Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion A chance of snow ??

According to the Whitney summit weather report, there's a possibility of exactly that this Sunday night. As I'm not familiar with the weather in the Sierra's, isn't that a bit early?

Actually, it seems more the norm than the exception for there to be a dusting of snow sometime in the third week of August. Doug, Sr. was just musing on another WPSMB thread that he wondered where the "August" snow was.

A few years ago, I hiked from North Lake to Piute Pass in snow storm...on Labor Day Weekend.

I've seen single digits on the Mt. Whitney in August.

It snows every month...but it doesn't accumulate every month.

Just bring your warmies.

I live in Santa Clarita Valley,CA. This morning I drove 45 minutes to play golf in Ventura,CA.When we left Ventura at 1:00 PM it was 69 degrees. A 45 minute drive to Santa Clarita and it was 109 degrees.40 freakin degrees difference in 45 miles.Gotta love the weather changes in California.They are predicting a 30 degree temperature drop localy in the next 2 days.
The weather in the Sierras can change from clear and sunny to lightening and hail in less than an hour.

Rod,

You, fear monger, you. Life is great. Everything in the Sierra is wonderful.

Sincerely,

The Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce

Hah! I was there! I got snow and ice blown into my face.

I got back from a short JMT hike between Devils Postpile and Edison Lake Sunday evening. On Saturday, my friend Don and I were eating lunch on Silver Pass. The morning had started out clear and sunny. By lunch there was very little blue sky anywhere, and we watched the rainfall (or ice/snow) streaks reaching down from the clouds ...approaching us.

We donned rain gear just in case, and then it came on strong -- high wind out of the south blowing icy snow up from below us as we hiked down from the pass.

It all lasted maybe 15 minutes and immediately calmed down. Pretty soon we took off the rain gear and hiked downward in cool and pleasant weather.

Missed the Edison Lake ferry, so we camped without tents near the lake.

That leg was my final piece of the JMT.

On Saturday, I encountered hail, snow, and for a bit, complete whiteout, at Spuller Lake off of Tioga Pass, in between bits of sun. Made for amazing "before" and "after" photos during my lunch stop. Wondered what conditions were on Whitney as I am going for it next week.

Congrats Steve on the final JMT section.

I was in a small fishing boat at Shaver Lake a few years ago. When I left the old dock on the far side of the Lake there was not a cloud in the sky. By the time I reached the middle of the Lake there were dark clouds overhead,heavy rain, lightening and hail.Had to pull over into a cove to wait it out.Sun came back out in 1/2 hour and I went back to fishing.

Congratulations Steve! Next up, section-hiking the PCT?

Thanks!

I have a few trans-sierra routes I'd like to do. There are way more routes in the Sierra than I have time to explore!