TR: Snowshoeing in the Eastern Sierra

Cal, one of our friends (an almost-senior citizen) hikes and climbs in steep snowy terrain with an ice axe -- if and when he slips, he knows how to jam the axe into the ice to "self arrest" so that he does not slide over the cliff.

My personal view is that when we are hiking or snowshoeing in potentially fatal terrain, I can't assume that I will react fast enough to get the axe in far enough and that the ice and snow will be firm enough to hold me. The same is true when the trail crosses potential avalanche chutes -- yes, they make rescue beacons, but someone has to be there to detect the beacon and dig you out before you suffocate. Often, especially in winter, DW and I are the only ones around for several miles.

Probably I'm being over-cautious, but I'm just not motivated to take those risks.

Beautiful photos of my favorite part of California! Way more snow than when I'm normally there. :)

Dan .... and the most amazing part of your snow camping trips most folks know nothing about: That you usually don't heat the inside of your trailer overnight between daytime snowshoeing hikes. ;)

Phil, that was certainly true this time, since we were staying in Bishop at 4000 feet, with night-time temps in the low 40s -- downright toasty! But it is also true that we have often snow-camped without running the heat at all, except during shower time (mandatory). Warm clothing, heavy down comforter -- no problem.

The other kicker is that our well-insulated trailer is so small that our body heat keeps it pretty warm, at least when the outside temp is in the 20 degree range. If the trailer were any smaller, we would not be "occupying" it so much as "wearing" it. ;)

profdant139 wrote:
Boon, as of last week, the snow was roughly at the 8000 foot level. But that depends a lot on the conditions -- especially the sun exposure. For example, in McGee Creek, which runs east and west, the slope on the north side of the creek (which faces south) was melted out to about 8500 feet. The flat bottom of the canyon had about four to six feet of snow. The south side of the canyon (which faces north) had ten feet of snow.

Thanks Dan for the info, much appreciated :)

Dan, nice trip report. I know all these places from our backpacking days and it's good to see what is (maybe) the end of the wettest season on record for the northern and central Sierra. My son Matt told me as of 4/15 there was still officially eighty (80) feet of snow in the Leavitt Lake Basin, a spot that has the the PCT running right through it. Yes, I've been with gaiters and a ice axes making our way across some crusty, bottomless and steeply angled hard snow field with a dropoff into the lake just south of Mt. Whitney, and I don't care how young you are it puts the fear of God in you. I can't imagine doing this on a major part of the PCT. We haven't used our snow shoes for the length of the CA drought so it's good to see someone on the shoes.
regards, as always, jefe
This a view from Hwy 395 just No. of Lee Vining, looking SW on April 16th. That distinct valley has the Tioga Pass road leading to Yosemite.

It looks like the canyon of Lee Vining Creek has turned into a glacier, and the snout is pushing into Mono Lake! That curving hillside in the middle foreground has to be a terminal moraine. Terrific picture.

Boy am I glad we did not take our trip to Reno,,,,,,,I hate putting chains on.

Patrick, the road to Reno is clear! All of 395 has been snow-free for a long time -- at this time of year, the snow level is at 8000 feet or more, and even higher in areas exposed to the sun. Plus, since 395 runs north and south, it receives a lot of sun. By comparison, roads that run east and west often are shadowed by mountains that block the sun, and they melt out much later.