New Snow: none
Settled Snow Depth: 36 inches
High temperature: 53°F (April 20)
Low temperature: 18°F (April 18)
Ski Conditions and Weather
This is our final post of the 2024–2025 winter. As always it has been an honor to serve the public as the Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers. We will complete the May 1 snow surveys before migrating south to our summer range at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
It was a warm and dry week here in the meadows. The snowpack is rapidly shrinking with more bare ground showing itself daily. The corn cycle is well underway and all aspects, except the bare southern ones, below 11,000 feet are producing good corn snow. Tioga Road is still mostly snow covered, however bare pavement in some places is getting larger with the continued warm and sunny days.
Caltrans is continuing its snow removal work on the east side of Tioga Pass, and NPS crews are working eastward from Crane Flat. Please give them plenty of room for your and their safety. Visitors approaching from Lee Vining should anticipate dry pavement to at least Tioga Lake as highway workers are making good progress towards Tioga Pass. Pedestrians on Tioga Road (inside the park) and Highway 120 (outside the park) should be extra cautious around snow removal equipment. Bicycles are not allowed on Tioga Road (inside the park) until further notice.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions
Please refer to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) and the Bridgeport Avalanche Center for the avalanche advisories for this part of the Sierra Nevada.
Although the avalanche centers are not putting out daily forecasts, there are updated field observations. We observed a large glide avalanche on a north aspect at 9,200 feet, which likely occurred with the first major warmup the second week of April. The smooth granite domes of the Tuolumne Meadows area are prone to these avalanches which are more difficult to forecast than other types of avalanches. Very close to the aforementioned glide avalanche, at the same elevation, aspect, and slope angle, there was an avalanche path with a large glide crack that had not yet avalanched. It remains uncertain if/when this slope will avalanche at all, or if it will melt in place. It is good practice to give these slopes a wide berth, especially during the heat of the day.
Wildlife
Now that the river has opened up, the majority of the birds along the riparian corridor have staked their claim to a piece of real estate. Song and white-crowned sparrows are belting out their tunes from the budding willows. Red-winged and Brewer blackbirds are vocal. Pairs of mallards can be found where the river bends. Last, but not least, the kildeer has moved back to the Soda Springs. He is pacing back and forth across the saturated ground. Sadly, when he moves back in, we know it is time for us to move out.
Questions
The Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut is open. This primitive cabin is the campground reservation office in the summer and is located along the Tioga Road at the entrance to the campground. It is marked with a sign. There is firewood and 8 bunks that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Do not rely on electricity or phone service at the ski hut.
Read through the following webpage before embarking on any day or overnight snow travel to the high country: Winter in Tuolumne Meadows.
For those visiting the Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut from the east (only) permits are self-issued at the Ski Hut. For those entering from other areas, permits are available via self-registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more: Wilderness Permits.
Come prepared, and please make good decisions while traveling in the wilderness!
You may contact us with any additional winter Tuolumne Meadows related questions but response times may vary if we are away on patrol.
Celebrate Earth!
Laura and Rob Pilewski - Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers
