Watch when the ski resorts start to close. I was up patrolling over the weekend and it nearly hit 60 degrees on Sunday. With days like this, there will not be much of a snow pack for long.

Two Dogs

Thanks.? Very useful.? I probably shouldn't, but I do, look at winter snowpack as some indication of fire hazard in late summer.?

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Judy McGuire

I post snow sensor graphs from along the JMT monthly in the FB groups, latest update was yesterday.

The brief summary is: it’s almost a dead average year, which is actually kind of unusual. But so was last year, so 2024 is a pretty good proxy so far. The snowpack south of Glen Pass is slightly above average but it’s not dramatically different.?

I’ll see if I can attach a pdf of the snow sensor graphs when I’m next on my laptop.

Kind regards,

Lange?

Here are some links that I use to monitor the snow along the JMT:

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And, if you want to see details relative to various ski resorts, I am cross-posting this from OpenSnow's Tahoe report. So, we are just below average for season to date (STD), and about 75% average for season overall in the northern area. Gets worse as one goes south to Mammoth. Tahoe South is even worse though. I use OpenSnow for my ski report and use them for my summer hiking weather. Also provides other great maps as well such as smoke, etc.

I am an avid skier and was just up in the Sierra yesterday for some skiing.?

Snowpack is about average this year, but as in most previous years there is not much snowpack except above 7,000 feet of elevation. It all really depends on April and if the snow will continue like what we are seeing currently where the snow is still deepening, or if warm dry weather takes over and a fast melt ensues.

Again, it is about average compared to the historic norms. But if we get a cold wet spring, you can expect snow well into June in the areas above 8,000.... these latest storms are helping build up the base. It is not over 100 inches of base, but most high elevation bases (where snow accumulates well) are above 60 inches....?

The state snow survey on April 1 is something to look forward to.
Frank

In the pass some experts on this group have given us snow reports.? Can you tell us whether the snow this winter (so far) has been higher than normal, average or lower??

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Thanks

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Judy McGuire

If you're interested in sharing packer resupply costs, rides, car swaps, gear exchange, etc, please complete the JMT Matchmaker sheet.?

We're using Version 3 this year (2025). It is shared with Groups.IO and several FB groups that are loosely coordinated: John Muir Trail, Ladies of the JMT and the annual group.?

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Inga Aksamit

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Probably, and changes to visitor travel plans to a degree maybe...

Could it be anything to do with the bizarre goings on in Washington with decimating the park service staff?

It does indeed seem easier this year. I booked a Kearsarge Pass permit this morning on the dot at 10 am EST. Four hours later, there are still four spot available. Lots of both Cottonwood permits too. It was also easy to book an Onion Valley campground site for the prior night. In prior years, sometimes all the permits typically used to access the JMT seemed to vanish in minutes.

Right.? The Mono Pass in INyo NF.? I checked and rechecked and rechecked my permit to make sure it was correct.

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Judy McGuire

You sure that's the right Mono Pass?

I think there's a glitch in recreation.gov. even at 10,:15 there were two permits entry Mono Pass exit whiney available for Sept 1. But since Aug 29, 30, 31 and Sept 1 came available at the same time, maybe there were more available. I just hope they don't rescind my permit.

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Judy McGuire

Are Inyo permits less competitive this year for some reason? Reason I ask is that I see a lot of popular permits available for September 1 as I type this several hours after the time they are released on March 1. In some past years, all popular permits disappeared pretty much instantly.?

Jeff