Coming up this weekend is National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest single day volunteer event for our public lands here in the US. In line with NPLD the Park Service will not be charging entrance fees on Saturday September 24th. So If you’re interested in volunteering your time to help out on NPLD click HERE. Or if you’re interested in saving a few bucks and enjoying a day out mark this weekend on your calendar. More information on free days from the National Park Service here.
photo from National Parks Traveler
As we all know as backcountry use increases the land managers unfortunately add restrictions such as quotas and fees in order to manage our wild lands. Denali National Park has had a fee involved with climbing Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker since 1995. Since then this cost has increased and recently the park and the public have come to an agreement; $250 if you’re 24 years of age or younger and $350 for anyone over the age of 24. Check out a full article on the situation from National Parks Traveler:
“Updated: Climbing Fees Rising At Denali National Park and Preserve”
by Kurt Repanshek
Sorry about the line up of videos but had to post these three beauties; cool old school Yosemite ski touring videos from Ned Gillette.
A little touring:
Then some racing:
And finally a short lesson:
view up to Muir Hut on Muir Pass 2006
Sorry we don’t have a current photo of the Sequoia backcountry but the one above is from the last huge winter we had. This is the view from the north looking south up at Muir Pass. You can see the Muir Hut poking out a bit as well. I’m guessing this is about what it looks like back there now. The creeks will be cranking and snow bridges will be sketchy as well, more so in the afternoons, so plan ahead and take on any crossings in the morning. This particular summer the water crossing at the outlet of McClure Meadow was 4 feet deep in the morning and McClure Meadow was a lake!
Here’s a list of a bunch of links that may be handy. Some of the Forest Service and National Park Service trail, road, and campground openings and conditions. Looks like they have tried to update them recently. If you’ve been out in the backcountry shoot these folks an e-mail with any info you’ve got on conditions. It is greatly appreciated since many of these agencies are understaffed especially in the Wilderness departments.
Tahoe Basin:
Road and Campground Opening Dates
Inyo National Forest:
Mono Lake Mammoth Bishop Lone Pine/Mt. Whitney
National Parks:
Yosemite National Park Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
One other spot to check for High Sierra information is the High Sierra Topic forums. They have a thread that may or may not be updated but worth a look for some first hand info.
One of the benefits of living in the western United States is the year round access to so many of the National Parks (and forests for that matter). The Center for Park Research, an offshoot of the National Parks Conservation Association, has released their findings from 10 years of research on the conditions of the cultural and natural resources of the parks. Their findings “paint a grim picture” for the future of these resources we enjoy spending so much time in. Here’s a great article from Adventure-Journal.com by Michael Frank:
and another on the same subject from The Salt Lake Tribune, by Brett Prettyman
Want to know more about the NPCA’s report? Check out their website HERE. Or click on the image below to get the entire 68 page report in PDF format.
"The State of America's National Parks"
Check out this short clip of these two talented ladies motoring the Big Ditch rim to rim to rim:
And a link to the article and interview of Krissy Moehl from the Huffington post
About a week ago we had some links and such to Inyo National Forest, Sequoia Kings Canyon, and also the Tahoe Basin management agencies with info on the current road, campground, snow, trail conditions. Here’s one we forgot to mention.
Yosemite National Park has gotten pretty much everything open as far as the roads go however crews are still cranking away at Tioga Pass. On their conditions page you’ll find the current road, campground, and wilderness conditions in addition to other info on peregrine falcon nesting closures on climbing routes. They’ve also got links to webcams, weather, and water flow levels of the Merced in the Valley among other more positive (ie nothing that says “closed”) info on flowers, waterfalls, etc…
Check this one out specifically for Tioga Pass plowing updates. As of now it looks like they have absolutely no tentative opening date.
as of May 26, 2011
As far as the high snow levels through out the Sierra I see this as good and bad.
Bad, because it limits access everywhere in the parks and forests so people are bummed they can’t get out and play. Good, because it limits access. Why would limiting access be good?
Well considering that the usage of our wildlands seems to be growing exponentially mother nature keeping people out gives these lands time to recover from all the impact. Whether you are a hardcore Leave No Tracer or that person doing donuts in the designated Wilderness all these impacts add up, some more than others obviously. However the nice thing about a huge winter is that we can’t argue back and break the rules imposed by mother nature like some people choose to with the federal agencies (pertaining to trailhead quotas for example). Besides if you really want to get out and are bummed about all the snow pushing back your backpacking trip, here’s a hot tip: get some skis or snowshoes! Experience that annual trip in a different light!
It’s a killer year for the Sierra High Route (Shepard Pass to Wolverton) or maybe take on the John Muir Trail over snow. Need some more ideas? Look into Moynier’s book “Backcountry Skiing in the High Sierra”. He’s got a ton of short and long length ski tours that would be an excellent replacement for that early season backpacking trip. And if you are 100% over the snow, well, you’ve always got the desert to explore. Ahhh, the beauty of California!
photo from espn.go.com - Nate Deschenes
And one last Tioga Pass update for you. Saw this one filed under “Snowboarding” on ESPN’s website. Maybe some more info for those looking to get out there!
Interesting article for all of us who play in the public wild lands of our country:
By Rone Tempest, WyoFile, Guest Writer, 5-24-11
Here’s the conditions report from the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop. The group of folks working the visitor center there are top notch. If you’ve ever got any questions on trail conditions, campground closure or openings, roads, etc. they are usually on top of it more than the other Forest Service offices on the Eastside. They also have quite a bit of Sequoia Kings Canyon info as well.
The National Park Service is estimating that the snow line is at 6500 feet and many trails will NOT be snow free until mid to late July and mountain passes until late July to early August!
Looks like this was updated on May 19th from the USFS:
Spring conditions have arrived here on the White Mountain Ranger District and while many campgrounds are still closed due to snow some of the lower elevation campgrounds are open – please see the section below for listing of open campgounds.
All of the backcountry trails are still snowed in – this will be a late opening for the backcountry due to an abundant snowpack and a seemingly endless stream of very late winter-like storms.
The White Mountains Road into the Bristlecone Pine Forest is now open as far as Schulman Grove. It is closed past that point due to snow and saturated roadbed conditions. The only trail at Schulman Grove that is snow-free is the Discovery Trail; Methuselah and the Bristlecone Cabin Trails are still heavily snowed-in. The visitor center is expected to open on Friday May 27th for the Memorial Day weekend.
Roads The Rock Creek road is plowed to the pack station – snow beyond that point. The road to Sabrina Lake is now open but the spur road into North Lake is still closed. The road to South Lake is closed at Parchers Lodge, the road into the Big Pine Canyon is open all the way to the trailheads and the road into the Bristlecone Pine Forest is now open to Schulman Grove.
Camping The campgrounds on the White Mountain Ranger District that are currently open are: In the Bishop Creek area – Bitterbrush, Forks, Four Jeffery, Intake Two, Big Trees; in the Rock Creek area - Tuff, French Camp, Iris Meadow; in the White Mtns. – Grandview Campground; in the Big Pine drainage – upper and lower Sage Flat.
Here’s a link to the Inyo National Forest recreation conditions reports in case you want to refer back to it in the future.
Unofficial Networks Far West Nordic Sierra Sun Outdoors
