Mountain Project Logo

16/17 westside ice conditions

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

I thought I would update the thread for this years ice conditions. I checked out the ice in SEKI today, too thin to climb, but looks like it might be a promising ice year for those of us on the Westside.

Thin ice

Looks promising

This could be good in a few weeks maybe

Jay Bird · · Marin, CA · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,136

YES! do update on the Watch Tower. I'm itching to climb that thing. Thanx

Cory B · · Fresno, CA · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 2,577
Rude Boy wrote:YES! do update on the Watch Tower. I'm itching to climb that thing. Thanx
Let me know if you need a partner for it :)
Limpingcrab DJ · · Middle of CA · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 1,055

Cool! I've seen moonage climbed in worse conditions than that. No thanks though, ice is scary

Jay Bird · · Marin, CA · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,136

mos def

tahoe tom · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 30

Awesome updates, let's keep this thread alive

Hamik Mukelyan · · Palos Verdes, Los Angeles · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 310

Moonage can be climbed even if the ice isn't contiguous. Just do some easy (M3 or 4ish) mixed on the right. Super fun climb. Some lame video I made a few years ago:

youtube.com/watch?v=ecrCsNO…

Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60

^^^
Nice little video. I even like the reference to The Chief at the end.

Trad Princess · · Not That Into Climbing · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,175

Hey Hamik!

Looks like a bunch of goons in that video - you've nevar been to LEE VINING!11!1

randy88fj62 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 291

Any more updates?

Thanks in advance.

tahoe tom · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 30

Any update on the watchtower? Hoping to get at it Saturday.

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

The extreme avalanche hazard above the Watchtower with all the storms has kept me away. Might be safe by next weekend

randy88fj62 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 291

So thinking of heading to Tokopah this upcoming weekend 2-3 to 2-5-17. The SEKI website says they plow the road up to wolverton and the wuksachi lodge on weekends and wednesday.

How do I confirm this is the case at the moment? I called the SEKI road conditions phone line and it didn't help me.

I tried calling wuksachi lodge and I got the reservation hotline which isn't on site.

Can anyone help here? Thanks.

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

Don't worry about Wolverton or the Lodge, you need to get into Lodgepole which is right off the main road.
As long as the South entrance is open you can usually get into Lodgepole with chains. Call that number the day you are planning to go, the recording will tell you where the road is closed (if it is).
There is another storm coming on Friday, but it looks like it might be warm, so maybe not too much snow.

You can also post to the Sequoia facebook page, they can be pretty responsive

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

If you go, post here on the conditions. I am planning to go up the weekend of the 10th

randy88fj62 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 291

If I make it in I will update with pics and ice formation conditions.

Bryan H · · Redwood CIty, CA · Joined Feb 2016 · Points: 77

Woweeee where is that first pic from? The low angle/slabby ice one..

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

The low angle stuff is beside Tokopah falls. I suspect it will just be a big snow bank by now ;)

randy88fj62 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 291

Heading in friday. Road to Lodgepole is open at the moment. We'll see if the 5 inches max of snow projected for friday evening closes the roads.

randy88fj62 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 291

Tokopah Valley in SNP near Lodgepole.

Sierra Avalanche Center's warning is relatively high and research about the area showed this death:
avalanche.org/data.php?date…

How risky is ice climbing at Tokopah given the amount of snow and the cirque it sits in?

esavalanche.org/advisory

randy88fj62 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 291
summitpost.org/wet-slide-av…

8-April-2006: Debris from a recent wet slide avalanche near Tokopah Falls. This of course is more of a springtime event, but it seems to illustrate the avalanche potential of the area. Debris from similar slides was evident all over the bowl. Needless to say I beat a hasty retreat back into the trees.

Tokopah is not sounding inviting this weekend.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
Post a Reply to "16/17 westside ice conditions"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.