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High Sierra Conditions

Original Post
Dark Helmet · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 995

Anyone been out to the incredible hulk or other high sierra routes? I was contemplating a trip over memorial day, but not sure how conditions will be shaping up.

Cory B · · Fresno, CA · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 2,577
Andre H. · · Boulder · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 5

Hope you like snow!

Cory B · · Fresno, CA · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 2,577

^+1. Good time to climb those couloirs and snow gullies

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65

In the Yosemite region there's still significant snow above about 8100'.

Max McKee · · Monterey, CA · Joined Dec 2015 · Points: 35

I was out there this memorial day weekend, headed to cathedral peak for an overnight and climb. On the hike in the weather turned and started snowing. Then came the thunder and lightning. At the base and beginning of the JMT there was only patches of snow, but got better and better higher up. The snow was well consolidated but easy enough to kick or chop steps up to the base of Cathedral without needing to put on crampons. This was our first time out there and were way off the standard approach. Thunder and lightning continued and it started hailing very bad, all of it sliding down the face that was already dripping wet. We bivvied on the snow ledge at the base of Route A in the SuperTopo and waited for morning hoping for better weather. We decided against the dripping wet SE Buttress and headed up the Mountaineers route but were stopped again by lightning and thunder cracking overhead. We decided not to climb the almost 11,000' granite lightning rod in the middle of a lightning storm and head back down to the meadow where it was raining. We then went down to the Valley and climbed the scorching hot Gracks.

Max McKee · · Monterey, CA · Joined Dec 2015 · Points: 35
C Brooks wrote:^+1. Good time to climb those couloirs and snow gullies
Any fun one's you would recommend?
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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