Snow on Skyline?

[kellie]

Hi all!

We are planning on hiking up Skyline in a few weeks and were wondering how the snow conditions were from Palm Springs up to the Tram?

Any insight would be great! I realize anything can happen (weather-wise) in the next 2 weeks, but an update on current condtions would be extremely helpful!

Thanks so much!

[Perry]

I have an old conditions report from last Thursday in the other recent Skyline thread. Probably later this month I'll bring an ice axe but no crampons because of the amount of exposed boulders as the snow melts.

[kellie]

Great! Thanks Perry! Last year we were able to hike Skyline from Palm Springs to the Tram in April with no problems (and virtually no snow) at all. When are you more experienced Skyline hikers thinking you'll be able to hike up to the tram without either crampons or an ice axe given the different weather conditions this year? I know it's not an easy thing to predict, but it seems the later in the season the more the heat of Palm Springs plays a factor...

It's the lesser of two evils...ice vs. heat

Thanks for your advice everyone! You guys are the best!

[Cy Kaicener]

From the top of Skyline it looks like at least a foot of snow. It should take about two weeks to clear. There are only small patches at Long Valley.

[billc]

Hi - I'm here temporarily from the east coast (probably shouldn't admit to it) and have been watching this BB for the past few days. A friend and I are planning on hiking Skyline tomorrow. We are only going to be able to make it as high as there isn't snow because we don't have crampons / ice axes (or any snow skills to speak of) - which I guess means we will be prepared for the brutal hike back DOWN skyline as opposed to getting to ride the nice easy tram. I know - it would be better to wait a few weeks then be able to hike to the tram - but I won't be around that long as work is going to ship me back east before then...

So any guesses as to where we will run into snow? I am a little confused by Cy's post - "from the top of Skyline it looks like at least a foot of snow". Does that mean there is a foot of snow at the top of the tram, or somewhere above, or below? It looks like there won't be snow on Skyline at the very least below 6000 ft due to southern exposures and lower elevation...above 6000' it would look to be anybody's guess as to exactly when the first patches of snow start to preclude further passage...

Any thoughts would be welcome.

[Perry]

Most of the snow will be between 8,000 and 8,400 feet because it's well-shaded, steep, and north-facing there.

[mookyee]

hey billc,

a bunch of us are planning to go up skyline to the summit on sat 4/19. amongst our group we have varying levels of snow experience, so i'm also curious as to what the conditions are, specifically where the snow/ice is with regards to the tram. please be sure to post how your trip went. thanks!

chris

[billc]

mookyee-

sure thing, I will post details upon successful return!! I'm encouraged by Perry's (thanks Perry) advice that most snow will be around 8000' and above...but of course that means if we make it that high we will be faced with the sore temptation to do what we should not do and try to make it through the snow to the tram without proper snow gear! I'm guessing that's not a very good idea so I am still mentally prepared for a brutal hike back down (on east-facing slopes where it probably gets dark early if I am reading my map right).

I think I will do a "confirmation post" tomorrow morning when I get up and another one when we return so that all can rest assured we made it back safely - not that it is anyone's responsibility other than our own to assure that - but in case folks would worry! "2 hikers lost, rescue" etc. etc. Not sure if that goes against etiquette - hope not.

Either way, you'll get a full report - I am curious whether to expect other hikers out there tomorrow since it sounds like most on this forum are either waiting until summit conditions are more favorable or are just taking the tram up to practice in the snow...

[Perry]

Bill, you realize there's no water, right? The best you can do is stuff snow in your bottles and drop iodine tablets in them. Big 5 has water purification supplies.

If it's a warm afternoon and you have strong wrists, the 400-foot climb is doable with aluminum tent stakes. But if it's solid ice, you definitely need an ice axe and 10-point crampons.

Regarding confirmation posts....the problem is that if you are tired and forget after your climb, then some people would worry unnecessarily.

[Perry]

Actually, if you want to borrow one of my older ice axes: 760 808-2205 It's 75 cm.