New Snow: 20 inches
Settled Snow Depth: 48 inches
High temperature: 50°F (March 19)
Low temperature: -2°F (March 25)
Ski Conditions and Weather
Late March in the Sierra Nevada can see big swings in weather and this week was no exception. The first half of the week was characterized by warm temperatures and sunny skies producing a good corn snow cycle. Spring did start on March 19 after all! Old man winter said, “not so fast,” however, and the past three days have seen the return to winter weather and ski conditions. Single-digit overnight lows and twenty inches of new snow have put the brakes on spring for now.
Tioga Road, as of this writing, is dry pavement from the Lee Vining gate to the Warren Fork (9,000 feet). Snowline to the west starts conveniently at the top of the Snow Creek switchbacks, at around 7,000 feet.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions
Please refer to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) and the Bridgeport Avalanche Center for the avalanche advisories for this part of the Park.
The new snow this week made loose snow avalanches and wind slabs the biggest concerns. We observed several loose snow slides, or sluffs, on north and east aspects in the alpine zone. Most aspects below 10,000 feet had a melt-freeze crust on them prior to being buried by the new snow, making for a smooth and slick sliding surface.
History of Snow Surveys
Harlow Stafford was a hydraulic engineer who took over the California Cooperative Snow Survey program around 1929 and who also walked the walk or skied the ski on some epic overnight snow survey trips before there were adequate weather forecasts. Even in 1953 he saw the future of snow surveying, as he stated at a Western Snow Survey Conference in Reno, Nevada, “We have perhaps thought, ‘this is really the ultimate, the last word,’ but each time a new horizon appears there is a new goal to be attained. And so now, although we may think that surely the top has been reached, let us not forget that the electronic age has just been entered, and who can say what wonders of snow survey and miracles of forecasting may not lie ahead’” (Rose 66 & 171).
Wildlife
We heard a red-winged blackbird belt out its conk-la-ree song among the willow banks of the Tuolumne River early one morning. As temperatures rose, violet-green swallows darted around Tuolumne Meadows scanning for open water and insects. Last but not least, an osprey soared over Lembert Dome on its way to the meadows. With the water courses rapidly opening up, fishing season is almost here.
Questions
The Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut is open. This primitive cabin is the campground reservation office in the summer and is located along the Tioga Road at the entrance to the campground. It is marked with a sign. There is firewood and 8 bunks that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For those visiting the Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut from the east (only) permits are self-issued at the Ski Hut. For those entering from other areas, please see Yosemite’s website: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildfaq.htm#winter or you may contact the wilderness office at 209/372-0740. As of this writing, there is electricity and limited phone service in Tuolumne Meadows.Come prepared, and please make good decisions while traveling in the wilderness!Read through the following three pages before embarking on any day or overnight snow travel within this park:
You may contact us with any additional winter Tuolumne Meadows related questions but response times may vary if we are away on patrol.References
Rose, Gene. Snow Warriors: The Heroic Trail of the Early Snow Surveyors. Gene Rose, 2022.Happy return to winter!
Laura and Rob Pilewski - Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers