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Overall Summary | Submitted Reports | Disclaimer

As you enter  Desolation Wilderness you will encounter snow @ 7,000 to 7,500 feet depending on slope orientation and aspect.  The lakes at the 8,000 feet level are frozen solid.  Many of the trails are under snow, making orientation difficult without a GPS or Compass.  Trailhead access is changing rapidly, as of today: Pyramid Creek, Ralston, Bayview, Eagle Falls, Echo Lake are accessible.  The roads leading to Wrights Lake are still blocked by snow drifts.  For additional information go to the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit website at: www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu

Overall Summary: TOP

Zone# Zone Name Updated Conditions
       
1 Rockbound Lake 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
2 General Creek 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
3 Genevieve 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
4 Grouse Lakes 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
5 Brown Mountain 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
6 Rubicon 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
7 Stony Ridge 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
8 Tells 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
9 Highland 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
10 Lelands 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
11 Camper Flat 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
12 Phipps 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
13 Lakes #3 and #5 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
14 Schmidell 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
15 Dick's Peak 5/10/12 Snow
16 Middle Velma 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
17 Lower Velmas 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
18 Eagle 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
19 Lawrence 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
20 Red Peak 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
21 Lois 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
22 China Flat 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
23 Dick's 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
24 Kalmia 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
25 Maud 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
26 Rockbound Pass 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
27 Mt. Price 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
28 Half Moon 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
29 Gilmore 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
30 Cathedral 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
31 Tyler 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
32 Twin 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
33 Aloha 5/10/12 Snow/Ice, Lake is frozen/snowed over.
34 Susie 5/10/12 Snow/Ice, Lake is frozen/snowed over.
35 Grass 5/10/12 Lake is free of snow/ice.
36 Hemlock 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
37 Smith 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
38 Waca 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
39 American 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
40 Lake of the Woods 5/10/12 Snow/Ice, Lake frozen/snowed over.
41 Tamarack 5/10/12 Snow/Ice, Lake frozen/snowed over.
42 Triangle 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
43 Lyons 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.
44 Avalanche 5/6/12 Horsetail Falls free of snow until you reach the top, everything beyond is covered in snow/ice.  See report #152 below.
45 Ralston 4/29/12 Trails covered with snow above 8600 feet. See report #151 below.
-------- Loon Lake 11/15/11 Snow, Winter Conditions.

 

 

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SUBMITTED REPORTS: TOP

Trail Conditions

Add
# Date at LOC Zone Trail Name Type of Issue Full Description Picture Upload
152 05-06-2012 40-Lake of the Woods Horsetail Falls Other Horsetail Falls trail is free of snow up to 7500 (top of falls). Everything beyond (Ropi Lk, Lk of the Woods, Aloha) is covered with a thick layer of snow/ice. Picture Upload
151 04-29-2012 45-Ralston Ralston Unstable Snow Ralston Peak is hikable, but carry snowshoes and GPS/compass. Trails are covered with snow above 8600 ft.
150 10-17-2011 Other Entire Wilderness Unstable Snow Desolation Wilderness received about 18 inches of snow during the last storm. As of now this snow should be melted, with the possibility of some drifts left in shaded areas. If you have more information please post an updated Trail Conditions report. --Webmaster
149 10-09-2011 32-Twin Twin Lakes Trail Other Sections of the trail were alternately snow covered, a stream or a pool. Icy in the morning and in the afternoon the snow covered spots were very slushy: spring conditions. Water proof shoes are highly recommend . The snow had noticeably melted back in the afternoon and should only be an issue for a few more days. Water flows are up and increased during the day. Snow near Writes Lake was 4-6 inches deep, near Twin Lakes was 10-12 inches with drifts to knee height (20-24 inches). Trail was obscured by snow at several points especially the higher flat areas. Permits are no longer available at trailhead.
148 10-08-2011 Other Desolation Wilderness Trails Unstable Snow The Crystal Range received 1-2' of snow above 7,000 feet on Tuesday/Wednesday. Please check back on this website or with the Pacific Ranger Station/Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit for current updated Wilderness conditions.
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    Trail Conditions Disclaimer: Desolation Wilderness Volunteers provides this information free of charge as a public service to users of Desolation Wilderness, California and its immediate surroundings. While we have read and screened the information provided here, neither we nor those submitting the information make any claims or guarantees as to its accuracy, and assume no responsibility for the safety of those using it as part of their trip planning process. Backcountry travel involves risks and potential dangers, all of which can be found in the area covered by this trails conditions page. It is the responsibility of the users of these reports to be aware of the risks involved in any backcountry activity and to assess for themselves whether they are up to the challenge of facing these risks. By providing this information we make no suggestion or representation, expressed or implied, that these trails will be in the same condition as described when you visit them or that they will be safe for your passage.

     
    Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 07:42