SierraDescents | Category | Current Conditions
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. Yes, that's a virtually snowless mountain in the midst of a snowless season with no snow in sight. As (more)
January 19, 2012
Ambrose at GreenStone Lake
One of the few upsides to our snowless 2012 winter has been perhaps-unprecedented access to the interior Sierra in the dead of winter. Photographer Michael Ambrose recently made (more)
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 (more)
January 1, 2012
A Bony New Year
Here in Flagstaff, Arizona for the holidays. I suppose we should be happy the Snowbowl is at least open, but paying full price for a ticket to wreck your skis does make me a bit (more)
June 2, 2011
Say No to Summer
Okay, it's June 2 and I just bought a new pair of skis...for this season. (more)
May 3, 2011
Portal Road, Snow, Permits
Despite the ease of access, the Whitney Portal region has a less than glowing reputation when it comes to backcountry skiing. Perhaps it's not so much that there's something (more)
April 18, 2011
395 Report (South)
Scouted Highway 395 between Olancha and Independence this past weekend. As has been the case the past few years, snow coverage varies greatly depending (I assume) on wind effect (more)
March 18, 2011
Winter Returns (Again)
Our off-again, on-again winter returns this weekend, with a huge forecast that should turn our thoughts back to snow. Sunday night appears to offer the most potential for (more)
March 7, 2011
Scouting Telegraph Peak
Just taking a look at Telegraph Peak's north face in the San Gabriels this past Saturday. I've got an '04 or '05 photo showing this same view of Telegraph taken May 15, with huge (more)
January 18, 2011
Baldy Bowl Avalanche
One of the interesting things about Baldy Bowl (via the Ski Hut Trail) is that it's a high use area that isn't particularly safe. On any given weekend you'll find a steady stream (more)
January 3, 2011
9500 to 1500
Was it really only two weeks ago that I was climbing in heavy rain on the ski hut trail? Snow levels have dropped from an awful 9500' to near-record 1500' in Southern California, (more)
December 24, 2010
A White Christmas
Clear skies and snowy peaks is the Christmas Day forecast here in the Southland. Expect impressive coverage above 9000 feet or so, and ice forests around the snow line. Here's a (more)
December 21, 2010
Ma Nature Goes Insane
LA Times has a story on how Mother Nature has fooled the forecasters this season. It's a nice rundown on some of the crazy ups and downs of the end of 2010 in SoCal, including a (more)
December 20, 2010
A Four Hour (Cold) Shower
There are only so many days in a row I can watch heavy rain pound the pavement outside my apartment. But that stubborn snow level refused to come down. Finally, on Sunday, I (more)