Even more snow a little further north!
I went on a snowshoe hike up the Onion Valley Road today from the road closure point at Seven Pines (6,150 ft.) to a high point of 7,550 ft. at the first severe road switchback. Left the car at 10:15am in mild weather conditions (28 deg. F. and meadow breezes). By 12:00noon, the wind had come up (50 mph plus) and was blowing powder snow from the slopes and driving a light intensity of small snow flakes horizontally down canyon from clouds spilling over the crest (storm will stick around awhile longer). From my highpoint, I descended into the watershed and had a thoroughly enjoyable time in the deep snow and ice/snow mantled trees. The snow was about 5 feet deep, so side-hilling down canyon above the stream wasn't too bad with the big trail snowshoes that I chose for the day (watch those boulder-drop-offs and submerged/bent over trees though!). Arrived back at the car at 3:50pm. Wonderful day - it looks like we will have a good-snow winter....high avalanche danger though, judging from the looks of the upper couloirs and high winds, will persist until at least mid week.
Some captioned photos are here:
http://dougforbes.smugmug.com/gallery/4124506/5#P-1-12Climb Hard, Climb Safe
Hedgehog
