New Snow: none
Settled Snow Depth: 28 inches
High temperature: 49°F (January 15)
Low temperature: 1°F (January 18)
Ski Conditions and Weather
It was a dry week with another “upslope” wind event here at Tuolumne Meadows. Ski conditions are a mixed bag, with only the most sheltered areas below tree line holding soft snow. The rest is wind effected and in places nearly impenetrable to a metal ski edge. While out doing Sierra Nevada Red Fox work in the alpine this week we found ourselves using crampons to traverse even low angle slopes. Losing a ski edge in such conditions could result in taking a ride like a greased pig downhill until an obstacle, or flat ground arrested the gravitational pull.
Snowline is presently around 9,000 feet on the east side of Tioga Pass. If entering Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass one might consider a bicycle a useful tool to travel between the closed gate in Lee Vining Canyon and snowline. The Tioga Road is 100% snow covered within the park with an average snow depth between two and four feet.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions
Please refer to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) and the Bridgeport Avalanche Center for the avalanche advisories for this part of the Sierra Nevada.
The avalanche hazard is presently low in the central Sierra Nevada. We dug a snow pit at Tioga Pass this week on a sheltered north aspect. The depth was 130 centimeters (cm) and the pit indicated stable conditions in this spot. As always, it is important to consider “spatial variability” when interpreting snow pit data for avalanche hazard and ski condition purposes. If the entire Yosemite wilderness snowpack looked like the snow in our pit we would be singing the praises of the excellent skiing, and stable snowpack under our skis. Instead, the aforementioned “bullet proof” snow surface is more likely the condition to be found unless we get more snow.
Wildlife
The Fringillidae family of birds has been greatly represented this season from the sheltered montane to the high and blustery alpine zone. Pine siskins seem to be harvesting seeds among the hemlock and lodgepole. While the evening grosbeaks and red crossbills have been seen from Tuolumne Meadows to Tioga Pass.
This week as we ventured higher into the bushy, Krumholtz white bark pine forest, the trees came alive with noisy, chattering finches. The birds were so tucked in among the branches that they were almost impossible to see. But as we crested into the great wide open high mountain passes, we saw perhaps the largest flocks of gray-crowned rosy finches we have ever seen darting back and forth across the Sierra Nevada blue-skies.
Questions
The Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut is open. This primitive cabin is the campground reservation office in the summer and is located along the Tioga Road at the entrance to the campground. It is marked with a sign. There is firewood and 8 bunks that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For those visiting the Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut from the east (only) permits are self-issued at the Ski Hut. For those entering from other areas, please see Yosemite’s website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildfaq.htm#winter or you may contact the wilderness office at 209/372-0740. As of this writing, there is electricity and limited (Verizon) phone service in Tuolumne Meadows.
Come prepared, and please make good decisions while traveling in the wilderness!
Read through the following three pages before embarking on any day or overnight snow travel within this park:
You may contact us with any additional winter Tuolumne Meadows related questions but response times may vary if we are away on patrol.
Think snow!
Laura and Rob Pilewski - Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers
