[pct-l] SF Chronicle Snow Report

[Meridith Rosendahl]

Here are a few quote from the Outdoors section of the Chronicle:  The 
entire article is at 
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/24/SPDM1E3J1T.DTL&type=living


      1. Crystal Basin

Location: north of Highway 50, roughly northeast of Placerville.

The Crystal Basin backs up against the edge of Desolation Wilderness, 
..<snip>.. rangers said the camp at Loon (6,500 feet) is projected to 
open Monday.

2. Lakes Basin Recreation Area

Location: on the Gold Lakes Highway, bridging Plumas and Tahoe national 
forests.

The view of the Sierra Buttes from jewel-like Sardine Lake is drop-dead 
gorgeous, a symbol of the region's beauty. The snow is melting quickly 
this week, and rangers say virtually all the campgrounds (12 
campgrounds/95 sites) are expected to be open by Friday. The road is 
clear to Packer Lake, but just beyond, the trailhead to the Sierra 
Buttes is snow-covered.


      3. Bowman Lakes Recreation Area

Location: north of I-80, roughly northeast of Auburn.

Bowman Lakes encompasses an 18,000-acre range of beautiful small lakes 
tucked in granite, along with campgrounds, trailheads and a network of 
backcountry roads to reach them. .............  Lindsey Lakes and the 
Grouse Ridge Trailhead (7,520 feet) are still closed by snow. A field 
scout tried to drive up Grouse Ridge last weekend and, after three 
miles, reported he was blocked by three feet of snow. That means hike-in 
destinations such as Milk Lake, Penner Lake and Glacier Lake are out of 
range for now. ............. A fantastic wildflower bloom is forecast 
for Sand Ridge in mid-July.


      4. Carson Pass lakes

Location: along Highway 88, roughly east of Pioneer.

Woods Lake (8,200 feet), Reds Lake and Kirkwood are clear of ice. The 
roads in are still blocked by snow, but most visitors can hoof it just 
fine. With more warm weather, full access is expected soon, and in turn, 
all the campgrounds will open too. Silver Lake, down the hill a bit at 
7,200 feet, is open and active.


      5. Trinity Divide

Location: northwest of Redding, west of I-5.

Spring is just arriving at the 3,500- to 6,000-foot range, with 
spectacular wildflower blooms in the meadows, and natural springs and 
streams full of surging water. This will be the last major recreation 
area to become accessible in Northern California. Above Lake Siskiyou, 
the closest you can get to Gumboot Lake (6,080 feet) is about a quarter 
of a mile, and above that, the PCT Trailhead and beyond to Mumbo Lake 
are inaccessible. Castle Lake is 95 percent frozen, but ice-out is 
likely next week. The trail to frozen Heart Lake is ice-bound. From I-5 
at Castella, if you head west past Castle Crags, the road is blocked by 
snow, and you cannot get up to the ridge or to Twin, Lily Pad or 
Tamarack lakes, or the trailheads for the Pacific Crest Trail or Grey 
Rocks. On the backside of 9,025-foot Mount Eddy, the road to the Parks 
Creek Trailhead, the PCT and trail to Deadfall Lakes are blocked by snow 
two miles from the parking area.


Piper's Mom