Snow!Snow! at Lodgepole!

L

lambertiana

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Jul 7, 2000
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As many of you know, we have been hammered by a series of winter storms this week. In the valley it has all been rain, but in the Sierras it has been snow. Last night we took our scouts on an overnight at Lodgepole in Sequoia NP. We found about 6 feet of fresh snow on the ground, and the last of the snow tapered off about 1AM this morning - perfect timing. When we got there we set up and had a fire. Unfortunately, the scoutmaster had left the hatchet at home and the firewood that he brought was all large with no kindling. So I showed them how to baton with my micarta Laconico (sorry, no action pics, it was dark and snowing). In short order I had a pile of good kindling, which I lit with a vaseline cotton ball:
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This morning I got a few pics before the sun crested the ridge (it was 9 F):
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Then the sun came out:
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Here is our camp:
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Here are two shots showing typical road scenes in the park (Lodgepole is at 6800')
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And some views looking toward the valley and across the canyon on the way back to town:
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And the rain in the valley has led to a fast greening of the foothills:
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Everyone had a great time, I only wish I could have stayed up there longer (I had to hurry down to donate a pint at the blood drive we had at church today).
 
wow is that beautiful!
and people travel outside of the country for vacation?
I have to go west before I croak.
I want to see some of those parks
you have in california,wyoming...
the grand canyon... so much to see

thanks for the pics!
 
Wow, amazing pics buddy, thanks for sharing those !

That road looks like a giant bob sleigh run eh !!!!!
 
That is awesome. I wish I had that amount of snow around where I live. Great pics.
 
pitdog said:
Wow, amazing pics buddy, thanks for sharing those !

That road looks like a giant bob sleigh run eh !!!!!
Click to expand...

That would be an accurate description. On the way up in the dark last night, we stopped to help dig out a woman who had slid off the road into the snow wall on the side of the road. When I got back into my car, the three scouts in it had so completely fogged up my windows that it took a couple minutes to see clearly enough to continue. Meanwhile, the other two vehicles didn't see me following and stopped to wait. However, they picked a bad place to stop - it was a very steep section that was solid black ice under a thin layer of snow. As soon as they stopped, their vehicles slid sideways into the snow wall. When I got to them, I stopped (not knowing what was happening) and I also slid sideways after I stopped. The guy pulling the trailer full of scout gear had to be towed out by someone else who happened by (driving a big 4WD with snow tires and chains), after which he chained up. I managed to get going again and made it the rest of the way without chains - gotta love the Subaru. But at that spot it was so slick that I went down several times just carefully walking between the vehicles.
 
Thanks for sharing. Good pics and beautiful scenery. It's not hard to imagine how a little mistake could turn into a real survival situation. Beautiful country, but unforgiving.
 
Awesome. I love the pics right when the sun came up. I'm back East, but I've been through the Sierras including Sequoia one time during the Summer. Man what I wouldn't give to have that in my backyard to enjoy year round!
 
Great photos. That road looks fun to drive......like a bobsled chute! :D
Looks like a great experience for the Scouts!

You are lucky to live where you can drive up 7000 feet and be in a winter wonderland and then return back to sunny skies and lush green land!
 
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