Well, those April showers are bringing us… more May showers. Its lookin’ like another wet weekend in Payahuunadu! For an area that sees ~300 days of sunshine a year, we shouldn’t complain! The wildflowers, fairy shrimp, and amphibians of the high desert are living it up! While a rainy-day jaunt out in the beautiful Eastern Sierra is always worthwhile, don’t expect to get much rock wrastlin’ in. If you decide to get out, the wildflowers are poppin’, the crowds are gone, and you just might be treated to just enough of a weather window to pull down on some stone. If not, our friends at @sagetosummit have some fine plastic to stay fit on. As usual for this time of year, rattlesnakes are very active in Buttermilk Country, the Volcanic Tablelands, and the Owens River Gorge! Be sure to watch your pets and give these animals their space.
Here’s what you can expect:
Buttermilk Country:
Rain likely from Saturday afternoon into Monday morning. The mudhole to the Pollen Grains/Get Carter is almost certainly going to worsen. We recommend everyone walk in from Buttermilks main to access these areas until it dries out.
Volcanic Tablelands:
You guessed it… rain, but less of it at least! Locals and early bird weekend warriors just might find enough time to climb here tomorrow and Saturday morning before the weather rolls in. Regardless, there’s lots of blooms and life to see in the tablelands this time of year!
Owens River Gorge:
Under rainy conditions, rockfall can be more frequent and helmets are recommended if you choose to venture out here. Use extra caution around the bottom of the Central Gorge Descent trail where a wet weather waterfall can often form unexpectedly. Stinging nettle is very prolific in the gorge this time of year, so pants and long sleeves are recommended for areas near the river. It is particularly bad in the Eldorado Roof and Gorgeous Tower areas.
Pine Creek:
Wind and rain and snow and no fun 🙁The snow last weekend was quick to melt, so Pine Creek won’t be out for long!
Climber Coffee:
Rain or shine, come get yer climber coffee at the PV Pit Saturday from 9-11am!
The Bishop Area Climbing Rangers represent a collaboration among the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Inyo National Forest (INF), L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Bishop Area Climbers Coalition (BACC), Bishop Chamber of Commerce (BCC), Sierra Forever (formerly Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association or ESIA), and Friends of the Inyo (FOI) to promote climbing conservation in the Bishop, CA, Area – specifically in Pine Creek, the Buttermilks, the Volcanic Tablelands, and the Owens River Gorge. Climbing Rangers support local land managers and supporting organizations by performing a variety of tasks to preserve and maintain our cherished local climbing landscapes.