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paulc
May 18, 2005, 11:27 AM
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Hey all;
With weather in the Valley looking dicey, I am now thinking about going to the Needles in CA this Friday/Saturday. Anyone know what the rain situation is there? Weather forcasts for Porterville show 80 to 90 deg, but with the altitude I am somewhat concerned about the same kinda conditions that the Valley is getting. I guess that the needles are out of the Sierras so hopefully dryer than there.
Is the camping actually 3 mi from the parking lot? or is that just the hike to the cliffs?
If anyone else has an update on the Valley I'd love that too, as we may go there sometime next week.
Thanks
Paul
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bandycoot
May 18, 2005, 11:53 AM
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I'll answer what I can. The camping is right where you park. The hike to the cliffs is about 3 miles or so from the parking/camping.
Edit: In retrospect, it might be a little more than 3 miles. I just don't remember.
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paulc
May 18, 2005, 1:21 PM
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Thanks for the info. 'preciate it.
Anyone else have weather/snowpack info?
Paul
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phaedrus
May 19, 2005, 10:45 AM
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phaedrus moved this thread from General to Regional Discussions.
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tim
May 19, 2005, 11:22 AM
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Great Western Divide highway (190) is supposed to open through to Johnsondale this weekend. (cf. Carl Cappelen at the Ponderosa) Several people have done White Punks on Dope (on Voodoo) recently, so that's open to Peppermint Springs.
The snowpack is still at ~2 feet but appears to be dropping quick: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/selectSnow?station_id=qua&start_date=2%2F2%2F2005&end_date=5%2F15%2F2005&data_wish=Retrieve+Data
You can also call the Ponderosa for local conditions. They often know whether anyone's been in, since the guidebook that they keep near the counter is kind of an unofficial FA register.
Their website is http://www.ponderosaca.com/ and the number's on the website.
Let us know how it goes if you head up this weekend. It would be amazing if the main road to the Needles opened before Memorial Day this year!
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mungeclimber
May 19, 2005, 9:08 PM
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In reply to: I guess that the needles are out of the Sierras so hopefully dryer than there.
Ok, you lost me there.
Chiquito dome a bit North. Group of SoYo'rs are heading up.
Soda Springs Campground.
Do it!
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paulc
May 19, 2005, 11:01 PM
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Perhaps my mistake? I was thinking out of the main range, but even that may not even be correct. The snowpack website seems funkified to me right now. Am I correct in hearing that there is snow there now? Temps seem to be 80 to 90 deg so I am alarmed to hear that there is still snow.
Anyhow great to hear from peeps down there. Will likely drop into Fresno Fri night and try to pick up a guidebook first thing Sat AM. Anyone know offhand who might have a copy of the needles guidebook in Fresno?
Hopefully the weather is decent wherever we end up.
Paul
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ascender30
May 19, 2005, 11:08 PM
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DUDES...listen up!!
I was at Needles this past weekend (14-15 May), and there is TOO MUCH snow still. We parked out on the main asphalt road...hiked through snow 3 miles to the normal parking area...then hiked/post-holed through another 2 miles of snow, often on steep slopes hard to keep the trail, to the ranger tower steps. Somehow, we crept threw the snow around to the top of Charlatan, rapped down the notch, and climbed Thin Ice on the Sorcerer needle. The hike out was torturous...I SERIOUSLY do NOT recommend heading up to Needles for at least a couple more weeks.
The weather was PERFECT, and if it weren't for nasty leg cramps due to the grueling snow slog to get there, it would have been great climbing.
Again....no Needles yet dudes....and the Valley appears flooded and wet as hell too....
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paulc
May 20, 2005, 12:06 PM
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Crap!!
can anyone confirm valley conditions?
Thanks
Paul
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asasilliman
Jun 13, 2005, 10:52 AM
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hey any word on snow pack currently??
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tim
Jun 13, 2005, 10:56 AM
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as of 2 weeks ago ("Weekend before last") the gate was still closed
haven't heard about this past weekend yet. time to call Herb?!? ;-)
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tim
Jun 15, 2005, 9:20 AM
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Called the Ponderosa yesterday, the woman who answered did not know whether the gate was open (usually a bad sign). Herb had been up there this past weekend and the gate was still closed, though due to the hot weather he felt it's possible that it will open this weekend or next.
If you're planning a trip up there, give the folks at the Ponderosa (http://www.ponderosaca.com/) a ring beforehand; they are 1 mile from the gate and typically will hear about it opening as soon as it happens.
postscript: No wonder the lady at the Ponderosa seemed not to know too terribly much... the Ponderosa Lodge is for sale. I guess things changed a lot when Pete passed away... bummer.
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sonso45
Jun 20, 2005, 11:51 AM
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How bad is the last bit of road to the lookout tower? Do you need high clearance? M
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abbysomebody
Jun 20, 2005, 12:06 PM
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In reply to: How bad is the last bit of road to the lookout tower? Do you need high clearance? M
?
if you're referring to the fire lookout tower out at the needles, you can't drive there- you drive to the camping/parking area and then its about a 3 mile hike from the camping to the tower and the climbing
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micronut
Jun 20, 2005, 12:14 PM
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In reply to: How bad is the last bit of road to the lookout tower? Do you need high clearance? M
don't remember it being that bad, did it in a volvo wagon no prob.
anyway, i wanna go!!!! i don't want to drive! anybody from so cal. got some extra room?
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sonso45
Jun 20, 2005, 12:50 PM
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Thanks, I'm sorry for the confusion, I meant the road as far as you can drive. Thanks for the info. M
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murf
Jun 20, 2005, 1:10 PM
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In reply to: postscript: No wonder the lady at the Ponderosa seemed not to know too terribly much... the Ponderosa Lodge is for sale. I guess things changed a lot when Pete passed away... bummer.
Like the hamburgers we ordered which hadn't seen a grill in at least a few hours (days). The supplies are fairly low there, and there ain't no gas. The marked up Needles guidebook is gone, hopefully someone responsible has it.
The gate is open, there's not a flake of snow to be seen.
I'm not sure how a place gets popular, but the Needles has seen a surge in visits in the last few years which is truly amazing. There were Euro's, Asian's who spoke very limited English, and cars all over the camping area. Less than half of the cars had Cally plates, lots of Oregon and Washington. Igor to Airy seems to be the most popular Saturday Destination, followed by a Thin Ice conga on Sunday. It was pretty cool all w/e, and the wind in the notch was annoying as hell.
Murf
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leec
Jun 23, 2005, 9:43 AM
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Anyone been up lately - planning on being there for the 4th w/e.
Can't see it being a problem now the temps have climbed.
Cheers.
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nthusiastj
Jun 23, 2005, 10:35 AM
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In reply to: Crap!! can anyone confirm valley conditions? Thanks Paul
I was in the Valley last weekend and other than the temps getting higher, it's all good.
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