Just got the call informing us that the High Sierra Camps will not be opening this year due to complications from the ongoing COVID pandemic. They were also closed in 2019 due to excessive snow the previous winter, and in 2020 due to COVID. Those who have reservations will be able to forward them to next year if they so desire.by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for March 17, 2021 Update for March 17, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: 17 inches Total settled snow depth: 47 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 45°F (March 14) Low temperature: -6°F (March 13) Ski Conditions and Weather It was a wintry week in the mountains. Colder than normal temperatures and a few weather disturbanby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for March 10, 2021 Update for March 10, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: 7 inches Total settled snow depth: 41 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 51°F (March 5) Low temperature: 4°F (March 9) Ski Conditions and Weather Winter weather has returned to the Sierra. Although the week started warm and dry, as of this writinby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for March 3, 2021 Update for March 3, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: none Total settled snow depth: 40 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 46°F (February 28) Low temperature: 2°F (February 27) February Weather Summary New Snow: 25 inches (Historical Average 62.1 inches) Snow Water Equivalent: 2 inches (Historical Avby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for February 25. 2021 Update for February 25, 2021 February 25, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: 3 inches Total settled snow depth: 42 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 55°F (February 22) Low temperature: -2°F (February 18) Wind and sun describes this winter in a nutshell. Photo from February 17, 2021. Ski Conditioby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
(For those wondering about the strange format of this trip report, I'm a fan of the Tuolumne Winter Rangers and their weekly reports on Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions. I thought it would be fun to make this trip report look similar to one of their reports. My apologies if that makes it a little hard to follow.) February 17, 2021 Posted by: FatFlatlander New snow: 2-3 inches Total settlby FatFlatlander - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for February 17, 2021 February 17, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: 22 inches Total settled snow depth: 50 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 44°F (February 11) Low temperature: -10°F (February 17) Western Juniper on February 15, 2021. Ski Conditions and Weather Like the rest of the country, it was a wintry week inby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for February 10, 2021 Update for February 10, 2021 February 12, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: 1 inch Total settled snow depth: 39 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 54°F (February 6) Low temperature: 2°F (February 4) Ski Conditions and Weather The warm temperatures and high winds this week have dramatically changed tby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I believe the current day use reservations are in place until at least 28 February. After that, the park will evaluate if they will continue to require them.by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's a link for the statewide daily Snow Water Content report. Yosemite and the Central Sierra are doing slightly better than the Northern Sierra/Trinity, with both at about 50% of the April 1st averages. The Southern Sierra is not faring as well, with only 36% of April 1st snow water content to date. Year-to-date averages are 69/75/57 for Northern/Central/Southern Sierras, respectivelby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for February 3, 2021 Update for February 3, 2021 February 03, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: 84 inches Total settled snow depth: 50 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 43°F (February 1) Low temperature: -1°F (January 30) Tioga Pass Entrance on January 31, 2021. Ski Conditions and Weather Conducting the Tuolumne Mby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for January 20, 2021 Update for January 20, 2021 January 30, 2021 Posted by: Laura and Rob Pilewski New snow: Trace Total settled snow depth: 17 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 59°F (January 15) Low temperature: 10°F (January 19) Ski Conditions and Weather The wind storm is over! Mono winds can reach speeds of 50 to over 100 mph. Acby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions - Quick Update for January 29. 