Lots of snow in the mountains to the northwest of Mount Shasta in Klamath National Forest, and I suspect to the west also in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. We’ll have to wait until mid-summer to get to hike many of our favorite trails in the Russian Wilderness and nearby places.
Here’s the 2010 data from a Klamath National Forest snow-pack press release:
Employees of the Salmon River and Scott River Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest have completed the May 1st (and final, for this year) snow surveys. These measurements are a part of the statewide California Cooperative Snow Survey program, which is operated by the California Department of Water Resources. District personnel measured five pre-set snow courses. All of these courses are located within the Scott River drainage, west of Fort Jones, CA.
The results show the snow pack has increased dramatically since the April 1st survey. For the May 1st survey, the lower elevation courses have significantly increased in snow depth and water content as compared to the historic average for May 1st (Dynamite Meadow & Scott Mountain).
Historic trends have shown the maximum snow pack accumulated by April 1st. This year the snow pack has maintained with the late storms and cooler weather.
Table 1 displays the current measurements for May 1st as compared to the running historic average of May 1st.
Table 1: May 1st 2010 Snow Survey Results Scott River Sub-Basin
|
SNOW COURSE
|
SNOW DEPTH
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EQUIVALENT WATER CONTENT
|
||||
|
Name
|
5/1/2010
|
Historic Average for May
|
Percent Average for May 1st
|
5/1/2010
|
Historic Average for May
|
Percent Average for May 1st
|
| Middle Boulder #1 6600’ |
101.6”
|
55.4”
|
183%
|
34.3
|
27.4
|
125%
|
|
(established 1946)
|
||||||
| Middle Boulder #3 6200’ |
102.3”
|
42.8
|
239%
|
34.7
|
20.5
|
170%
|
|
(established 1948)
|
||||||
|
Dynamite Meadow 5700’
|
80.9”
|
23.2”
|
348%
|
30.8”
|
10.3
|
300%
|
|
(established 1955)
|
||||||
|
Swampy John 5500’
|
72”
|
56.5”
|
127%
|
27.4”
|
25.4
|
108%
|
|
(established 1951)
|
||||||
| Scott Mountain 5900’ |
78.5”
|
29.6”
|
265%
|
37.5”
|
14.1”
|
265%
|
|
(established 1986)
|
||||||
| Total Average: 232% 194% | ||||||
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi John,
I have a couple of your books and just stumbled on your blog. Great site; thanks for doing this.
I’m glad we’ve got such a healthy snowpack this year, but it creates a problem for my wife and I. The only week we have for backpacking this summer is the last week of June/first week of July (aside from a week in late September). So while we’re normally high-country folk, we’re looking for low-country alternatives — with a high-country feel.
One thought I was was Devil’s Punchbowl/Raspberry Lake area. We ought to be able to get in there by late June, right? Or… how about Emerald/Sapphire lakes in the Trinities? My wife really wants to go to Grizzly Lake via the North Fork Trinity River but I think we may be too early for that.
Can you proide any thoughts or suggestions? We’re looking somewhere in the range of 30-50 miles.
Thanks!
Alex
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
Hello Alex. Thanks for writing.
I suggest you do Canyon Creek Lakes in the Trinity Alps. It’s described in 100 Hikes in Northern California. On that trip you have options to visit the Boulder Lakes, and if you are fairly good at cross-country hiking, you can also visit Ell and even Kalmia Lakes. The Canyon Creek Lakes are at about 6000 feet and should be snow-free by the end of June. (Call the ranger station first to be sure.)
Devil’s Punchbowl is in an area of very high snowfall, and it’s a long ways away.
Have a great trip!
Hey John,
I just found your Blog. Great stuff ~ really appreciate the info on the snow.
I’m from up north in Washington/Seattle. Really want to do a backpacking trip over Memorial Day weekend, don’t mind a bit of snow. Used to Alpines and wet… but don’t want to bring the snowshoes
Can you think of any place that would be workable for a 3 day trip in Northern California or southern Oregon – amenable to dogs (National Forest?)?
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