3 days + 0 lakes = enough ( now with pics)

Was supposed to get off work early friday but couldn't get done at the office until 5:30. Finished packing the truck and hit the road with the girlfriend about 6:15. Headed over Sonora pass in heavy rain about 15 miles from Sonora. The rain let up around Clark's Fork and turned in to heavy fog with some light snow. By the time I made the summit it was full on white out up there. The eastern slope wasn't too bad yet. Another hour or two and I would have not made it over. The road was closed shortly after I passed through. I knew I bought a 4x4 for a reason. I get off 108 and on to 395 with snow on my heals. I tore down the 4 miles of dirt road to Obsidian Campground. Threw the BBQ, two rubbermaid tubs of camping gear out of the truck and inflated the air matress as the snow started to catch up again. 10:30 lights out. Didn't sleep well between the girlfriend trying to get comfortable and the dog doing the same.

Saturday morning:


Girlfriend says she's cold, which it was rather cold at this point but not bad under the two sleeping bags and dog in the campershell.  Droggy I dropped the tailgate to let the dog out and it won't open all the way...what the hell? There was about 6" of snow on the bumper and covering everything else around. I tell the girlfriend to layer up before getting out and deliver clothes from the cab area. Have some breakfast rice with the rest of the family that was up since Friday morning. Just glad I wasn't in one of the tents!
Scope out the stream which is high and muddy as the snow was melting pretty fast and causing a good amount of run off. Shortly before lunch hit the 4x4 trail towards Emma lake. There were still some major snow drifts from the winter snow blocking the road. Managed to punch through all but one drift, about 150 feet from the end. No shovel and I was spinning all 4 wheels. 







Sunday:


The snow came early saturday night and didn't stop until late sunday morning. Pretty much the same routine as the day before. Temp was in the mid 20's rather than low 30's and not all the snow melted off. Measured 7" in some areas. All other campers other than my family left the campground. My gear was starting to soak through in the snowy hell. Girlfriend's jack was shot at this point. Sunday afternoon the snow came again around 2:30 and didn't let up until monday morning. Two of the tents collapsed over night.

Monday:



Woke up cold and damp. Packed up the gear. Ate breakfast and headed home. Defeated by 8" - 10" of snow on the ground. Sonora pass was closed so I had to come home over Carson pass.

-Brian G

Good report Brian, sorry to hear the weather didn't cooperate...I was rooting for you.

Liz and I had a run in with the snow over Donner Pass Sunday evening too.  Good thing we went through when we did because it looked like it was just going to get worse.

Ouch... you missed it by one week. What a difference a week makes huh???

Freddie

Nice blizzard report!  What month is it?!...   

Wow Brian, sounds fun yet miserable at the same time. Probably an unexpecting surprise, sucks you had to take an alternate route home. My dad got stuck in the same storms up above Yosemite. Glad you made it out of the slippery stuff.

Jeff

Just more proof of global COOLING... wait a minute, what?

Close by, I was staying at a friends house in Carson City. Sunday we fished all day at Indian Creek Reservoir. It rained most of the day, but when the rain was pouring was the only time the fish were biting. Looking up in the hills I could tell it was snowing hard. You should have tried to drop some altitude, but you guys get an "A" for effort for trying to tough it out. Like you, I kept thinking there's no way it was going to keep snowing 

Just more proof of global COOLING... wait a minute, what?

Coldest Memorial weekend in 28 years for me! Despite the snowfall over the weekend there wasn't much in terms of snow pack from left from the winter. Could be a dry year up there.

-Brian G

Not good... Lack of snow pack means low lakes by summers end.  At least the boat ramps being high and dry limits the power boaters...

Didn't know of anyone else who went to Emma Lake. I have camped on the lake a couple of times.
Can you say FOUR season tent????

Usually lots of thundershowers and very light dusting of snow, but not like what I experienced up there.

Ever been to Anna lake? Go to the end of the little walker canyon, climb the ridge to west and drop in to Anna lake.

-Brian G

Yep,

It was a good decision to stay down in the foothills this past weekend, and skip the camping trip up in the mountains Good for you to go out and brave it.

Scott

that read like a major bummer.....but you and the GF made the best of it! Gettin all piss'd dosen't help the conditions you were delt. Imagine those who were gonna be roughin it for the weekend.

You get an A+ for reporting&pic shottin during this threeday event.
Thanks for confirming my plan to NEVER PLAN on a major threeday weekend.
SOMETHINGalwaysFRICKSitUP!