2019 Snow Level

General discussions on hiking in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest
User avatar
adamschneider
Posts: 3710
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: SE Portland
Contact:

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by adamschneider » May 29th, 2019, 5:39 pm

Today I drove the Cascade Lakes Highway "clockwise" from Crane Prairie up past Elk Lake and Mt. Bachelor. There was no snow at all until Elk Lake, and then just a few patches. The snow increased until it was about 50% coverage around Devil's Lake, then 100% from Todd Lake to just before Mt. Bachelor. After Bachelor, it instantly disappeared. (Rain shadow, I guess.)

The Devil's Lake and Green Lakes trailheads are still snow-covered, but at both of them, people were parked along the clear part of the entrance roads near the highway.

Webfoot
Posts: 1759
Joined: November 25th, 2015, 11:06 am
Location: Troutdale

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by Webfoot » May 31st, 2019, 6:50 am

I presume the road had been plowed?

User avatar
adamschneider
Posts: 3710
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: SE Portland
Contact:

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by adamschneider » May 31st, 2019, 8:28 am

Webfoot wrote:
May 31st, 2019, 6:50 am
I presume the road had been plowed?
The highway, yes, but none of the side roads.

User avatar
Chip Down
Posts: 3037
Joined: November 8th, 2014, 8:41 pm

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » June 1st, 2019, 9:27 pm

Plains of Abraham (St Helens) is bare! I was shocked and disappointed.
Attachments
20190601_101001b.jpg

User avatar
teachpdx
Posts: 395
Joined: January 21st, 2014, 4:45 pm
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by teachpdx » June 3rd, 2019, 7:49 am

PCT in the vicinity of Santiam Pass is snow-free.
No snow on the Old Summit Trail past Square Lake to Booth Lake. Most likely clear to the Jack Lake TH, but didn't go that far.

It looks like it's still snowy along the PCT up on the flanks of Three Fingered Jack, which is no surprise.
instagram: @remyodyssey

User avatar
drm
Posts: 6133
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: The Dalles, OR
Contact:

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by drm » June 3rd, 2019, 6:54 pm

Three of us did the Herman Creek - PCT loop Sunday/Monday. There is still a final snowbank as you get up to the ridge, but we had no trouble navigating through it, and it will be shrinking fast. Flowers are great along the ridge between Chinidere Mtn and Benson Plateau, including something my friends told me is called a Grandmas Pincusion, which I don't think I have seen before. Even lower Herman Ck has the best flowers I've ever seen there. This is the first spring it has been open since the fire so I assume that is the reason.
hcpct 3.jpg
Final snowbank on Herman Ck trail

User avatar
Chip Down
Posts: 3037
Joined: November 8th, 2014, 8:41 pm

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » June 4th, 2019, 6:51 pm

The next few days should be interesting. NOAA says Coldwater on MSH (a mere 3200' elevation) will see snow in the coming days, possibly several consecutive days of snow. Of course, realistically this will be maybe a couple inches that will melt on the next hot day, so it's not a game changer for trail hikers, but those of us who favor high alpine routes might be in for an unusual Sunday (they predict Sunday will bring clearing, hopefully good hiking weather).

Funny that as I was typing this, I heard "I never saw a spring with so much snow" in a song being played on Portland Radio Project. Not that I really think this is a record setting spring (far from), but it was interesting timing.

Incidentally, off topic, I feel compelled to share that I damn near wrecked my Outback once on a June afternoon driving home from a hike when I encountered a freak snowstorm and took a curve a little too fast.
Attachments
CaptureMSH.JPG

User avatar
Born2BBrad
Posts: 1086
Joined: May 1st, 2011, 7:26 pm
Location: The Dalles

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by Born2BBrad » June 10th, 2019, 8:07 pm

FYI, snow report on Mt Hood as of 6/9/19. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge all the way to Mississippi head and beyond. Sloppy and wet. Not fully compacted yet. Very difficult to walk in.
Attachments
DSC08960.JPG
Below Mississippi Head
DSC08948.JPG
Zigzag Canyon Overlook
DSC08945.JPG
Little Zigzag Canyon
DSC08936.JPG
PCT at Timberline Lodge
Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.
- Jean Luc Picard

Link to GPX tracks
Link to Trip Reports

User avatar
Chip Down
Posts: 3037
Joined: November 8th, 2014, 8:41 pm

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » June 11th, 2019, 4:42 am

In contrast to B2BB's observations on Hood, St Helens was a delight! (Also 6/9.) Near Sheep Canyon, Crescent Ridge, to crater rim. Morning was dry and firm, but not icy. Afternoon brought good glissading conditions. A little postholing in spots, but not a serious impediment. I suspect the new snow is pretty much gone from Loowit Trail already, but old hard snow persists. Full TR to follow when I can find a few minutes.

User avatar
kepPNW
Posts: 6411
Joined: June 21st, 2012, 9:55 am
Location: Salmon Creek

Re: 2019 Snow Level

Post by kepPNW » June 11th, 2019, 6:05 am

Born2BBrad wrote:
June 10th, 2019, 8:07 pm
FYI, snow report on Mt Hood as of 6/9/19. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge all the way to Mississippi head and beyond.
Amazing the difference from this week last year! Appreciate that update.
Karl
Back on the trail, again...

Post Reply