Since Tioga Pass was open this record dry year, I set out with my son to climb Mt Dana on New Years Day.

Along the way, we were amazed to see the ice on Lake Tenaya. We stopped, and explored, watching ice skaters and dozens of people playing on the ice near the shore. (Here's a youtube video uploaded 12/18/11).

A new experience for me was hearing the continuous "bongo drumming" sound the ice was making as stress cracks were popping all over the place. Some sounded close, even right under foot, while the others were from far away.

Here's Brett on one of those trees that floats out and then the stump end sinks with the top sticking out:


We could see bubbles in the ice -- it was at least 8 inches thick.


It looks like lots of other people already knew about this rare situation... I found this picture elsewhere, taken a week or so earlier:


These signs were posted all over the place:


Others enjoying the occasion:


Oh.... right, this is a Mt. Dana trip report...
With all the above delay, we got started at 12:20 PM from Tioga Pass. It took us 3 hours to make the summit, then 30 minutes at the top to eat, take pictures, and make phone calls. And two hours to get down. Used headlamps the last half mile. We encountered 4 others on the hike. One guy said he made it up in 2 hours!

It was about 40F and windy at the top.


Found the one spot where my Sprint phone would connect (roaming mode, and with 5 bars!). "Can you hear me now?"


Good times!


More pics here.

Now I am officially jealous. Really, if I lived any closer, I'd have my backpack loaded with a 12-day bearikade and head down the JMT right now. What an opportunity, even if you end up bailing from the trail should the snow arrive in that window.

I had a firm plan to do a late season October JMT, but then the first storm of the season came early and I figured that'll be the end of it until spring, but as it appears, the weather has consprired to create the dryest trail conditions in January in ages...

If I didn't already have a trip planned for April and another for summer, I'd be on the road tomorrow...

Rogue's photos from South Lake on Dec 31 and Jan 1 just add to my thinking that a JMT hike is possible right now

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roguephotonic/sets/72157628676588107/

Yeah I feel the same way. I just really want to go do a week long hike right now to experience the backcountry in this rare condition.

Steve, we did Dana back in late July. Here's a pic from a similar perspective - what blows me away is how much more snow there was in Yosemite in late July last year versus January this year.

LOL... Pay no attention to that woman in orange on the ice!!!

Just got my safety spikes in the mail after getting home from the holidays.

I thought I recognized that lady in orange. Last time I saw you was on top of Dana and the next day I was swimming in Tenaya. I'm jealous I haven't been able to get up Tioga pass. I did do Tallac a week ago in Desolation and played on the Ice at Cathedral lake. Crazy! Fall hiking in January.

Seems like everyone but me is playing on Tenaya, even the double rainbow guy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqrbSldjXfQ

The JMT thoughts entered my mind too. Totally doable and no rain in the forecast for a couple weeks. Permits should be easy to get!

Moose - apparently your knee is better. You go girl!

This was from Monday, published on the front page of today's Fresno Bee

More pictures here:     Fresno Bee web page:   No snow in the mountains

Cannot help but notice the posted sign that read "...do not go in the ice..."

Hmmm...Vernal Falls comes to mind and those 3 people...

Just like the "Road Closed" sign heading up the Portal road.

Apeman, great to hear from you!! Yup: had surgery on the 22nd of September and have spent the fall rehabbing, including Mt. Gould 5 weeks out, Mammoth Ski opener 7 weeks out, and so on. It still aches when my legs get tired or when the weather changes (the latter is actually helpful), but I have even tried easy jogging on some downhills the past few days! Time to put this truck in gear!

Now, for some further insight to the whole lake skating thing:

This is a 7" ice screw inserted near the east end of Tenaya Lake on Christmas Eve.



I also ran into some familiar faces out there on the ice that morning:



That's Rob and Laura Pilewski, backcountry rangers stationed at Crabtree, now up at Tuolumne for the winter. (SCORE of a job!)

Whole set with vids is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics621/sets/72157628705995293/with/6630891625/

-L

Sign? What sign? I didn't see no steenkin sign?

More silliness...

http://gallery.me.com/moosetracksca#100000

Ice skating Crowley Lake... Beautiful!!!

All this fun makes me wish I had learned how to ice skate at some point in my life.

It's funny: I skated a bunch as a kid, both roller and ice, but on rinks. I roller bladed for a while after college for workouts and was really good.

But now I feel like a big galloob out there. It's a lot harder than it looks!

Never ice skated....roller bladed yes...

Wish they made...now don't get me wrong here...butt blades or butt skates...I got enough padding.

Oh, to the Lady in Orange, if you are MooseTracks where yer antlers? You are out of regalia.

Weellll... technically female moose have no antlers. Jus' sayin'.

Or I could just say they've been shed for the winter. Wish I could do the same with the padding on my behind!

(And no, it's not extra insulation for winter travel. I SO wish!!)

Maybe I should change my name to LIO...

Hey Laura

As usual you are making me jealous. Crowley looks more fun when frozen. Glad to hear your knee is doing ok. I'm 8 weeks out from my last knee surgery and despite my hiking mates having to listen to my whining I am doing pretty good. I sat on my butt for a week after surgery before doing a little careful hiking. A few aches and pains are no reason to not get out there. As tempting as it looks as long as I resist the urge to strap on some ice skates I should avoid any more trips to the hospital. That sure looks like fun.

Ape, tell me more about your Tallac hike. I may try it next week

Hey Reno Frank

This is a great opportunity to do a fall like hike in January. Keep your eye on the forecast but currently this is a mostly snow free hike. There are a few patches of tromped down snow that are now ice so hiking poles would be a good idea. Normally this is a pretty crowded trail and if you do it on a weekend you will still have lots of company. I recommend the Tallac trailhead off of hwy 89 at this time of year. In the summer I like the Glen Alpine trailhead for the ridiculous wildflower displays but remember it really is winter. The Tallac trailhead is signed off of highway 89 and is just north of the now closed visitor center. Trail is in great shape and easy to follow. It's over a 3000 foot elevation gain and bout 10 miles round trip so start early and bring water, most water sources are frozen now. You'll pass 2 small lakes along the way which will be fun to play on the ice. After Cathedral the real climbing begins until you gain a ridge and then it's an easy trail to the top with an easy rock scramble the last quarter mile. Spectacular views from the top - Tahoe to the east and a peek into the middle of Desolation wilderness and Crystal range to the west. If you are into geology the trail is really interesting. The 1st part of the trail is on a lateral moraine from the glacier that formed the valley now filled in by Fallen leaf lake. From the summit you will see 2 other similar glacial valleys-Emerald Bay and the one with Cascade Lake now in it. Have fun!