Trail Conditions 2012, look at first entry for updated conditions!

[resqme]

North slope of the bowl looking pretty darn icy...

[Curly]

Went up for a walk with the wife and dog today. Plow line at chalet is no more than a speed bump, first dam is almost devoid of snow, Drove the JK in two wheel drive all the way to the kiosk. Hiked in to the bowl, had lunch and left

As a side note the Forest Service seems to be patrolling the camp grounds to make sure they are not being used. They are closed for the winter but due to the weather people of course are still using them. Be advised they will issue you a ticket for this. I am referring to the Group Forest Service camp grounds. This is absolutely ridiculous if you ask me but just wanted people to be informed.

Secondly, we ran into a gentlemen broke down on the side of Ice House road with a flat battery. The same forest service truck was behind him. I inquired if everything was handled and the gentlemen informed me the Forest Service refused to give him a "Jump" as it was against Forest Service Policy due to liability. Are you kidding me? They can use our tax dollars to patrol camp grounds in the middle of winter and issue tickets but not give some poor soul a Jump The guy had got a hold of Triple A and they were on the way. What happened to the Forest Service being out there to aid the public? Just drives me nuts the hypocrisy of it all.

Anyway, winter is still in a holding pattern. Pic below is taken from "Hot Rock" looking towards "Gate Keeper"

[71BRONCO71]

Originally Posted by Curly

As a side note the Forest Service seems to be patrolling the camp grounds to make sure they are not being used. They are closed for the winter but due to the weather people of course are still using them. Be advised they will issue you a ticket for this. I am referring to the Group Forest Service camp grounds. This is absolutely ridiculous if you ask me but just wanted people to be informed.

Secondly, we ran into a gentlemen broke down on the side of Ice House road with a flat battery. The same forest service truck was behind him. I inquired if everything was handled and the gentlemen informed me the Forest Service refused to give him a "Jump" as it was against Forest Service Policy due to liability. Are you kidding me? They can use our tax dollars to patrol camp grounds in the middle of winter and issue tickets but not give some poor soul a Jump The guy had got a hold of Triple A and they where on the way. What happened to the Forest Service being out there to aid the public? Just drives me nuts the hypocrisy of it all.

I cannot believe that. We are not allowed to use OUR lands for camping?

And what ever happened to doing the right thing. I would throw "policy" out the door if I saw someone broke down in the middle of nowhere and help them best I can.

Anyways.... Looks beautiful on the trail. Only a couple more months until warmer, dry weather.

[Curly]

Originally Posted by 71BRONCO71

I cannot believe that. We are not allowed to use OUR lands for camping?

Ryan, you are confused my friend. These are not OUR lands they belong to the new upcoming world order known as the USFS.

[71BRONCO71]

Originally Posted by Curly

Ryan, you are confused my friend. These are not OUR lands they belong to the new upcoming world order known as the USFS.

Revolution?
Or will I go to jail for saying that?

We the Trail users take better care of the forest than the USFA takes care of themselves.
I could go off on a rant, but this isnt the place for that.

Well, hopefully I will be getting on the trail soon. The Bronco is ready for wheeling. "HAVE ICE CHEST, WILLING TO WHEEL!"

[Curly]

Snow baby, snow!!!

[Atv'er]

I was just looking at the weather graphs and it looks like spider lake is so post to get around 42 inches of snow. We need it so hopefully more comes.

[BEAR]

Its snowing in Colfax so Im sure its dumping up there!!

Who's down for a snow run........

[resqme]

Originally Posted by Atv'er

...42 inches of snow...

Awesome

[silversas13]

Who's snow runni.g tomorrow morning??

[77bawls]

I was up there this weekend, a bunch of people went to Wentworth.

[bflynn1717]

Went to the trail head this last Sunday. Never more than a few feet of snow. We came in through Georgetown. They stopped plowing the road just after Quintette. Ice house is plowed all the way to just before the first dam. Here's a shot from the top of the 2nd Loon dam.

