Sugar Bowl: 12″-18″
Boreal:  24″-26″ (32″ storm total)
Alpine Meadows: 22″ (32″ storm total)
Northstar-at-Tahoe: 22″
Squaw Valley: 12″
Sierra At Tahoe: 24″ (37″ storm total)
Kirkwood: 18″-24″ (28″ storm total)
Heavenly:  12″
Bear Valley: 9″
Mammoth: 24″

Todays forecast is calling for another 12 to 18 inches is in the Sierra Nevada and even more snow throughout the week. Get it while its good. And remember to drive safe, carry chains and give yourself a little extra time to get where you’re going.

Worried about getting snowed in? Check out Hotels.com for some great deals on hotels before you head to the mountain.

Was just doing a little poke checking and conditions are nice. Decent coverage with some fresh snow to ring in the new year. Its a warm storm but those are good too as they add good water content to be used later on in the year.

Kirkwood is reporting about 6inches in the last 24 hours as well as a few inches at Sierra. On the other side of the lake Squaw and Alpine meadows are reporting about 4 inches and sugar bowl around a foot.  Mammoth is reporting 7 inches.

Happy New Year!

Word on the street is Mammoth got a huge dump of 14 inches a few days ago and are planning to open on Friday.

And just when I was going to open my mouth and say sorry Boreal you weren’t first this year… I went to check their site only to learn that Boreal actually opened up last weekend for 3 days of skiing and snowboarding. This is Boreal’s earliest open to-date. Their operations are stated as tentative for weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun) conditions permitting.

More California mountain news… El Nino 2010 Baby! According to a link I found via Sierra at Tahoe to some weather and science site, El Nino conditions (currents and temperatures) are present in the Pacific Ocean indicating that we have the potential makings for an El Nino Winter. So what does that mean… precipitation and lots of it.

The California water situation is in pretty bad shape after 3 below average winters. An El Nino winter could be huge.. countless powder days and replenished reservoirs and some highwater rafting come spring time.

Get ready folks cuz it’s about time to fire this blog back up for the winter. Make sure you grab the feed to stay up to date.

I’ve already been hearing rumors of an el nino winter. I need to dig and do a little research to see if there is any validity to those statements.

I’m looking forward winter, it seems like ages since I strapped into my board. Until then.. I’m on my mountain bike cranking out as much single track as I can.

Please be advised that until further notice no campfires will be allowed in the Middle or North Fork American River canyon as of today.  However, as with prior summer season fire danger restrictions, gas camp stoves will continue to be allowed unless further advised.

Please use extreme caution with any open flame.  Remember to keep the stove at least 10 feet away from any flammable materials and vegetation.  If you have any questions, please contact me or Bill Deitchman at bdeit@parks.ca.gov or (530) 823-4164.

Thank you,

Kris

Kris Dey
Whitewater Recreation Office
CA State Parks – Auburn SRA – Gold Fields District
501 El Dorado Street, Auburn, CA 95603-4949
Ph. 530-823-4162 Fax: 530-885-2798

This is a great reminder to extremely careful with fires anywhere in California. Fire season is gonna come early this year because conditions are pretty darn dry.  Remember to make sure all fires are DEAD OUT. And please adhere to all fire regulations and restrictions.

California Mountain Report will now be dedicated to rafting & kayaking in the spring and summer and skiing & snowboarding in the winter.

Mountain Tread is only a few weeks old at this point but we have a ton of content already planned out so don’t despair. We’re looking to a very fun summer of mountain biking so pay us visit over on the new site and be sure to subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Now that Father’s Day weekend is upon us.. so is the end of the spring rafting season.  From here on out California will have some great rafting & kayaking ahead with typical summer flows on the South & Middle Forks of the American, The Tuolumne & Cherry Creek and Lower Kern.

The big question everyone is asking is… how’s the water going to be. The good news is, after a slow start California is near 100% of normal. So we’re looking at an average California rafting season.  That means fun days on the Merced, Kaweah, the Forks & Upper Kern and a whole lot more.

AS for the California Mountain biking scene, I would assume most trails are open upto 3000 – 4000 feet. No word on trail conditions at this time.

Pack up the gear and head to mountains for waist deep POW. Conditions like this won’t last long. And if you miss it.. you might be waiting till next season.

Currentlly light rain in South Lake Tahoe. There is a winter storm warning in effect from 10am – 4am Wednesday morning in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The winter storm warning is extended till 10am for Bear Valley and Mammoth.

Today’s Forecast:
Windy with rain and snow. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow level 6500 to 7000 feet. Snow accumulation 2 to 4 inches…with 6 to 12 inches above 7000 feet. Highs 39 to 49. South winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Ridge gusts up to 100 mph.

Tuesday
Windy with snow. Snow accumulation of 6 to 12 inches… with 12 to 20 inches above 7000 feet. Highs 25 to 35. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

Wednesday
Snow showers. Highs 25 to 35. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Ridge gusts up to 60 mph.

Thursday – Friday
Brisk. Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs 26 to 36. Lows 5 to 15.