Conditions Report -- December 24, 2008

The entirety of our North American program areas were hit by a series of major winter storms last week and then through the weekend. Both Red Rock and Joshua Tree saw enough snow last week to close the parks. While the Cascades and the Sierra finally got the snow they needed to kick-start the ski season.

This is what everybody feels like everywhere in the snow:



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.

Last Week's Snow on Mount Wilson
Photo by Andy Bourne

Last Week's Snow on the Strip
Photo by Angela Tripp

--Last week Red Rock Canyon and Las Vegas saw the largest valley-wide snow storm in thirty years. There was snow accumulation on the Las Vegas Strip, something that never happens. Everything has melted away and things are back to normal.

JOSHUA TREE:

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

Last Week at Intersection Rock

Photo by James Barnett

--Webcam for Joshua Tree National Park.

Jacob Sargent on Driving Limitations (5.7) last week.
Photo by Ian McEleney

--While there was enough snow to close the park last week for three days, it has mostly melted away and things are back to normal. The park service does not own a snow plow and attempted to plow the roads with a road grater...this didn't work very well.

--A few local climbers from Joshua Tree decided to go climbing while the park was closed. To do so they tried to ski in. A ranger stopped them to inform them that skiing in Joshua Tree National Park is illegal. It would have been funny if they had asked him to pull out his rule book to show them that rule.

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.

--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.

Cody Hiatt after a large part of Bridal Veil Falls nearly collapsed on him.
Photo by Andrew McDavid

--The Washington ice season has officially begun. Many parties climbed the seldom formed Bridal Veil Falls, a party climbed Skookum Falls, parties have sent CYA, Rainbow Falls is in, Preston and McCrea Falls are in, and numerous other routes have come in over the last week or so. It's a good time to get out to taste the ephemeral Northwest ice.

Pax Fox on the Seldom-Formed Bridal Veil Falls (WI 3+)
Photo by Jason Killgore

--In Canada, Squamish is seeing more ice than it has in years. The ice across from Murrin Park is in, Shannon Falls is climbable on the right side, Klahanie Column is in, several first ascents have taken place in the Olesen Slabs area, a line on the Squaw was climbed 5 days ago, and the Smoke Bluffs have more ice than they've seen in decades.

--The Mountain Loop Highway from Silverton to Darrington has been closed for the winter. To read more about this, click here.

--Wildly overstated emergency warnings on the radio forecasted monster avalanche danger throughout the Cascades over the weekend. These reports kept people from going into the mountains and forced many backcountry skiers to cross-country ski in city parks throughout Western Washington and Southwest British Columbia. Even though there was a lot of new snow in the mountains and the avalanche danger was high, both AAI Avalanche Level I and Avalanche Level II courses found surprisingly little evidence of slides.

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.

Whitney Portal Last Week
Photo by Justin Marion

--After the latest round of storms in the Sierra, Tioga Pass through Yosemite was officially closed for the season. To read more about the closure, click here.

--Air service has returned to the Eastern Sierra. One Horizon flight a day will arrive and depart from the Owens Valley between now and April. To read more, click here.

An AAI Team Climbs Cardinal Pinnacle Last Week
Photo by Justin Marion

--Here is a cool report that covers a variety of sports form an individual who spent all of his free time in the Sierra for a year.

A Climber on Chouinard Falls on Sunday
Photo by Mark Grundon

--Chouinard Falls is in in Lee Vining, but there is little else that is climable yet. It is likely that this will change as the Sierra continues to see cold weather.

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.