We just got the latest snowpack numbers for my part of Northern California – Redding and points west, north, and east – and it ain’t good. But it could be and certainly has been worse.
The Redding Record-Searchlight has an article with the latest info on snowpack:
It’s not normal, but it is better than it was at the start of the year.
After the eighth-driest January on record, the snowpack at the start of February was at 62 percent for that time of year. Statewide snow survey numbers Monday showed the snowpack is at 83 percent of normal for this time of year.
That improvement was evident Monday in the numbers for the north state. The Sacramento River basin was at 76 percent of normal for this time of year, Trinity River at 66 percent, Pit River at 92 percent and the McCloud River at 116 percent.
Here’s the actual data (all percentages based on average normal amount for this time of year):
Sacramento River basin: 76 percent
Trinity River basin: 66 percent
McCloud River basin: 116 percent
Pit River basin: 92 percent
Shasta River basin: 67 percent
Of course, there are big questions regarding snowpack and what water farmers will get in the Central Valley and how water allocations will affect the health of the delta and the various species that live there.
But my main focus is hiking. Lower than average snowpack means that the high-elevation trails are open to hikers earlier. It also means forest fires are more likely given the drier conditions.
My plan: start hiking earlier in the season. Trips I might have done in July or August are now scheduled for June. I don’t know how your summer was last year, but in the Mount Shasta area it was very, very smoky from late June until the rains came in the fall.
Are you changing your hiking schedule because of the lower precipitation we’ve received? How so?
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I’m also hiking earlier this year. Summer vacations the past two years have been spent backpacking in the Marble Mountains, but last year was so smoky in mid-July, it almost seemed overcast. So a little diving in Florida will be a change of scene this summer, but I have to get my requisite hiking time in, if only for the outdoors fix! Thus the earlier start. I’ve noticed more people are interested in going along while it’s still cool, too.
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Hello Sarah. I remember well the smoky skies of July and August in Siskiyou County. I cancelled a backpacking trip in the Russian Wilderness. I hope to get it done in late June this year.
Diving in Florida sounds great. I lived on Kaua’i for three years and did a lot of snorkeling and bodysurfing.
Wow, I wish I could make it to see Tom Stienstra. You note that it’s a rare, one-time appearance. Do you know if he’s planning a bnook about his expedition?