TUOLUMNE MEADOWS WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE MARCH 10, 2010
TUOLUMNE MEADOWS
WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE
March 10, 2010
Weather: (March 4 through March 10)
High temp: 40° (March 5)
Low temp: -7 ( March 9)
New Snow: 16”
Total settled snow depth: 64” as of March 10
Ski Conditions and Weather: The coyotes have started howling, mating season has arrived and a sure sign that spring is on the way; but you wouldn’t know it from our weather. This past week was again stormy and windy as a series of storms came through Tuolumne. It was cold and blustery all week and we picked up another 16 inches of snow. We have a solid base of 64 inches and you can ski just about anywhere. Trail breaking varies with each storm. Some days it’s like skiing on broken dinner plates and other days it is smooth as silk. In the wind prone areas your track disappears as fast as you make it. Sun crusts are developing when the sun does come out. No recent reports of where snowline is on either side of Tuolumne. The days are getting longer but it is still very much like winter here. The weather service is still predicting a warm up for next week.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events.
Wildlife:
We saw our usual Coyote, Pine Marten, Weasel, Chickaree, White-tailed Jack Rabbit, and many tiny rodent tracks.
We watched the Red Crossbills picking up gravel from the stone walls on Parson’s Lodge and the Tuolumne Bridge. They must need this for their gizzards to function properly. Birds seen and heard this week include the Mountain Chickadee, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Clark’s Nutcracker, Common Raven, and Red Crossbills.
Questions: We have no land lines or cell tower operating and the power is still out. Sorry for the inconvenience. (Jeff and Kathi, the Tuolumne winter rangers).
