Snow levels

[dreamingbig]

I know it is still early to be getting into the backcountry (near the PCT anyway) but when do you guys think it will start opening up this year?

Last year I hiked into the middle of the WOD in the middle of July and we were still climbing over drifts but you could access most of it.  Seems like it will be similar this year.  Would you all agree?  If not, then earlier or later?

[fillthefreezer]

memorial weekend we went out of greenwater into norsepeak wilderness and hit snow at 3800.
last weekend we went towards harts pass outta mazama and the road was total drift at 5800... lots of shade snow down to 4-4500.

[huntnnw]

I was in hells canyon last weekend and hit a blocked road by snow at 5800

[dreamingbig]

memorial weekend we went out of greenwater into norsepeak wilderness and hit snow at 3800.
last weekend we went towards harts pass outta mazama and the road was total drift at 5800... lots of shade snow down to 4-4500.

Thanks.  Sounds about like what I was expecting.  Hopefully we get a good melt by the middle of July, 4 weeks from now.

[fillthefreezer]

if weather is nice i plan to go to a westside summit of 5400 this weekend and back to the pasayten on 7/7 to see where the thaw is at. then on 7/20 plan to go white to chinook, hope its thawed by then

[dreamingbig]

Good plan.  We had drifts in the WOD last year in mid August.  I am thinking of doing a trip July 13th with the BIL weather dependent.

[ReformedVeg]

This is worth checking out.  http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/data/SWE_maps&graphics.htm

I think its updated daily and shows the snow depth, percent of normal snowpack, and snow water equivalent.  If you know what "normal" snow levels are for your area, you can typically use this to gauge if its going to melt out earlier or later than that normal.

[shanevg]

This is worth checking out.  http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/data/SWE_maps&graphics.htm

I think its updated daily and shows the snow depth, percent of normal snowpack, and snow water equivalent.  If you know what "normal" snow levels are for your area, you can typically use this to gauge if its going to melt out earlier or later than that normal.

Sweet site. I've never seen that one before. North Puget Sound is at 298% of average but 72% of last year.

[fillthefreezer]

i use this page of that site http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/maps/washington_sitemap.html
i just use the sites closest to where im going and estimate

[dreamingbig]

Thanks guys.  Cayuse pass is still at 98" at 5200 feet.  Hopefully it is in a middle of a drift!

[pianoman9701]

The 23 Rd out of Trout Lake to Randall is closed at the 90 Rd going North, about 3,600 ft. I checked with the USFS yesterday.

[Dslayer]

if weather is nice i plan to go to a westside summit of 5400 this weekend and back to the pasayten on 7/7 to see where the thaw is at. then on 7/20 plan to go white to chinook, hope its thawed by then

I think 7/20 is pretty optimistic to do White to Chinook.  This year's snow started coming off faster than last year, but has slowed considerably the past couple of weeks.  I think early August is pretty realistic-I know we're planning on doing it about the middle of August. 

[Wazukie]

The 23 Rd out of Trout Lake to Randall is closed at the 90 Rd going North, about 3,600 ft. I checked with the USFS yesterday.

Well, I know that out of Glenwood I can easily get to over 5000'(I just got back from a short trip).  I would be surprised if there is still snow at the 3600' level on 23.  The forest service will always consider it closed until they actually go and clear the brush and such.  I'm heading out that way today(gots to go to the dump), maybe I'll take a side trip up the 23 and see for sure.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well just like last year many places along the PCT were snowed in and it will be true again

[pianoman9701]

The 23 Rd out of Trout Lake to Randall is closed at the 90 Rd going North, about 3,600 ft. I checked with the USFS yesterday.

Well, I know that out of Glenwood I can easily get to over 5000'(I just got back from a short trip).  I would be surprised if there is still snow at the 3600' level on 23.  The forest service will always consider it closed until they actually go and clear the brush and such.  I'm heading out that way today(gots to go to the dump), maybe I'll take a side trip up the 23 and see for sure.

Just going off what the USFS Gifford Pinchot office told me yesterday.