SierraDescents.com

February 1, 2012

A Photo You Don’t Need to See…

But, I’ll show it anyway: Baldy Bowl, from 10,000 feet, February 1st, 2012. For the full effect, maybe we should take a quick peek here…

*Sigh* Yes, that’s pretty much a snowless mountain in the midst of a snowless season with no snow in sight. As for the Sierra, let’s check the Mineral King Cam; surely there be snow there? (more…)

Posted in Current Conditions | 2 Comments

January 23, 2012

Avalanche Danger is HIGH

In the context of this winter, I suppose we have to call this good news. Locally, I don’t think enough snow has fallen to open up anything other than (maybe) a few shaded north gullies. In any case, if you do go out to take a look around, approach everything with extreme caution. This is not a normal year…

Posted in Current Conditions | 7 Comments

January 17, 2012

2-4″ Possible

It’s something, at least…

Posted in Current Conditions | 2 Comments

January 14, 2012

TPR Open?

Is Tioga Pass Road really open? Really? I can’t believe it. I can not believe it. January 14, 2012, and SR 120 is showing “NO RESTRICTIONS” through the heart of the central Sierra? As a likely event this is probably right up there with me posting photos of myself skiing down the hill on Federal Avenue alongside my West LA apartment building (as in, Hell freezing over ) (more…)

Posted in Current Conditions | 2 Comments

January 1, 2012

A Bony New Year

Well, the good news is I’ve found a place where heavy snow is falling, but the bad news is that it’s Hillroth Mountain in Skyrim. Here in Flagstaff I suppose we should be happy that the Arizona Snowbowl is at least open, but paying full price for a ticket to wreck your skis does make me a bit grinchy (memo to resort: drop the price or offer a voucher or something). I’ve been riding my ancient Atomic R11′s, which I swore I’d never ski again, and honestly things are so bare (more…)

Posted in Current Conditions | 3 Comments

December 24, 2011

Baldy Bowl is Bare

Bummer!

Posted in Current Conditions | 3 Comments

November 21, 2011

The Snow Report

Well that was an unexpected hello from winter! The weekend storm proved to be a potent one, hammering the Southland and dropping impressive November snowfall in the mountains. Mountain High says 5-10″ of new snow, Mt. Baldy says six inches, and Mammoth reports 12″ over the last 24 hours. Note that Mountain High, Snow Summit, and Mammoth are already open for skiers for the 2011-2012 season. For Big Bear visitors, the blasted highway is at last open, meaning you won’t have to take the bypass any more—thank goodness.

Posted in Current Conditions | 0 Comments

October 4, 2011

October

In the Palisades… And Mammoth Mountain reports 15″ of new snow on the ground.

Posted in Current Conditions | 8 Comments

June 13, 2011

Tioga!

Matt at SJ says open to the Pass coming from the east, so Dana and all the nearby goodies are in play… As for how much snow is up there: I was at Mammoth yesterday. It looks like early April in a Huge year. Or maybe that’s an understatement—you walk out of the upper deck at the Main Lodge onto snow right now. Be aware that as of this week, summer looks like it’s rearing its ugly head up in the Sierra (there was no Spring, apparently, or at least so says Howard Schecter), so watch out for flooding rivers, wet slides, collapsing (huge) snowbridges, and all other known and unknown dangers of 20 or more feet of snow suddenly exposed to temperatures in the 70′s.