New Snow: 3 inches
Settled Snow Depth: 28 inches
High temperature: 53°F (January 23)
Low temperature: 0°F (January 28)
Ski Conditions and Weather
A weather disturbance moved through the latter half of this week bringing light snow, high winds, and cold temperatures. Ski touring conditions are good. The snow surface is supportable with a thin patina of new snow. There were a few corn turns to be had on what snow is left on south aspects, but good snow for making turns is pretty hard to come by presently.
We are doing the first monthly snow surveys of winter this week. The dry January is undoubtedly going to result in a below average seasonal snowpack for this time of year across the Sierra Nevada.
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 Sierra Nevada.
The avalanche hazard is presently low in the central Sierra Nevada but there may be a few weather disturbances rolling through after this writing. There are plenty of other hazards lurking in wintertime!
Wildlife
“Ravens are often the only bird seen midday in the hottest desert or midwinter inside the Arctic Circle.” (Beedy) This season our common raven buddies have been following us around the mountains, whether it’s because they think our method of transportation is curious, sliding versus flying, or because they think we’ll give them a snack (we won’t). The visitors who do feed the wildlife in summer go back to their warm, well-stocked homes not realizing the repercussions of these animals expecting these handouts when they are gone, and the road is closed.
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 (Verizon) 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
Beedy and Pandolfino. Birds of the Sierra Nevada, their natural history, status and distribution. The Regents of the University of California, 2013.
Think snow!
Laura and Rob Pilewski - Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers
