Tuolumne Meadows Conditions Update, April 7, 2010

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TUOLUMNE
MEADOWS

 
WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE
April 7, 2010
 
Weather: (April 1 through April 7)
High temp: 44° (April 6)
Low temp:  -11 (April 6)
New Snow: 26”                                       
Total settled snow depth: 59” as of April 7                        
 
Ski Conditions and Weather:  This was a cold, windy, stormy week in Tuolumne. We picked up over 2 feet of new snow and didn’t see the sun all week until yesterday.  All week we had overnight lows that were subzero and single digits. Now that the sun is out and the temperatures are warming our new snow has turned into bottomless mashed potatoes. Trail breaking is still difficult since the new snow has not set up yet. Another few days and it should improve. However the NWS is predicting more storms next week, so stay tuned, winter isn’t finished with us yet.  There is a very firm base underneath all this new snow, so when the snow does set up, there should be some fine spring skiing. The Tuolumne River is opening up in spots and new spring birds are arriving every day. Caltrans has started to plow Highway 120 from the east side (Lee Vining), so be prepared to walk the first several miles beyond the gate.  
 
  
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Forest Service Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events.
           
Wildlife:  
The wildlife has gone into hiding this past week due to the stormy weather, so not much activity.
We saw our usual Coyote, Pine Marten, Weasel, Chickaree, White-tailed Jack Rabbit, and many tiny rodent tracks.
 
Birds heard and seen this week include Cassin’s Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Clark’s Nutcracker, Common Raven, Northern Flicker, and Red Crossbills.
 
REMINDER: BEAR RESISTANT CONTAINERS ARE REQUIRED FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL IN THE BACKCOUNTRY .
  
Questions: We have no land line telephones or cell tower operating and the power is still out. Sorry for the inconvenience. (Jeff and Kathi, the Tuolumne winter rangers).