All-New for 2018! A snow level thread.

[Born2BBrad]

Karl and I just did the Mississippi Head loop on 6/2/18. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge to the ZZ canyon overlook. Almost zero snow down to the ZZ crossing. We took the first ridge to get to the Mississippi Head traverse. That ridge was 98% clear of snow right up to the climb up to Mississippi Head. Then it was 100% snow back to Timberline Lodge.


Taking the first ridge after crossing ZZ River:


The ridge was clear of snow until the Mississippi Head traverse:


Snow coverage 100% once the traverse began:

[hikinglover4life]

Karl and I just did the Mississippi Head loop on 6/2/18. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge to the ZZ canyon overlook. Almost zero snow down to the ZZ crossing. We took the first ridge to get to the Mississippi Head traverse. That ridge was 98% clear of snow right up to the climb up to Mississippi Head. Then it was 100% snow back to Timberline Lodge.

Good stuff! I'm wanting to make the hike from Timberline to Paradise Park along the PCT in a few weeks - then camp at PP. Been worried about snow. This doesn't look good! Thanks!

[kepPNW]

Karl and I just did the Mississippi Head loop on 6/2/18. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge to the ZZ canyon overlook. Almost zero snow down to the ZZ crossing. We took the first ridge to get to the Mississippi Head traverse. That ridge was 98% clear of snow right up to the climb up to Mississippi Head. Then it was 100% snow back to Timberline Lodge.

Good stuff! I'm wanting to make the hike from Timberline to Paradise Park along the PCT in a few weeks - then camp at PP. Been worried about snow. This doesn't look good! Thanks!

You should be fine, especially in a few weeks! Only challenges were through the woods, which is why we turned uphill as soon as climbing out of ZZ Canyon. Above the timberline, it was mostly open until 7000' or better.

[JerDerv]

Oh boy! I didn't realize we had a snow level thread! I made a thread in trail Q&A before i saw this but figure ill ask here as well. Anyone know typical snow depth in Indian Heaven more specifically Thomas lake to blue lake? 4610ft elevation. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[xrp]

Oh boy! I didn't realize we had a snow level thread! I made a thread in trail Q&A before i saw this but figure ill ask here as well. Anyone know typical snow depth in Indian Heaven more specifically Thomas lake to blue lake? 4610ft elevation. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Retired Jerry provided this link earlier in this thread or in another one:

http://adamschneider.net/hiking/snow_depth.html

He says it is reasonably accurate. Jerry is a pretty good source of information, so I'm using it to plan my trips. Goat Rocks might be accessible before Indian Heaven.

[drm]

Goat Rocks and Mt Adams usually melt out a bit before IH, at least at comparable altitudes. IH gets a lot more snow than they do and the high flat plateau also slows the melting process.

[romann]

Sat view as of 6/5 shows Goat Creek Valley (arrow) melting out - that would mean approx. 4700-5000' snow level. All Goat Rocks trailheads are almost certainly accessible by now, but I wouldn't expect alpine areas to melt out before early or mid-July (this being fairly average year)

[Aimless]

Salmon Butte trail was wholly snow free yesterday right up to the top (4850 ft.), so it can be inferred that the entire Salmon-Huckleberry wilderness has melted out now.

Comparable elevations in SW Washington State may still have some residual snow, especially north exposures, since it received more snow last winter than anywhere in Oregon, but comparable elevations in Mt. Hood, Bull of the Woods, Roaring River, and Mt Jefferson ought to be comparably accessible by now.

[retired jerry]

"He says it is reasonably accurate."

I went to Strawberry Mt.

The snow model said there was 10 inches of snow before I left. When I got back it said there was no snow.

What I actually found was a difficult cornice right at the ridge to Strawberry Mt. Over a 1/2 mile area, the snow averaged to close to zero, but right at that one spot there was 6 feet of snow. Same a couple other places.

If you want zero snow, you might have to wait a couple weeks after the snow model says there's zero. It depends on the geography.

[kepPNW]

About 4-12" of fresh snow between 5000-6000' on MSH as of yesterday afternoon...