Update After Yosemite
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Yosemite National Park Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update - Winter Weather has Returned to the Sierra Details Last Updated: Thursday, 11 March 2021 06:01. Amador County, CA Amador County Public Health reports 22 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total laboratory confirmed case count to 1,570, and 2 additional deaths since last Tuesday’s update. The individuals who passed were one male and one female, both in their 70s. The Fresno Yosemite International Airport opened as a military airfield in June 1942, just six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, leading the United States to enter World War II. The new airfield was named Hammer Field and was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training facility for the new pilots of the Fourth Air Force.
New snow: 7 inches
Total settled snow depth: 41 inches (at 8,600 feet)
High temperature: 51°F (March 5)
Low temperature: 4°F (March 9)
Ski Conditions and Weather
March 11, 2021 - By Laura and Rob Pilewski - Winter weather has returned to the Sierra. Although the week started warm and dry, as of this writing a cold low pressure system is bringing snow showers and below-average temperatures to the area. While skiing across Tuolumne Meadows yesterday, a short-lived, but very impressive, cloud burst left a fresh blanket of three inches of snow in its wake within only an hour’s time. The old snow surface was overdue for a refresher as the warm and dry spell had left a textured melt freeze crust on the surface making for challenging ski conditions during certain times of the day. The snow has been supportable, but not quite in its spring skiing glory yet. This new snow will result in a delay to the spring ski conditions and a return to more of a winter feel for now.
Left photo: Ragged Peak and Young Lake on March 2, 2021. Right photo: Wind and snow patterns on Lake Helen Pass on March 5, 2021.
We took advantage of the good touring conditions this week to continue our wildlife surveys, as it was much easier to cover the miles and travel farther from the Tuolumne Meadows patrol area. While the ski conditions were good at and below tree line, the high alpine continues to be wind affected. Above tree, line the snow surface is firm and very textured. This was most evident as we skied through the Roosevelt Lake basin this week on a surface resembling a “frozen ocean.” The “waves” that were formed by the wind were frozen in time and made for a pretty bumpy ride on skis.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions
Please refer to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) for the avalanche advisory for this part of the Sierra Nevada.
The avalanche hazard has increased over the past 24 hours due to the new snow and wind. The primary hazard now is from wind slab avalanches. Strong south west winds during this weather system have caused wind slabs to form primarily on north and east aspects. Travelers should be particularly attentive to terrain and aspect. The firm and slick snow surface that existed prior to the new snowfall could make for a good bed surface for wind slabs, as well as, loose snow avalanches in steeper terrain.
Mt. Conness and Roosevelt Lake on March 3, 2021.
Wildlife
We have reliably seen a couple of Clark’s nutcrackers out and about foraging most days this winter. Not unlike Lewis and Clark (the latter of whom this bird is named after) and the Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers, they got their caches in order long before the snow fell. Unlike us humans, however, they hid their caches in “…as many as 5,000…” different locations (Strycker, 2014). And, they don’t rely on a GPS to find them. These intelligent corvids have the capacity to remember spatially where the majority of their (typically) white bark pine seeds were placed the fall prior. So, although we may not pause and admire the squawk and demeanor of these birds, we certainly can appreciate their capacity for memory. Remember that next time you misplace your keys!
General Information
The Tuolumne Meadows Ski Hut is closed for the 2020-2021 season.
Rob and Laura Pilewski - Tuolumne Meadows Winter Rangers
Looking down Lyell Canyon on March 5, 2021.
Source: NPS
The first webcam was put into use for a matter of utmost importance — coffee. Yes, it was the hard-working researchers at Cambridge University who, in 1991, installed a remote camera to monitor their coffee pot thus insuring no fruitless trips to the break room. Priorities, right? Well, our virtual gaze has come a long way. From weather forecasting to wildlife protection to simply chatting with friends and family on FaceTime, the webcam’s applications have become far-ranging. And when it comes to travel, these mini spectators provide an invaluable window into worlds we yearn to explore.
While there is no substitute for feeling the mist from Yosemite Falls kiss your face or watching the moon rise over Half Dome, while there’s no stand-in for scrambling up Lembert Dome or being engulfed by wildflowers while strolling the Hite Cove Trail – the more you can see of Mariposa Yosemite, the more you’ll want to come. So here they are. A compendium of killer views ranging from spartan to sublime with one purpose and one purpose only — to inspire your next unforgettable visit.
