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North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2019 12:55 pm
by Bighead
Anyone going to be hiking the north rim before Memorial Day? I’m looking for any reports or conditions. The snow level right now according to the website is 7000 feet so I’m hoping it will be generally clear of snow but would appreciate any current info, thanks.

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Mon May 13, 2019 9:36 pm
by balzaccom
Snow levels are still at the point where you are going find snow on most of the trails. Remember that the rim of the Valley is 7500-8000 feet. And along Tioga Pass Road, they are plowing through 4-8 feet of snow at those elevations.

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2019 10:24 am
by Bighead
balzaccom wrote:Snow levels are still at the point where you are going find snow on most of the trails. Remember that the rim of the Valley is 7500-8000 feet. And along Tioga Pass Road, they are plowing through 4-8 feet of snow at those elevations.


I’m looking at my map and the north rim trail mainly sits between 7,000 and 7,200 with one small section around Indian And o’clock climbing to 7,700 ft.

I spoke with a backcountry ranger and they said the snow line right now is around 6,800 ft but with the north rim being south facing I’m trying to figure out if the snow line is a little higher in that area, thanks.

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2019 5:30 pm
by balzaccom
The top of El Cap is 7500 feet and the trail goes DOWN to it. Eagle Point is around 7700. North Dome is 7500. And the trail over Indian Ridge is over 8,000.

It all depends on your route, but I wouldn't count on this being snow free. Most of that trail is in the forest, where the snow would melt out more slowly, at least in the hollows and canyons. And they are expecting this next storm to drop up to another foot of snow down to 6500 feet.

I am not trying to talk you out of anything, but I am trying to give you a good idea of what you might find up there. It's true that the North Rim gets more sun than the South Rim, but that has more effect below the rim, than up on top of it. The back side of North Dome, for example, I would expect to still have a lot of snow.

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:26 am
by AlmostThere
Winter storm warnings this week forecasting 1-2 feet of snowfall above 5000.

Best to check right before you go. Regardless of snow levels, melt is going and will be going and therefore, streams will be DANGEROUS.

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2019 2:05 am
by Grzldvt
It is going to be pretty much solid snow. My partner in crime and I knew the trail and with an equal amount of snow in the high country we lost the trail around Basket Dome, spent several hours trying to figure where we were and had to reverse. We got back down to the Valley Floor around 10 PM. Be very prepared for night hiking and getting lost as the trail can be obliterated

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2019 6:45 am
by AlmostThere
Am hearing reports from some trail runner sorts that the trail before North Dome is actually nonexistent, and there are tons and tons of fallen trees...

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2019 11:22 am
by WanderingJim
And the current storm passing through California is putting down more snow.

My memorial day weekend plans (primary, backup, and extra backup) are pretty much unlikely to happen, but we'll see what next week looks like.

Re: North Rim Current Conditions???

PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2019 7:35 am
by robow8
WanderingJim wrote:And the current storm passing through California is putting down more snow.

My memorial day weekend plans (primary, backup, and extra backup) are pretty much unlikely to happen, but we'll see what next week looks like.


Yeah, I already cancelled my Sierra plans, and will instead stay in SoCal. :(