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.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday because of three years of below-average rain and snowfall in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20%.

Looking back at water info dating back to 2006…

• 2006 was an above average year and saying it that is understatement. 2006 was huge which and left California with full reservoirs going into the 2007 winter season.
• 2007 was a pretty bad winter leaving California with something like 50% or less in some areas.
• 2008 wasn’t all that bad…  with 80% – 95%.
• 2009… some are estimating that California might end up with an 80% year.

Yes the state is in shortage of water. Californians should have stopped watering their lawns a couple of years ago. But they didn’t and now the state is in a water crisis.

Just because there is a drought doesn’t mean there isn’t good rafting. Water still has to flow through the canyons to generate power and to supply drinking water and irrigation. With below average reserviors the water still flows but tightly controlled. Unfortunately when the Govonor cries drought the state goes into a panic and automatically assumes that rafting won’t be a fun option this summer… that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

If California ends up with an 80% year, Spring runs will be shorter than normal. Dam controlled rivers like the South Fork and Middle Fork American  will most likely have water 4-5 days a week with timed releases long enough & high enough to make your way down the river and enjoy the thrill of real California whitewater.

The most important thing to remember is that its only March 1st.  In 2006 the rain/snow season extended into May. So to start assuming that the 2009 rafting is gonna suck is way out of line. There is rain & snow in the forecast through Friday March 6th. And hopefully March & April will be just as fruitful as February.

Last Piece purchased for South Fork American River Trail

The American River Conservancy has been fund raising for several years now for purchase land along the South Fork American to connect Coloma and Folsom Lake via a hiking / mtn biking trail.

This is great news that they have acquired the last piece of land and trail work to finish the final four miles is scheduled to begin in April of this year and be completed in 2010.