Because these webcams are operated by different organizations, the refresh rate may vary. Try clicking refresh to update the webcam view. If the view is black, please note that it may be nighttime.
Half Dome Webcam
With its powerful, sheer face backed by a near-perfect rounded form, standing before Half Dome is almost like consulting some ancient, hooded God. This Yosemite icon rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444 m) above the valley floor and can be summited (with permit) using the Cable Route. This shot is taken from the Ahwahnee Meadow just east of Yosemite Village. Bonus points for spotting wildlife scampering into view!
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
High Sierra Webcam
Rising 8,127 feet (2,477 m), the aptly-named Sentinel Dome stands guard over the Yosemite high country with 360 degrees of pure clarity. This view is hard to beat: Half Dome posing boldly in the foreground, Cloud’s Rest whispering over her shoulder; the peaks — Tenaya, Tressider, Echo and Fletcher just to name a few — standing proudly in the back row like some all-geology team photo. If you want to come enjoy this view in-person the hike is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round-trip with a modest elevation gain of approximately 400 feet (122 m).High Sierra (View from Sentinel Dome)
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
Yosemite Falls Webcam
The tallest waterfall in North America, majestic Yosemite Falls (2,424 feet) is the focal point of the Park’s natural beauty. Fed by snowmelt, the gentle flow becomes a torrent in spring before peaking early summer. Come meditate on the footbridge at the base of the falls, position your tripod to capture a moonbow or lace up your boots and hike to the top. So much to do!
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
El Capitan Webcam
Pictured on the left of the screen, El Capitan soars 3,000 vertical feet from the Yosemite Valley floor. A magnet for photographers and rock climbers alike, El Capitan’s imposing face seems to defy gravity as it frames the quintessential view of Half Dome in the near distance.
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
Turtleback Dome Webcam
Provided by the National Park Service
Badger Pass Ski Area Webcam
Provided by Yosemite Hospitality
Next Update After Yosemite 10.10
Merced River Webcam at Happy Isles
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite Webcam
Nestled in the woods just two miles from Yosemite’s South Gate, this organically modern all-season resort offers rooms, suites and cabins, not to mention a full bar named for a mythological varmint, the Ascent Spa and a Tesla charging station. The view from this webcam is over the Tenaya’s roof northwest towards the town of Fish Camp (hidden by the pines). Bring the family for a guided nature hike, the nightly Dive-In Movies poolside or just a place to relax in comfort after a full day of exploring Yosemite National Park.
Provided by Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite
UC Merced Yosemite Field Station Webcam (in Wawona)
Provided by U.C. Merced Yosemite Field Station.
Big Creek Meadow Webcam
Provided by Big Creek Inn
Tuolumne Meadows Webcam
Operated by the Tuolumne Meadows Store, this seasonal webcam (approximately June through September) looks west towards Fairview Dome. John Muir called this prominent bubble of granite “one of the most striking and best-preserved of the domes” in Yosemite. At 9,728 feet (2,965 m), Fairview Dome sits about 4 miles west of the high-country hub Tuolumne Meadows, a popular launching point for numerous hikes of varying distance and difficulty.
(Note: this webcam was inactive during the 2020 season.)
Yosemite West
A vital function of webcams today is wildfire prevention, and ALERTWildfire has been building a consortium of universities, counties and public utilities towards this goal. By placing these cameras throughout the western States, the agency has created a team of virtual fire-spotters that have helped provide critical information for over 600 fires since their 2013 inception. The Yosemite West camera is located near the historic town of El Portal in beautiful Mariposa County and gazes eastward toward Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite West:
(operated by P,G & E)
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Mount Bullion
Mariposa County’s mining history infuses the landscape around Mount Bullion where the Princeton Mine once flourished. Discovered in 1852, the Princeton was part of the original Las Mariposas land grant owned by John C. Fremont and at times was the largest gold producer in California. This sweeping view looks out across the rolling foothills to the southeast and beyond towards the town of Mariposa.
Mt. Bullion:
(operated by PG&E)
Buckhorn Peak
Perched above Highway 49, this camera sits at the summit of Buckhorn Peak (3,763 feet/1,147 meters) and scans the Sierra foothills southwest not far from where John Muir made his first “ramble” from San Francisco up to Yosemite. Come follow in Muir’s footsteps and explore the wonders of Mariposa Yosemite from its natural beauty to its deep history.
Buckhorn Peak:
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(operated by P, G & E)