Conditions Report -- December 17, 2008

RED ROCK CANYON:

--Forecast and average temperatures for Red Rock Canyon.

--Webcam for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

A Climber rappels down the Panty Wall in Red Rock Canyon
This is not a recent photo. There is a little bit of snow on the ground right now.

--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.

--It's been a bit chilly in Red Rock as of late. There is snow on the ground in the shade. This is a remnant of a snowstorm that covered most of the state earlier in the week. In the sun it is still pleasant.

JOSHUA TREE:

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

Climbers on Joshua Tree's Atlantis Wall

--Webcam for Joshua Tree National Park.

--As with Red Rock, it snowed in Joshua Tree on Monday. The snow will probably stick around in the higher elevations, but has mostly melted out around the crags.

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.

Mike Gifford rips it up in the deep pow on Grouse Ridge
Photo by Stacy Moon

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

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

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

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

Chris Egge shreds deep pow in Silver Basin
Photo by Dan Engel

--Significant snowfall and cold temperatures over the weekend lead to a significant amount of skiing. This party found deep powder on Cowboy Mountain near Stevens Pass. These guys found more deep powder in Silver Basin. And this party made a trip up into the Olympics to ski on Hurricane Ridge.

In Canada, Whistler and Blackcomb are now open. In Washington, the Mount Baker Ski Area opened this weekend. Stevens Pass Ski Resort will open Thursday. Snoqualmie Pass ski areas are not yet open and do not have an anticipated opening date listed on their website. Crystal Mountain opened with limited operations over the weekend. And White Pass does not have an official opening listed yet. In Oregon, Mount Bachelor has limited operations. Hoodoo Ski Area hopes to have limited operations in place by December 19th. Cooper Spur hopes to begin limited operations on December 19th. And Timberline Lodge is open with limited operations.

SIERRA:

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

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

--Teams have been getting on the ice in Lee Vining this week, but it is still quite thin.

--A large low pressure system moved into the Sierra over the weekend which brought a lot of new snow with it. Intermittent snow showers continued to move through the area throughout the early part of the week. Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort reports two feet of new snow over the last day or so.

Sierra Sunset in the Winter
Photo by Jeremy Ellison

--An AAI team attempted to approach Mount Whitney yesterday, but were turned back by deep snow conditions and avalanche danger.

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 is over until April of 2009, but we are already in the process of gearing up for it. We are now accepting applications for our 2009 Denali expeditions.