C2C the day after a storm?

[cynthia23]

Well ... to be the pessimist again, Zip ... the local news weather woman, who is usually pretty accurate, just said the snow level would actually be down to 5000 feet, with six inches at that level. It is not sounding like a dusting at all. (personally, I have never found the NOAA forecasts very accurate here.) And the national news just called this storm "the biggest to hit California in six years." Granted, by Saturday morning much will melt off, but if this is true, there will surely be considerable accumulation of snow at 7000. At this point, I really would advise Calihiker to reschedule their trip. Another point to consider is how exhausting hiking in snow is, especially if you have never done it before. Skyline is exhausting enough as it is. This really does not sound like a good idea for someone who has never done either Skyline or steep hiking in snow.

[zippetydude]

HI Cynthia! I'm not against you girl! I've always just gone with my best guess and, if there was too much snow above Flat Rock I just turn around and meander back down. Going back down on occasion is actually kinda fun and I am not the driven sort that MUST make the top - I'm just in it for fun and it's always fun regardless of how I do it. As long as that's the philosophy then all will end well. I hope your forecast is the accurate one - I'd love to see some serious snowpack develop this winter!

z

[cynthia23]

Oh, I love our yin-yang energy, Zip In all seriousness, I like how you make me less serious! And I honestly think it's useful to have as many perspectives as possible. It's certainly true that one can turn around and go back down (at this time of year, at least) if you hit snow.

It would be great if we really did get a decent amount of snow, that's for sure.

[Brian]

Since it's your first time on this mountain, I would pass on C2C and do only Skyline in 7-10 hours. You should have poles and good micro-spikes, but learning on slopes of 1.000 feet per mile is going to be harder and longer. Consider yourself lucky to catch a snow-covered Skyline!

[guest]

Hi folks,
NOAA may not always get in right, but this prediction from them does not sound like a gentle, mainly rain storm below 8k.
This forecast is from 5 miles NE of Pine Cove, next to Idyllwild, which is on the side of the mt. that gets hit 1st in winter, (so a little ways from Skyline area).

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... Ink6slrz9o

Friday Snow showers. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 32. Windy, with a southwest wind 30 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 12 to 18 inches possible.

Friday Night Snow showers, mainly before 4am. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 22. Windy, with a west wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday Scattered snow showers before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Anyone who gets in trouble this weekend on the mt. hasn't done their due diligence.
Could be fun, could be dangerous, depends on your experience, toughness & how well prepared one is.

[Brian]

Looks as if Mt. Baldy, San J and San G are expecting 20-30 inches of snow, peaks can have more than forecasted since weather stations are at somewhat lower elevations. Here is Mt. Baldy weather measured at 9,555' and 10,066' (likely the same data). NOAA has been wrong on most rain/snow events so far this year. Let's see if they get this one right. Also, I do not believe mountain-forecast is much better than NOAA. I usually check both.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... Iqk60ZWGyy


http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/ ... casts/3068

[Brian]

This will be a fun weekend in the mountains.

Palm Springs Tram predicts 1-2 inches at 8,500'.
http://www.pstramway.com/weekly-planner.html

Long Valley cam: http://www.pstramway.com/long-valley-cam.html

[Ellen]

See post below:

[Ellen]

Howdy All

The tram cam is showing snow in Long Valley as of 9:45 AM

I'll be heading up Skyline to the tram tomorrow (Cactus to Beer). The low in Palm Springs tonight is predicted at 46 degrees -- great weather for polar bears.

I know several strong and experienced folks on this forum who've carried snowshoes, crampons and ice-axes up Skyline and have continued on to the peak

I do not have speedy alien DNA like Blue, Z-dude and Scott2 and am content to stop at the tram.

Absolutely agree with Cynthia's cautions and Scoot's warning below:

Anyone who gets in trouble this weekend on the mt. hasn't done their due diligence.
Could be fun, could be dangerous, depends on your experience, toughness & how well prepared one is.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Ed]

Well said, Ellen. Hope my comments weren't interpreted as too encouraging. The latest reports suggest there will not be that much snow. but the tram forecast is talking about rain/snow continuing into Saturday. Temperatures hovering around freezing with precipitation that can't make up its mind between rain and snow was always one of my least favorite conditions, even before I had the icy-fingers problem. Glad I went up yesterday.