[The Jerk]

How come u didnt follow our tracks in?

Good times!

[71BRONCO71]

Who was on the trail Saturday? I over heard some battery and over heating problems on the radio.

[Curly]

Originally Posted by 71BRONCO71

Who was on the trail Saturday? I over heard some battery and over heating problems on the radio.

Not sure about the overheating issues but the Battery was my good friends. They went up for a day trip had a yellow top optima take a dive. Every thing worked out okay. Another fine example of the power of ham Radio and the mighty '805

[atvobsession]

Originally Posted by Curly

Not sure about the overheating issues but the Battery was my good friends. They went up for a day trip had a yellow top optima take a dive. Every thing worked out okay. Another fine example of the power of ham Radio and the mighty '805

Fire dog eating batteries now, huh?

[1966Scout800]

Still early, but... Estimates on how late, (or early), will the melt be this year to start off the summer season? I doubt it will be as late as last years. Reason I am asking is I am stuck up in Oregon until early May and getting anxious to get home and wheel.

[resqme]

Originally Posted by 1966Scout800

...Estimates on how late, (or early), will the melt be this year to start off the summer season? I doubt it will be as late as last years.

Been thinking about this myself. Last two years we had the combined effect of large snowfall and late snowfall, so as you noted, the melt wasn't complete on most of the trail until June and really didn't even start on the Tahoe side until almost July.

NOAA predictions for this year (the biggest La Nina pattern since the 1930's, remember the dustbowl, Grapes of Wrath and all that?) say the balance of the year will be warmer and drier than usuual.

Reference can be seen here if you want to sift through the report:

http://www.johnarenz.com/weather_predicition.html

Click on the link to download the .pdf

So...based on people much smarter than me saying so, and my experience on the high west slope of the Sierras, I would say that we will be in the Con early, with melt occurring in early May, and maybe a clear Memorial Day weekend for the first time in years.

Edited for spelling

[77bawls]

The base is maybe 2' and it's melting pretty good right now. If we don't get any new snow I would imagine it would be melted VERY early this year.

[1966Scout800]

Appreciate the response. Its been a weird year, at least for me and my timing when I went back home from school. Wanted to get some snow wheeling in but no snow Thanksgiving break or Christmas break. Hell when I went up to the 'Con in early January it was as clear as when I left it in the summer. Snow or not I can't wait to get back up there and enjoy the beauty of the trail!

[resqme]

Originally Posted by 1966Scout800

...I can't wait to get back up there and enjoy the beauty of the trail!

Thisis what it's all about!

Just got back from a fast run into Spider to work on the repeater, started snowing early this morning and looks like it has been most of the day...not a lot, but steady.

This is Walker coming out...FINALLY starting to accumulate some snow, and more to come in the next week or so!

[atvobsession]

Had fun out there today....snow was perfect...hard, cold.

So...headed back out....I had to take a few attempts at it...but I finally found a line....I literally pinned it...all the way up...almost didn't get up...but I did. So excited...that I went down again and Scott film me going up...give you an idea of the snow too..since you can see the bowl.

Rubicon Bowl Run in the snow - YouTube

[resqme]

Originally Posted by atvobsession

...give you an idea of the snow too...[/url]

Traction was awesome today when we came out, no winching from Spider to Loon, hour and twenty minutes, makes comin' out of the bowl fun!

[resqme]

This was on Friday when it was warm out about 3:00PM, conditions were not so good. Six inches of mushy snow, sugary underneath.


Granite Bowl Attempt in the Snow March 2012 - YouTube

[Curly]

Originally Posted by resqme

This was on Friday when it was warm out about 3:00PM, conditions were not so good. Six inches of mushy snow, sugary underneath.


Granite Bowl Attempt in the Snow March 2012 - YouTube

Was a slurpee for sure. Good to see you guys and thanks for the work on the '805. Although with that said, the Georgetown repeater works great for a back up alternative.