Snow amounts - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

please forgive me, i’m stupid. how the heck do i read this site???
http://postholer.com/cgi-bin/postHoler?histMonth=12&histDay=1&histYear=2007&avgMonth=4&avgDay=1

robohiker

#2

Its projected cartography for the areas listed on the left. Curse over a place name and click if you want to see topo images. The right hand coloum is percentage from norm of snow levels…where the snow is this year or for a given location as choosen from the dates at the top. Like Minors Ridge; 17% above average at 6000’.

Although if you go here http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/California/california.html and pick an area it gives easier snow levels, at least in the California area.

Bushwhack

#3

so, i did say i was stupid. your example of miners ridge has a 17 it the column. meaning 17% what does the middle top line tells me, where it says below,average,and above. i was thinking it meant anything up to the dottod red vetical line would be below,up to the line normal and anything past the line would be above? i’m confused.
i clicked on the topo/terraserver link but have no idea how to relate that to the snow depth because it doesn’t show me where the snow is! i’m lost! i can hike and read a compass though!!:oh

robohiker

#4

OK Robo - here it is.

To use Miners Ridge: The 17 represents that the snow is currently at 17% of the April 1 average.

You’re right on your understanding of the horizontal bars with respect to the vertical dotted line - if the bar doesn’t reach the vertical dotted line (that is, it’s to the left of the vertical dotted line), the snow is below average, at the line it’s average, to the right of the line, it’s above average. BUT, the default setting is to compare to April 1st.

If you want to see the comparison to TODAY’s average, use the right pair of drop down’s (the ones that are defaulted to Apr 1) and pick the current month and day. If you go do it now and pick December 2 (the most current available) you’ll see that Miners Ridge is at 66% of normal for December 2, while Clear Lake (Northern Or) is at 128% of normal for this day.

Oh yeah - April 1st is the default day as that is the day that, on average, the snow in the Sierra peaks out.

If you want to see what it looks like with above average snow, on the left set of drop down’s, pick April 1, 2006 using the April 1 comparison (the right set of drop down’s)

Token Civilian

#5

hey thanks, i think i may have it now:oh
i thought last year was a dry year but the snow totals were above average in the sierras? i’m just gonna go hike it and find out first hand. hey if it’s sneaker high or knee high i’m a going!

robohiker

#6

what would be the best dates to punch in to figure out how much snow they have on any given day from now till april 1?:x

robohiker

#7

Last winter was the lowest ever in the Sierra for snow. Two winters ago was the highest. This year, well I’m still hiking almost every day in the Sierra. Wished I would have flipped to Canada then gone south. I could still be hiking the John Muir Section of the Trail. Though Starting Thursday were supposed to get 3-5 feet. Finally. If you want pretty accurate snow totals go to ski area websites that are located in the Sierra, and check the snow conditions. They also all have archives of snow fall for the past. Check out www.mammothmountain.com for some snow amounts. Be warned though ski areas always get more snow then the surrounding mountains.

Guino