Record snow fall equals closed road and campground in early Summer

[Tukee44]

If you plan a trip to the mountain, you should be worried.

[Chuck S]

I see over 50 folks have read this topic.

Anyone make any sense of it?

-- Chuch

[Conductor]

I see over 50 folks have read this topic.

Anyone make any sense of it?

-- Chuch

I know sometimes our higher altitude campgrounds here in the Rockies have to delay opening due to excessive snow. Two years ago I was notified that an early June reservation at a Forest Service campground (Ranger Lakes) was cancelled due to too much remaining snow. Some campgrounds, such as Long Draw, are several miles back on dirt roads that don't get cleared until July if the snow has been very deep.

[RangerBill]

The snowpack in the Cascades is something like only 40% of average.  In fact, they're moving snow by helicopter to venues outside of Vancouver, BC for the Olympics next week!

[Spirit Deer]

Once again, a post where knowing the poster's location would be helpful.  *sigh*

[Unstable Tripod]

S/He lists location as Furnix, AZ (in profile).  I didn't know if s/he meant a specific mountain or left the "s" off "mountains."  Neither was I clear on which mountain or mountains s/he referred to.

Here in the Cascades and Olympics I have been unable to get into some of my favorite boondocking and NFS places until mid-July or later in heavy snow years.  That won't be the case this year because we have had a much warmer than average winter.  January was the warmest January in our recorded history with many days in the 50s and some in the 60s.  That diminished snowfall and pushed the mountain snow level much higher than usual.  I'll probably be able to get up there in early June this year but the mosquitoes will be bad for a few weeks.  I think Vancouver may have a problem similar to the one they had in the French Alps a few years ago where ski events were delayed due to lack of snow.

[clemlaw]

Once again, a post where knowing the poster's location would be helpful.  *sigh*

I'm guessing they intended to post a link to a news story, but then forgot to add the link.

The other possibility is that they thought everyone knew what "the mountain" was.  For those who do know, the road will be closed.  And if you get to a mountain with a closed road this summer, then you know which one they meant! 

[mountainrev]

If you plan a trip to the mountain, you should be worried.

I'm guessing this was the link he forgot to attach: 

[Spirit Deer]

The other possibility is that they thought everyone knew what "the mountain" was.

Okay, that makes sense!  After all, everyone in Minnesota knows where 'the lake' is, as in 'going up to the lake', so I'm sure everyone with mountains knows where 'the mountain' is!

Once again, Clemlaw, you have solved a mystery in my life. 

[Unstable Tripod]

We've got many mountains in Washington but if someone says "The Mountain" everyone knows s/he means Mt. Rainier.  It's pretty much the king, so to speak.

[Tukee44]

Hah, caught your attention.

I just meant mountains in general.

There were a few problems that I knew in the past such as flood in Yosemite valley, road damage force closure of the Yellowstone east entrance, Old River road closure in Rocky National park, etc. A lot of campground along the river will be under water longer this year. The ground can be muddy.

Just check the park website for road condition before you leave. 

[ngatel]

It looks like the Sierras and other mountain ranges in California are going to have record snowfalls this year (must be due to global warming).

For us many roads in the Sierras are not plowed and are subject to seasonal closures. Also many high elevation campgrounds may be under snow and closed in early summer.

For people intending to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (Mexico to Canada), they are going to have difficulties with a much higher and longer lasting snow pack in the San Jacintos, San Bernadinos, and the high Sierras from Kennedy Meadows north.

[AZNighthiker]

May be the same problem out here in Arizona not only the campgrounds but will limit dispersed camping as well.