2021 Quick Update for January 29, 2020 Posted by: Yosemite Information Our Tuolumne Meadows rangers have been busy this week! As of yesterday morning, they measured 82 inches of new snow in Tuolumne Meadows since January 27. Travel for them (on ski or snowshoe) is very difficult, to near impossible, due to the depth and loby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Some pretty impressive time-lapse movies on Wednesday and Thursday from the Sentinel Dome webcam at halfdome.net. It was depressing to view that webcam this winter and not see any snow piling up in front of the camera. I think it was this past Saturday or Sunday when a little bit of snow first appeared in the bottom right corner. Wednesday, and especially Thursday, sure made up for lost timeby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow! I'd like to say more, but that's the biggest word my mind can process at the moment. And now I need to go get a mop to clean up all the drool on the floor. (Seriously, though... amazing video! Thanks for sharing it!)by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The above note prompted this observation/question. Please note it is not meant to be critical... just something I thought was interesting. I would describe the tunnel you are talking about as the "westernmost" tunnel on the Big Oak Flat Road. Is the Big Oak Flat Road considered by residents/locals as going "north" out of Yosemite Valley? While it is definitely the northeby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update for January 13, 2021 January 13, 2021 Posted by: Rob and Laura Pilewski New snow: Trace Total settled snow depth: 20 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 49°F (January 11) Low temperature: 2°F (January 9) 2020 Weather Summary for Tuolumne Meadows Weather Plot Average maximum temperature: 55.2°F (Historical average: 53.4°F) Average miby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Stellar video of a great trip! Did you happen to get any pictures of the Pate Valley bridge? Just wondering if the rebuilt version looks any different than the old one (besides being in one piece). Thanks for taking the time to document and share it with us.by FatFlatlander - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Yep, reflective tape is nice when you're looking for it after dark., with or without bear interference.by FatFlatlander - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
From the Yosemite COVID-19 page: QuoteIf you enter the park via YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) buses, bicycle, on foot, or on horseback you do not need a day-use reservation to enter the park. Park entrance fees still apply. So you should be good. I assume you're talking about entering at Tioga Pass... otherwise that's a looooong day hike!by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow. Do you have a link for that closure order? That sounds like nothing at all will be going on in TM during that time... no ranger programs, no day use, nothing. I'm hoping wilderness permits and backpacking from TM trailheads are still allowed.by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the reference. I had never seen that bus/hiker/bicyclers were allowed to stay in the BP camps before. And as a bonus, I now know how large a kite I can legally fly in Yosemite! : )by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well, I certainly hope I'm wrong... although at this point I'd just prefer a clear answer, whatever it is. All this uncertainty is making it difficult to cobble together some sort of new plan from the pile of rubble that was our original summer vacation plans.by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
There was one statement in the Yosemite re-opening which confused me a little. From the reopening FAQ, under the question "Are any areas of the park closed?": QuoteOpen with modifications: Backpackers campgrounds are not open to people arriving in the park by bus (wilderness permit holders arriving by bus can stay in backpackers campgrounds) I thought you always had to have a wby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The page linked below from the Travel Yosemite website lists White Wolf as "Closed for the season" (along with the TM lodge, store, and grill). It has opening dates listed for several lodging/dining facilities in Yosemite Valley, and the Housekeeping Camp listed as "Temporarily closed", so I'm thinking "Closed for the season" means it won't open later even if they rby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Reply to a comment asking about TM campground on the YNP Facebook page announcing the 6/11 opening: Yosemite National Park We expect the Tuolumne Meadows campground to remain closed this summer.by FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I posted this in the re-opening thread below but figured it is probably worth it's own thread. From the Yosemite Conservancy wilderness permits page: Walk-up wilderness permits are not available in the park in 2020. Beginning June 11, 40% of permits that would normally be available first-come, first-served are instead available by lottery two weeks in advance. Beginning June 11, you can subby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From a comment on the post announcing the June 5th reopening on the Yosemite Facebook page. The Yosemite Conservancy wilderness permits request page confirms it. "Dear Yosemite Employees, Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Yosemite National Park is increasing recreational access. Beginby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From the Yosemite NP website: Tioga Road Tioga Road has been cleared of snow, but routine spring opening operations are continuing. This includes road repairs, removal of trees in danger of falling on the road, and utility system setup and repairs. Glacier Point Road Glacier Point Road will open on Friday, June 5 to those with wilderness or Half Dome permits. Glacier Point Road willby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/yosemite/article243219776.html From Facebook: Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Yosemite National Park is increasing recreational access. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authoritiby FatFlatlander - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion