many feet of snow in less than a half mile.

[woodswalker]

!!

oregon_5.21.15.jpg

Yikes!!
Woodswalker

[retired jerry]

I was on Zigzag Ridge and up to Paradise Park.

Both the PCT and Paradise Loop trail were passable. There were snowbanks on North facing slopes but there were foot prints through them, so not too difficult. If it got colder it could get icy, but not likely. Easy to find where trail was. If it got warm you get get some post holing, but wasn't too bad when I went through.

Looking back at Lost Creek:

The Paradise Park/Paradise Loop sign:

Three days I spent on Zigzag Ridge, it was always foggy. Never saw more than 0.1 mile. Trees were constantly dripping.

[-Q-]

Conditions as of 5/23-5/25 Memorial Day weekend...

Bachelor Mountain via Bugaboo Ridge - No snow, no bugs

Marion Mountain, Temple Lake via Pine Ridge - No snow, lots of mosquitos

Jefferson Park via Woodpecker Ridge and PCT - No snow until the Whitewater Trail, then sporadic patches. Jefferson Park is about 40-50% melted. Lakes still frozen. Not a single mosquito to be seen