NASA: Sierra Snowpack Springs Back – May Storm Dumps Over 2 Feet in 1 Day While spring was springing across much of the Northern Hemisphere, California’s Sierra Nevada still looked very much like winter in early May 2024. A weather station at Donner Pass measured 26.4 inches (67 centimeters) of snowfall on May 5, marking the snowiest day there in the 2023-2024 season. The system of wet weather had mostly cleared the area when the […] SnowBrains | May 7, 2024 0 Comments
Mammoth Mountain, CA, Report: 12″ Powder Day on Cinco De Mayo | Superb Fresh Tracks Down Chairs 3, 5, 23 (Philippe’s) Report from May 5, 2024 Last night, a storm hit Mammoth Lakes, CA, which was ridiculous for May… The mountain harvested 12″ of fresh snow overnight, and it was windy as hell (up to 85mph on the summit). Today was freezing cold (5ºF at the summit in the morning) with superb snow plastered on everything. We started the day waiting […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | May 5, 2024 0 Comments
[PHOTOS] Late-Spring ‘Winter Storm Warning’ Brings 2 Feet of Snow to Palisades Tahoe, CA As of yesterday, Palisades Tahoe, California, had over two feet (26 inches) of May snow, prompting the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a rare Winter Storm Warning in May. This late-season snowfall has pushed the resort’s total snowfall to 423 inches, surpassing its average yearly snowfall of 400 inches. The unexpected powder has allowed Palisades Tahoe to extend […] Industry News SnowBrains | May 5, 2024 0 Comments
[VIDEO] Climber Requires Hoist Rescue After Getting Caught in Avalanche on Mount Shasta, CA A helicopter crew from the California Highway Patrol’s H-14 unit responded to a call for help from an injured mountain climber stranded at 11,000 feet on the side of Mount Shasta on Friday, May 3. Related: [PHOTOS] Mount Shasta, CA, Avalanche Injures 2 Snowboarders, Prompting 11 Hour Ground-Rescue According to the rescue report, the climber had been overtaken by an […] Avalanche AvyBrains | May 5, 2024 0 Comments
It’s Fishmas! California’s Trout Season Begins Saturday, April 27 The traditional trout season opener on the last Saturday in April remains one of California’s most celebrated and anticipated outdoor traditions. It draws thousands of anglers to trout fishing destinations such as Burney and Dunsmuir in the north, Bridgeport and Bishop in the Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Lakes in the south, and many other mountain communities and picturesque hamlets throughout the […] SnowBrains | April 22, 2024 0 Comments
Is It A Smart Idea to Use Marijuana In The Mountains? When Canada legalized marijuana in October 2018, pushback came from an unexpected place––search and rescue. Not long ago, marijuana was still considered a bad drug mostly used by hippies and stoners. These days it’s becoming legal, socially accepted, and even used for its medicinal purposes. Legal or illegal, the odors wafting off the chairlift don’t lie – people like to smoke […] Mike Lavery | April 20, 2024 3 Comments
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, CA Report: Brief Return to Winter Bodes Well for Spring Skiing Conditions This report is from April 18, 2024, and was written by Laura and Rob Pilewski, Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers. New Snow: 4 inchesSettled Snow Depth: 50 inchesHigh Temperature: 57°F (April 11)Low Temperature: 10°F (April 14) Ski Conditions and Weather April 18, 2024 – Laura and Rob Pilewski, Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers – This is our final post of the 2024 winter. Unlike most snowbirds, […] Conditions Report SnowBrains | April 19, 2024 0 Comments
NASA: A “Surprisingly Average” Year for Sierra Snowpack The Sierra Nevada is known for its booms and busts regarding mountain snow. Last year, there was record-high snow, whereas the snowpack was low three years prior. After more than a decade of unusually wet or unusually dry years, the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was close to normal in 2024. Related: California’s April Snow Survey Shows Above Average Snowpack […] SnowBrains | April 12, 2024 0 Comments