See-AIR-uh...early June snow coverage from the air

[rams]

I flew from SLC to OAK to look for housing for an upcoming move and got a plane's eye view of different areas, all with impressive snow coverage. On June 2nd I flew over the northern Yosemite/Hoover Wilderness areas. The return flight on June 4th connected in LAS and thus flew over the Courtright Reservoir, LeConte Divide, Bishop Creek, and Palisades. Since people might be planning backpacking trips based on snow coverage, I figured I'd post some pics from the plane. They're from a cell phone so they won't be the most beautiful.

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[wildhiker]

These photos show an impressive snowpack! Thanks for posting.
Phil

[Jimr]

Thank you for posting as well. I love picking out features in each.

[SSSdave]

Whenever I fly over the range, do the same thing and always am recognizing much from my map knowledge. Image annotated "Lake Sabrina is in the bottom left corner..." took some time for me to sort out as my orientation was rotated haha. And there be The Hermit and Goddard and Columbine.

People thinking they will be hiking our high country before mid July need to wake up. thanks.
David

[cgundersen]

Hi Rams,
Wow, very helpful. My wife & I have been contemplating a trip this month and even though we generally love snow, this looks like way too much love. I agree with Dave that unless you're game to spend a huge chunk of every day post-holing, it will be a month or more before things open up at higher elevation.
cameron

[sambieni]

Nice photos. Duly noted. Rethinking my July 4 weekend plans...

[Matthewkphx]

So cool to pick out familiar places! Thank you for posting these! I'm having trouble locating Wanda Lake. Do I have it right in this photo?

[Hobbes]

Yep, that's Wanda. You can see Muir pass to the left (under Mt Solomons), and then Helen and LeConte cyn.

To the bottom right of Sabrina, you can see the frozen upper Lamarck lake, and oddly enough, a large clearing below Larmarck col. Mt Darwin dominates the area between Wanda & Lamarck, with the route showing through snowy Darwin basin down to the clear Evolution valley.

Really great photos - thanx for posting them.

[B.Kruger]

Wow! Thanks for posting, and for the helpful captions. I'm not shocked to see the clearing below Lamarck col- I went in over it last season and found it to be an odd combination of blazing sun and blasting wind. But looks like it'll be a good while before Darwin Basin is clear enough for an enjoyable descent to Evo valley this year.

[Matthewkphx]

Ok. In today's edition of "can Matthew identify lakes in the Sierra from aerial photos?" we have Midnight and Moonlight lakes. Do I win a prize?