Conditions Report - February 4, 2009

On Monday -- Groundhog Day -- everybody was waiting with baited breadth as to whether winter would continue for another six weeks or another month-and-a-half. The skiers were all for a month-and-a-half and the climbers were all for another six weeks...

Too bad there are no groundhogs around here. I guess we'll have to wait for another 42 days to see if it's six weeks or a month-and-a-half...

RED ROCK CANYON:

--Forecast and average temperatures for Red Rock Canyon.

--Webcam for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

--The late exit and overnight permit number for Red Rock Canyon is 702-515-5050. If there is any chance that you will be inside the park after closing, be sure to call this number so that you don't get a ticket.

--The hours to the scenic drive recently changed. The BLM has begun to open the loop at 7 AM in order to save money. Please call Mark Tenaka-Sanders, the Las Vegas Field Office manager at 702-515-5365 to complain.

--The Rock Climber Girl has recently posted a nice trip report with a fair number of photos of her trip to Red Rock Canyon. To read it, click here.

JOSHUA TREE:

--Forecast and average temperatures for Joshua Tree National Park.

--Webcam for Joshua Tree National Park.

Bernadette Reagan on Out On a Limb (5.10b)
Photo by Ian McEleney

--The climber's coffee program runs every Saturday morning and will begin to run both Saturday and Sunday mornings beginning in February. This pr ogram takes place in the Intersection Rock parking area and allows climbers and rangers to exchange ideas and information. Climbers generally meet at around eight in the morning.

--Here is a photo-heavy trip-report from a climber's trip to Joshua Tree last month.

NORTHWEST:

--Forecast for the West Slope of the Cascades.

--Forecast for the East Slope of the Cascades.

--Webcam for Leavenworth and the Stuart Range.

--Forecast for Mount Rainier.

Bryan Schmitz on the First Ascent of the Ponderosa Pillar (WI 5)
Photo by Craig Gyselinck

--Forest Service Road Report for Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

--Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams conditions and recreation report.

A Skier makes his way down Mount Saint Helens
Photo by Steven Frankovich

--Webcams for Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Leavenworth and Highway 2.

--An up-to-date ski and snow report for the Northwest m ay be found here.

--Up-to-date Pacific Northwest Ice Conditions may be found here.

--Beacon Rock in Southern Washington will be closed from now until July 15th. There are a pair of peregrine falcons nesting on the south face of the feature.

Ken Richards discovers that Beacon Rock is closed to climbing until July 15th
Photo by Dave Goldring

--The North Fork Snoqualmie River Road saw significant damage in the recent flood cycle. To read more about this, click here.

--Warming temperatures in the Pacific Northwest certainly didn't keep people away from the ice over the weekend. This party made a first ascent on Strobach Mountain. This party climbed a line on Bryant Peak. And this party climbed a line above Snow Lake.

--Snow conditions improved over the weekend with light snowfall. This party skied Mount Saint Helens. This party toured back around Stuart Lake. And this party played on Hex Mountain.

SIERRA:

--For up-to-date avalanche and weather reports in the Eastern Sierra, click here.

Mount Morrison on Friday
Photo by Don Chambers

--Webcams for Bishop, June Lake, Mammoth Mountain, Mono Lake, Tioga Pass, and Yosemite National Park.

Mount Whitney on Friday
Photo by Don Chambers

--There hasn't been a lot of snow in the Sierra this winter, but parties are still getting out and skiing. Large groups are now visiting Lee Vining Canyon to ice climb every weekend. It appears that the pipe that feeds the Bard Harrington Wall has been repaired. The result is that there is no longer ice on the wall. There are rumors all over the web that local climbers intend to repair the repair job so that there is ice on the wall again...

Mount Humphreys and Basin Mountain on Friday
Photo by Don Chambers

ALPS:

--Chamonix and Mont Blanc Regional Forecasts may be found here.

--Webcams for Chamonix Valley, Zermatt and the Matterhorn.

ALASKA RANGE:

--Forecast for Denali

--Webcam for Denali National Park.

--The Alaska season will start up in April. We are now accepting applications for our 2009 Denali expeditions and our 2009 Alaska Range Mountaineering Programs.