Conditions

For Lack of a better place and because it is so 'condition' dependant I've included a brief 'motivation' on Ice in and around the highway 108 area on this "Conditions" page.

Up near the Pass- some waterfalls on the E. Side of the pass are known to freeze up early in the season or late in the season if it's cold at night. Road access is the issue here along with appropriate cold temps. Look for temps in the teens at night before skiing in. If anyone knows the history of the these ice lines, please let us know.

Sardine Falls - ~70' total. WI2 on the right side. WI3 on the center and left side. The upper 50 ft. section is the main cascade, but it continues to cascade down another 20 ft. or so before leveling out. elev ~8800' Solo'd the WI2 right side 12/1/2007 (Robert Behrens). Asking around if others have climbed this short formation with its very ephemeral conditions and limited road access. Maybe first recorded ascent? Interesting ice forms between two boulders below as well.
Hidden Falls? - ~75' total. located immediately south from Sonora Pass Falls. WI3 with some WI4 sections. Anchor off screws, but bring an extra rope and back up to the trees. Short approach if road is open, otherwise, long ski. Left, Center and Right (Cave Column) Top roped by Robert Behrens, Jan Duha, and Chris Iezzoni 12/2/2007. FTR?
Sonora Pass Falls - ~40' The creek cascades about 40 ft. down a steep bank. There is a trail from the Pass leading directly over to the base of the falls. elev ~9700' Left and right variations available. WI2. Solo'd left side 12/1/2007 (Robert Behrens) FRA?. Also a half height smear forms on the outside left of the mud embankment, thin!
Blue Canyon Falls - ~15' elev ~8900' Right next to road after dead man curves before 9k elevation sign. Did not freeze up the creek enough in 2007 Dec to be climbable.
Deadmand Creek Falls - ~20' elev ~8400' just above 8k elevation sign. Did not freeze up the creek enough in 2007 Dec to be climbable.

The volcanic rock on the South side of the highway up near the Pass creates several runnels and snow gullys during the early spring and if it's cold enough they freeze up. Probably the descent would be the trick, as the runnels don't always go to the top when the road opens. The rock around these runnels is choss. Look South of Sardine Falls near Leavitt Peak. Also, look

Snow gullys around Deadman's Buttress- left or right side of the middle buttress can get covered in alpine snow/ice. Getting up there before it melts out is key.

There may be some potential on Niagara creek, where the waterfall goes into the Donnell Reservoir. Could be a long ski-in though in winter when it would be cold enough to form, if at all.

Other potential might be the drainage down from Strawberry, or even maybe up from the Stanislaus river.

Also, a ski down into (and of course back up) Beardsley Rd to the Donnell dam road may yield some ice, but avalanche danger in any backcountry area is a concern.

Snowmobiles might ease the access, but not sure where to rent them locally.

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		CONDITIONS
	Local Events (traffic issues, local flavor, etc.) Sonora Pass Climbing Forum- first hand trip reports, etc: SonoraPassClimbing.com Forum Sonora Pass Snow Conditions on the ES Avalanche forum Weather Conditions: NOAA Wind Mapper (California) Forest Service Reports (the Pinecrest link is pretty good) Detailed Local Forecast (Pinecrest) Detailed Local Forecast (Sonora) Sonora Pass Avalanche Forecast (Appears to be a USMC personal site) Forest Service Pages: Forest Service Reports (General Conditions) Summit Ranger Station (209) 965-3434 Bridgeport Ranger Station (760) 932-7070 Dodge Ridge Live Camera Road Conditions: Cal Trans Other Pertinent Stats: Snow Depth at Gianelli Meadow Air Temp at Pinecrest Water flow for Donnell's Water Level for Donnell's Winter Conditions for Tuolumne by backcountry rangers... http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tm.htm For Lack of a better place and because it is so 'condition' dependant I've included a brief 'motivation' on Ice in and around the highway 108 area on this "Conditions" page. Up near the Pass- some waterfalls on the E. Side of the pass are known to freeze up early in the season or late in the season if it's cold at night. Road access is the issue here along with appropriate cold temps. Look for temps in the teens at night before skiing in. If anyone knows the history of the these ice lines, please let us know. Sardine Falls - ~70' total. WI2 on the right side. WI3 on the center and left side. The upper 50 ft. section is the main cascade, but it continues to cascade down another 20 ft. or so before leveling out. elev ~8800' Solo'd the WI2 right side 12/1/2007 (Robert Behrens). Asking around if others have climbed this short formation with its very ephemeral conditions and limited road access. Maybe first recorded ascent? Interesting ice forms between two boulders below as well. Hidden Falls? - ~75' total. located immediately south from Sonora Pass Falls. WI3 with some WI4 sections. Anchor off screws, but bring an extra rope and back up to the trees. Short approach if road is open, otherwise, long ski. Left, Center and Right (Cave Column) Top roped by Robert Behrens, Jan Duha, and Chris Iezzoni 12/2/2007. FTR? Sonora Pass Falls - ~40' The creek cascades about 40 ft. down a steep bank. There is a trail from the Pass leading directly over to the base of the falls. elev ~9700' Left and right variations available. WI2. Solo'd left side 12/1/2007 (Robert Behrens) FRA?. Also a half height smear forms on the outside left of the mud embankment, thin! Blue Canyon Falls - ~15' elev ~8900' Right next to road after dead man curves before 9k elevation sign. Did not freeze up the creek enough in 2007 Dec to be climbable. Deadmand Creek Falls - ~20' elev ~8400' just above 8k elevation sign. Did not freeze up the creek enough in 2007 Dec to be climbable. The volcanic rock on the South side of the highway up near the Pass creates several runnels and snow gullys during the early spring and if it's cold enough they freeze up. Probably the descent would be the trick, as the runnels don't always go to the top when the road opens. The rock around these runnels is choss. Look South of Sardine Falls near Leavitt Peak. Also, look Snow gullys around Deadman's Buttress- left or right side of the middle buttress can get covered in alpine snow/ice. Getting up there before it melts out is key. There may be some potential on Niagara creek, where the waterfall goes into the Donnell Reservoir. Could be a long ski-in though in winter when it would be cold enough to form, if at all. Other potential might be the drainage down from Strawberry, or even maybe up from the Stanislaus river. Also, a ski down into (and of course back up) Beardsley Rd to the Donnell dam road may yield some ice, but avalanche danger in any backcountry area is a concern. Snowmobiles might ease the access, but not sure where to rent them locally.