Re: Snow coverage at saddlebag lake area?

Hello,

I am going to stay at lake ellery/saddlebag lake area 6/26-7/1ish. Was wondering if anyone knows the snow coverage in that area. I will be hiking with just regular hiking boots. No snowshoes/picks, although i might get some crampons. Do you think ill need crampons?

My hiking plans.
North peak. WIll there be to much snow to hike on?
20 lakes basin. I went in June a couple years ago and it was still 6 feet high. I think that was the year with 200% average. How do you think it will look this time around?
Tioga peak/ tioga crest. Im sure the peak will be fine, so i guess the crest should be ok also.
Other than that maybe hit Mount dana. I know there will be snow up there. Any idea how much.

More concerned with 20 lakes/north peak/tioga area, cuz plans are focused toward that.

Thanks,

What did you do when there was 6 ft of snow?

(there is never too much snow) (only dangerous snow conditions and snow bridges which are suspect)

I was looking at this yesterday b/c it's one of the wayz in that's an option
in a couple of weeks. Nearly posted question... b/c I looked here:
http://www.saddlebaglakeresort.com/
and then:
http://www.saddlebaglakeresort.com/amenities.html

and it says
"Overnight Permits can be obtained from Mono County Visitors Center in Lee Vining, CA. or
from Touloume Meadows Ranger Station in Yosemite."

The times when to 20 lakes... I always went to Lee Vining... is this info actually correct?
Thought about calling ranger station and asking... or posting question here... but
figured I'd just ask when I get there if the other options aren't open.

Anywho... maybe call that resort for last minute updates...

If we go that-a-way... I'll post something for you (we'll be back b4 the 26th)

---

We were there on the last weekend in may.

Zero snow to worry about around the lake.

The lake itself is so low that there are rock islands just off the shore from the little store.

My wife just drove through Tioga Pass last night and said there was zero snow at the pass level.

Yes, you can get a wilderness permit starting at Saddlebag Lake from the Tuolumne rangers. No need to drive down to the Inyo station unless you are coming from the east.

North and Conness snow conditions from Ten Lakes pass on Sunday:

Please report back after your trip. I hope to get up to Conness Lakes in July. I'm betting within a month there will be little if any snow left. The Saddlebag Lake Resort opened a week earlier than they announced.

We hiked tioga peak

Quote
chik-on
What did you do when there was 6 ft of snow?

This video shows quite a bit of snow. Who knows how old it is. At least a month ago. Who knows it could be a year old video just published.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ImcE3yKZE

This video shows quite a bit of snow. Who knows how old it is. At least a month ago. Who knows it could be a year old video just published.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ImcE3yKZE

There's little snow anywhere really...

As promised.... here you go. Last Thursday:

---

Looks like it'll all be gone in a few weeks. Just right for us.

BTW, just looked at the Yosemite Falls cam and was shocked to see how it has dwindled in just the last week! Dry by mid July?

This looks like something we'd like to try. Is it an easy hike up from the lakes? What route around the lakes did you take?

I located this spot using ground view in Google Earth and the view is even more impressive than your photo would indicate.

Yesterday at upper Conness Lake (lake 10749):

I kinda thought that was you taking some pictures of a marmot on a rock after
crossing over above Greenstone... wuz gonna say sumtim... but just hello.

---

Ha! We know where to travel...

We did Ragged on Saturday and were half-thinking of doing North on Sunday. But we got a late start and by the time we got to the upper lake we decided we would much prefer lounging around and watching others struggle up the steep slope above. It was a lovely day up there, wasn't it? Until the storms came in, I guess.

And that was the fattest, waddliest marmot I had ever seen. He needed a photo or ten!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2013 06:05PM by calipidder.

We slowed down a bit so that you could get some click-clicks. Hope we didn't scare him away before you got some.
Seemed you were having a blast with your friend.

Saw some tracks on Thursday in one of the gullies of North Mtn. Peeps had hiked up the gully and skied down.
Pretty kewl.

Anywho... z wifie and I camped near Middle McCabe Sat. night... so we were in our car and on our way home before
any weather came in. Pretty much it was no clouds for 3 days... until Sunday.

Have fun

---

Nice thanks for the pics. Maybe ill hit mccabe lakes also

How were the mosquito's?

Quote
cantwait2getback
How were the mosquito's?

There were about as many calipidders and mosquitopidders in 20 Lakes Basin.
Ok... maybe a couple more of the skeeters... but not many.

On the 4 day trek with the wifie... we saw about 30 peeps in 20 Lakes Basin...
and a grand total of 1 person in Yosemite.... and I'm not sure that person saw us.

I dunno you like those photosynth things or not... but here is Secret Pass:
http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=9ccb233c-db42-4317-a832-4ce1acc08ff9

And for fun... here's a whole lotta Yosemite that most would recognize at 20x Zoom
taken from atop Elbow Hill (I guess no one goes up there... Sierra Peak Challenge
peeps put a registry there in 2011.. no one else signed it) :
http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=82c35657-717f-4b10-9e46-69ac8866041b
Pretty neat angle of the dangle imo since Clark jumps out above Cathedral Pass.

Have fun wherever you go

---

Ya, as reported, no snow.

Lower Conness lake



Lower conness area



Shamrock and North peak

Oh yeah, the mosquitoes were unbearable.