[pct-l] Current Snow conditions for Tuolumne Meadows

[goslowgofar at yahoo.com (goslowgofar)]

>From the park's daily report...
  Katy

  TUOLUMNE MEADOWS WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE - January 5, 2006
  WEATHER: (Dec 28 to Jan 5)
  High temp: 45? (Jan 4)
  Low temp:  1? (Jan 1)
  New Snow: 70? (Dec 29-Jan 4)                                        
  Total settled snow depth: 80? (Jan 5)                           
   
  SKI CONDITIONS: It has been a snowy week capped by a 4 foot powder dump. Trail breaking has been epic but the snow is starting to settle and it should soon be below the knees. Snow line has also fallen providing snow coverage from the Lee Vining Gate for the time being. Along with avalanche danger the tree ?bomb? danger has been extreme at times as the sticky snow has overloaded the tree branches and left some impressive craters from offloading snow. 
       
  AVALANCHE/SNOW CONDITIONS: For the latest avalanche advisory go to www.esavalanche.org the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events.  If you would like to have the advisory e-mailed to you become a member.
              It has been a very active week for avalanches. Early in the week we saw tremendous cornices and drifts being built by wet windy storms, it looked like white paint had been sprayed on everything. Then a colder storm dumped 4 feet of snow. Wednesday the 4th was the first clear day that has been much above freezing and we are starting to see some of that ?paint? peel off of areas that are generally too steep to hold snow. All of the granite domes, trees & rock bands have been actively shedding snow and will probably do so for these coming warm days. We have already seen several large avalanches on south and north slopes and numerous smaller slides since the skies have cleared. Watch these steep starting zones carefully particularly during and just after the heat of the day.
                          
  WILDLIFE: Where does the wildlife go during a storm? On the treed side of Lembert Dome we came upon a coyote track that went from tree to tree leaving a trough the width of a coyote with leg holes along the bottom. With it?s coyote belly keeping it from sinking any further it must have been searching for fallen Juniper berries or any other morsel. In the Sierra the snow usually is dense enough to allow the coyotes free range but not always so easily. While shoveling a roof during the storm we scared off a Mountain Chickadee hiding under the heavy snow laden branches of a nearby tree. Presumably other birds and critters found similar sheltered spots to wait out the stormy weather.     
   
  QUESTIONS: If you have any ski related questions feel free to call (209) 372-0450 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. If we are out skiing, leave a message and a clear phone number so we can return your call. (Tracey & Bruce, Tuolumne Winter Rangers)           


GoSlowGoFar

		
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