Lake Alpine Snow Report

[dpalme]

Thanks for the report, Guyo – we’re abandoning the idea of snowshoeing in favor of a hike in Big Trees or elsewhere.

Fingers crossed that we get some significant snow, soon.

OTOH, I’m tempted to start the yard clearing now. 🙂

Cheers!

[cmice]

Dang. Ok. Anybody been to Spicer lately? …same question as ‘dpalme’ (my better half).

[guyo]

I hike to the Lake Alpine boat ramp twice a week to check a pump station. I hiked it yesterday and there was several long stretches of blacktop showing beyond the road closure gate. Where there was snow cover on the road it was rock hard and in places sheet ice from the melt/freeze cycle. Off the road there was a punchy 1/2″ crust over 3-5″ of snow. The only fresh tracks I’ve been seeing are other hikers, and sometimes a snowshoe track. It doesn’t look like the snowmobilers enjoy these conditions as I’ve not seen any indication of them in two weeks or longer.
About 2″ of heavy snow fell yesterday afternoon, but when I hike in tomorrow I’ll do so in boots rather than snow shoes. I don’t how the coverage would be to the top of Inspiration Point as I haven’t been past our pump station at the Chickaree day use area at the east end of the lake.
Although some of the longer range forecasts were hinting of a change in the pattern and talking of some weather for MLK weekend, they backed off of that yesterday. I think I would plan on a hike at lower elevations.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by guyo.

[dpalme]

Hi all –

we’re planning to come up over MLK weekend and had hopes of doing a snowshoe trip ’round Lake Alpine and up to the top of Inspiration Point. While Bear Valley XC is bullish about snow, I’m wondering if it’s possible to do some shoeing or should we plan on a hike somewhere down the hill?

If only the Sandy-Cam went that far east! Am also wondering how many snowmobilers are out as well.

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

[Author]

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