Snow levels in the Grenadiers?

[Tim Edinger]

Anyone been down to Vestal, Arrow or the Trinity Peaks in the last month? I'm planning a trip down there over Memorial Day weekend and am interested in accounting for the snowpack. Wondering if I'll need snowshoes to get up to Vestal Basin?

[dehrlich101]

Haven't been down there recently but here is the SNOTEL sight for Bear Town and Molas Lake. They are kinda close to the Grenadiers.

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/reportGene ... AVG::value

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/reportGene ... AVG::value

Snowpack update map - It changes daily.

ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/CO/Snow/s ... e_snow.pdf

[Vincopotamus]

Not sure about the Grenadiers, but the snowline in the 550 corridor around Coal Bank and Molas passes is around 9,000-10,000 ft right now, depending on aspect. The snowpack in this corner of the state is about 70-80% of normal, so I'd expect a little less snow that average for Memorial Day weekend. You can check on previous San Juan trip reports from that weekend to get an idea of what typical conditions are that time of year.

[DArcyS]

You can go to CalTopo and overlay the snotel sites. Clicking on a snotel site allows you to see real time snowpack values that were just taken hours ago. You can gauge the rate of melting as well because temperature values are also provided. The link below is a shortcut link I have on my computer. I guess I like watching the paint dry, the grass grow, and the snow melt.

http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.67827 ... map&a=sntl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;