Pohono and Panorama Trail conditions

[missL]

Hello!

Has anyone been on the Pohono and/or Panorama trails recently?

How are the conditions, is there a lot of snow?
We're heading to Yosemite on May 26th and were planning on hiking Pohono and Panorama, but we may have to change our plans because of the snow.

I would really appreciate any infos.

Thanks,

Lydia

[jcalil]

We are heading to the panorama trail on 5/31 as well.

Will the half dome cables even be up by then? (with all the snow and forecasted rain).

Any information will be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

Juliano

[Wickett]

I doubt that the cables will be up, it could happen but I wouldn't count on it.

[bill-e-g]

Ran around up there Friday and Saturday.

Nearly 100% snow coverage on the Pohono Trail. I went to Taft
from Glacier Pt. and you can expect from Taft west more of the
same. Expect almost full coverage of snow. If you do do the
Pohono then I suggest from Taft you go to the Taft
TH Parking instead of staying on the Pohono. The area directly
north of Sentinel Dome is very steep snow... and if it remains cold
or is in the early day you may not even be able to kick footholes in.
(I had snowshoes)... Also the only trail you will probably be
able to follow with any degree of certainty is the ski trail from
Taft TH to Taft Pt.

Here's a photo to give you an idea. (.6 from Taft Pt.).
If you want any other photo ... just say.

O... the Panorama Trail is effectively free of snow. Not an issue.
and... it was snowing yesterday.... go figure.

Sat. May 22, 2010

[hotrod4x5]

Great photo Bill! Does this mean the GP road is open?

[bill-e-g]

Nope. The road isn't open yet. My feet got my butt up there.
If it wasn't such a weird spring I'd say no way it won't be open
next weekend... but... with weather coming in again...
and it actually snowing some Sat.... who knows..

Here's from Sentinel Dome on Friday, May 21:

[jcalil]

Thanks bill-e-g!

Do you have any information about any snow on the Little Yosemite Camp Ground? Is it open?

If the road is really closed by next weekend do you know if we can use the our Panorama Trail permits to go up to the campground via the Happy Isles trail?

Thank you!

[bill-e-g]

From what I know the trail all the way to Merced Lake is free.
LYV has had little to no snow for a few weeks already.
(take the north trail if you have any doubts)
(I did the south trail 2 or 3 wkends ago and it had snow
whereas the north one was free)

You can always call the Wilderness Center. They may
have more info. They rely a lot on people telling them
what is up. I never go back in and report anything though
and I tend to not care what they say to be honest.
I went against my own little rule and ended up carrying
snowshoes this Fri-Sat on account
that the guy said I'd posthole. That was bollocks. The snow
is very compacted and you can walk right on top of it.
At least that was the case on the Pohono.

It's gonna be an absolute zoo in the valley nxt wkend so
they probably really want the road open. It was completely
plowed and it looked like they swept the blacktop right
at Glacier Pt. They probably won't give you GP->HI permit
unless the road is open so then you'd be at the mercy of
the non-reserve permit system.

Good luck

[jcalil]

Thanks Bill!
We will look for alternative hikes from LYV, looks like there are quite a few to choose from!