Conditions Report
words video by Pee1000
It’s May 6, 2014 and it’s dumping big fat wet flakes in June Lake, Ca. Is it accumulating? No. But at only 7,800 ft, that’s not surprising in spring. It has to be sticking above 10,000 ft. Right? Right?!
After a meager — but fun — winter every little scrap garners excitement, at least in me. Most sane people around these parts are climbing in the Gorge or Yosemite or the Happy’s. But there are definitely a few of us diehards out there. You know who you are, all 20 of you. I’m sure you were out there, somewhere, on this same day. If we ever meet, I’ll buy you a drink.
The nice storm on May 6 caused the Tioga Pass road to close, but we were hoping it would re-open at a reasonable hour on May 7, at least from the east side to the gate at Yosemite National Park. We got up early and started the annoying practice of exchanging texts trying to decide what line to go for.
“120 is still closed.” “Bloody?” “Sure, if we were having this conversion 3 hours ago and if you are driving.” “Red Slate?” “F u.” Grumpy and depressed, checking the Caltrans website every 10 minutes, I’m contemplating cracking a cold one, when the phone rings.
My go-to partner this year, Ryan F., has also been checking the Caltrans site all morning, even more than I have. “I think it’s open,” he says. “Ah, OK, let me change and let’s go ride something. I don’t care what, just SOMETHING.”
We drive up, check out the Ellery zone, and keep driving, hoping that the road to Saddlebag Lake is open for some North Peak action (it’s not). We head up to Dana, look at the clock (12 pm), come to our senses, and drive back to Ellery. It’s cold and windy at the truck, but once we get up a little ways, it’s nice and calm. The booting is easy on a few inches of new snow on a firm crust, but once we get higher it gets deeper, and once we’re in our chute, it’s a wallowfest. As we approach the corniced ridge, however, we find that the new snow has mostly sluffed off to the bottom of the chute. Since we’re so close to the top, we finish the climb out of principle, even if the first few turns aren’t going to be that great.
The ride down was pretty epic; a little gnarly at the top, deep in the middle, and fast and furious all the way to the truck. Why can’t it alway be this easy? Well, if it was, it would be hard to fully appreciate the long days in the mountains that are painful at the time, but upon reflection, keep you daydreaming through the summer.
On the drive home, we of course stopped at the Mobil Mart. While ice cream and fish tacos are awesome, we all know that drinking is better (unless you’re driving, underage, or a recovering alcoholic.) Everyone has their favorite haunts on the Eastside, but it’s hard to go wrong at the Tiger Bar or the Double Eagle in June Lake, or the Clocktower or Roberto’s in Mammoth Lakes. And yes, hot springs rule. Have fun out there!
Well put!