Snow on Skyline?

[Tim Le]

Hi Kellie, unfortunately my plans have changed and I won't be able to do a recon after all

It's just going to be way too hot this weekend. But the good news is more of the snow will melt and perhaps I might join y'all the following weekend. Although it's looking like that weekend might see another shift in the weather and below normal temps. Anyhow, hope to see you on the trails!

[Cy Kaicener]

Today I descended 750 feet from Long Valley.
There is still snow on Skyline from 7600 feet up. I WAS GLAD i had an ice axe today. Most of this part of the trail is snow free with snow banks blocking part of the trail. I lost the trail near the Traverse.

[zippetydude]

Hi Cy! Did you go all the way through? I probably won't do Skyline until the ice is gone, so I'm wondering how the trail looks. If you lost the trail near the traverse, and I think it's safe to say no one knows the trail better than you, then there must be significant coverage still.

Also, anyone besides Cy up there today?

z

[Cy Kaicener]

Zip - I never made it to the traverse from Long Valley. There was a steep snow bank and a fallen tree blocking the way and no easy way around it with the steep snow.

[guest]

Hi,
Hiked it today, no snow until just after Rocky Ridge (the tough climb heading SW before Traverse).
There are big patches of decent, tractable snow, (at approx. 10:15am), about 20-30 ft. across, big post holes steps for the most part.
There still is exposure, so if your not comfortable traversing across some fairly steep areas, you may want to wait a week or 2.

Now for the other: The snow patches cover the trail long enough, that, if you don't know the trail, you will have a difficult time picking it back up.
Occasionally, the foot prints head off away from the normal trail.
There are at least 5 new trees down to add to the possible navigation challenges.

WX was great, but you will feel the heat, bring Lots of fluids.
No snakes today.

happy hiking,

ss

[Perry]

No snakes today.

Yesterday was no-snake day? I missed it.

[Bivouac]

message to follow

[Bivouac]

Nothing much to add to guests description...

Tinabalina and i hiked up yesterday... the added WORK of having to go off trail to miss the snow on the corners of some of the switch backs made it a VERY good workout. . .

Even though it was Tina's very first ascent she had me ventilating to the max! She can do dry falls to crest in 2hrs and maintain a steady flow of chit chat along the way... (Women sure are good multi-taskers)

Seriously though, i just want to respectfully congratulate Tinabalina for her GREAT first summit of Museum to Tram, to say she is an excellent comrade on the Mountain, and to thank her for an outstanding hike. . .

[guest]

Glad you had a great hike, may I venture to say your now "hooked" Tina?
You had a great companion in Biv!

ss

[kellie]

Thanks to everyone who posted this weekend on the trail conditions! That being said, is it safe to say it's POSSIBLE to hike Skyline without crampons and/or ice axe...? Loosing the trail is a bit concerning, but I'm hoping my memory and a good GPS will go to great lengths to help...

Let me know what you guys think, or if a hike this weekend (04/19) is probably still a bit to early in the season this year...