Shuteye

Hi all, not sure if the road to the big sleep area is open? Can get to Chiquito Dome, Minarets rd is open, Beasore Rd still blocked by snow. happy climbing Mike A.

Trailcrew 4x4’s will be headed up for Memorial Day. Any updates on the gates in to shuteye and whiskey snowmobile road etc would be great.

If no updates I’ll check with ranger station this week. 

Mike Arechigawrote:

Hi all, not sure if the road to the big sleep area is open? Can get to Chiquito Dome, Minarets rd is open, Beasore Rd still blocked by snow. happy climbing Mike A.

Minarets road is closed according to the Ranger website. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sierra/alerts-notices/?aid=87299.. I also just talked to the Ranger to confirm. They are writing tickets if you go around the closure at Mile High Vista. 

It sounds like there is also too much snow on Beasore above about 6,600' to get to Grizzly Road down to the backside of Shuteye (Electric Eagle, Chiquito, etc.). But snow is melting fast so please let us know if its passable now!

Hi All, they changed the road open date now it June 2, the road closers on minarets rd is from mile high look out to soda springs campground so that means at this point no access to Chiquito Dome. It’s a good idea to check with the posting on usda website to see what’s closed, but it’s hard to keep up with that info because they keep changing dates when minarets rd will open, they posted May 2 last time and did not post new opening date until May 5, good luck on belay you all.

I got word today that a friend of mine made it to camp 5 in a Honda Civic. Reference Forest Road 8S09 where it intersects 7S08.

Past that were lots of downed trees. 

Hi all, snow still blocking Beasore rd a mile before Cold Springs Summit. Looks like it will be a couple weeks before the snow melds or if a local blows the road. Happy climbing Mike A.

Hi folks, thanks for the updates on conditions here!

Is the High Eagle / Friend Rock camp area currently accessible? (maybe via Central Camp road?)

Hi all, can get to central camp rd/ road 6s42 from Beasore rd, but have not gone up the road yet this season, I am sure from 6s42 to the shuteye look out, road 6s59 the road has down trees and issues from the winter.  Been lots of off roaders up there the last few weeks so maybe they been helping with clearing the roads? In a couple weeks I am sure most areas will open up for the season, things are melting super fast looking at shuteye today from my house the snow looks almost gone

Spoke to people camping at camp V. Climbers and them were pushing to get to big sleep. I drive up tomorrow. I expect big sleep to be clear this weekend by Sunday.

I will update next week. 

Was up there today! We first attempted to get up from Beasore to Central Camp Road. Pretty quickly hit deep snow in the shady spots. Was able to get up Central Camp Road from the other side but for sure need high ground clearance after the sand creek crossing. Maybe even a little before. Only saw jeeps, broncos, tacomas and a stuck Tacoma. Rock looking dry! Attached a couple photos. I bet any extra snow up there is gone soon!

Big Sleep is clear for the rav4 / Subaru types. A white ram cut their way in and we cleared the few trees blocking the trail they went around.

all in all it should be a good season. 

I hadn’t been to the big sleep area since before the creek fire. Was so nice to see a lot of the forest looking good there. Thanks for the work clearing trees.

Does anyone know if a minivan can make it to/ near big sleep in the current conditions?  Headed out there later today.

Thanks for all updates on here!

Matt

Ranger Mattwrote:

Does anyone know if a minivan can make it to/ near big sleep in the current conditions?  Headed out there later today.

Thanks for all updates on here!

Matt

It should be good to go via the Whiskey snowmobile road all the way to the spur road turnoff for the camping/trailhead. I wouldn't recommend driving up that last section but YMMV.

Beautiful day at Shuteye.

 Queens Throne.

Mike Arechigawrote:

 Queens Throne.

Mike - this photo must have been taken years ago before the creek fire, right?! No way has the forest grown back that fast.  

Hi all, yes that is an old pix of Queens Throne I take in 2010, here is a clip off a video I did at Christmas time last 2023 on top of High Eagle. 

Any updates on Beasore road & Grizzly road? Could a low clearance/2wd car make it to access the northern section of Minaret’s road this weekend?

Is the Norris Creek bridge still out?

I’ve been trying to get ahold of the Bass Lake ranger station but somehow the line always says it’s busy.

Hi all, Norris bridge still out, Minarets rd still closed from Mile High to Grizzly Rd, but everything else is open. It’s summer and climbing season is here! Happy climbing Mike A.