I haven’t been keeping up with the happenings of the PCT hikers this season, so does anyone have any estimates of when hikers will be coming thru the Yosemite/Sonora Pass area? I live in the area and was just curious. The snow is melting unbelievably fast!
Hydro
Many hikers are leaving from Kennedy Meadows today or in the Independence area at this point, and not rushing as they wait for more snow to melt in the JMT area. I’d expect the pack at Sonora Pass around the second week of July.
Shelly Culbertson
i have been checking updated pct journals on a daily basis b/c i an heading to the toulumne area on july 15th. it seems that the head of the pack is updating their journals from lone pine/independence/bishop area. the hikers that have left kennedy meadows have done so after spending several days to a week there waiting for the snow to melt some. from reading those it sounds like the herd is not yet to kennedy meadows.
with tioga pass road just opening this weekend, if you get a chance to drive thru there can you let me know how much snow is at tuolumne meadows???
jerm
I just got an email from Patience (AT2002). She and her husband, Lico, are/were in Mammoth after a scary trip thru the High Sierra. She says they are among the first to go thru and they experienced scary, high water crossings as well as lots of snow.
They got a ride to Mammoth from Reds Meadow, but have no way to get back to Reds Meadow. They asked locally about Tuolumne Pass and someoone told them the snow levels are still high clear to Sonora Pass. We biked over Sonora Pass about a week ago and I can verify the snow is more than patchy there.
Patience & Lico are considering skipping ahead.
Ken
…GottaWalk
Ken
Hi Ken, I can tell you that snow is melting rapidly a bit farther north where I live in the Reno/Tahoe area; however, plenty remains. My friend Michelle has been hiking the crest in the Donner Summit area; she is very comfortable in snow and has still found herself in sections that make her think twice. The one report I’ve seen from a hiker who skipped ahead to Belden indicated substantial snow above 6300’ there. Proportionately to a normal year, this season was just as heavy or more so to the north, so skipping north may not yield the desired relief.
Shelly Culbertson
… Hot temperatures expected over the central California interior over the weekend…
Strong high pressure will build over central California today and Friday, and will remain over the region through the weekend. As a result, temperatures across the central California interior are expected to increase each day. Afternoon highs Friday through Sunday will range from 105 to 110 degrees across most of the central and south San Joaquin Valley, and across the Kern County deserts. Highs are also expected to top 100 degrees in the foothills, lower elevations of the southern Sierra Nevada and lower slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains.
jerm
Was at Sonora Pass over Memorial Day. I don’t see it clear before mid - July. There’s even more snow than last year. Temps, while hot in the Valley, don’t directly translate to Sonora Pass. Snow is melting in a hurry, though. I don’t anticipate an easy slog northward from Tuolumne Meadows until the end of July…
4wheelbob
As of three days ago, snow levels begin at 9000 feet on the PCT between Dorothey Lake Pass and Sonora Pass.
Hydro
Hydro, if you’re still following this topic, the front of the pack is in the zone you referenced (Yosemite-Sonora) now. I was at Tuolumne Friday-Sunday, and 6-8 had already passed through; more were in the area awaiting the opening of the TM post office yesterday to pick up their packages. (This does not take into account those who are way ahead of the pack, i.e. Scott Williamson, who was in Belden today.)
Shelly Culbertson