General Conditions

Summer-like weather continues at Donner Summit with mostly sunny skies and daytime high temperatures in the 60s and low 70s; overnight lows are around 40° (https://cssl.berkeley.edu/).  Webcams at Sugar Bowl (http://www.sugarbowl.com/home) and Donner Ski Ranch (http://webcams.donnerskiranch.com/) show rapidly retreating snow cover.  Van Norden Meadow has no snow (but lots of water).  There is still snow in sheltered spots, however — almost 100% cover from I-80 over Castle Pass to Round Valley with as much as six feet in places.  The snow is slippery and sun cups make walking tiring; but walking is what most people are doing — often with walking sticks or ski poles..

Sunrise/Sunset: Today’s (May 29) sunrise was at 5:37 AM; sunset will be at 8:20 PM.  Sunrise is drifting earlier by about 4 minutes each week. Sunset is drifting later by about 5 minutes each week. The days continue to get longer — but now by only about a minute each day.  Sunrise turns around (becoming later) in early June, sunset turns around (becoming earlier) in the first week of July.  The two cross at the summer solstice (June 20) when we have the longest day.  We’re now getting 14:43 of sunshine each day.

Star Gazing: Roughly 20° above the western horizon after sunset (9 PM) you should be able to spot Jupiter, which is now the brightest star-like object in that part of the sky. At the same time, look for Mars; it’s closing on Leo (a left-to-right flipped question mark) after leaving Gemini.  The Moon was new on May 26; evening star gazing will be more difficult for the next week.  At midnight you should be able to spot the Big Dipper nearly overhead; the pan opens to the northeast and the handle stretches southeast.  If you’re up at 5 AM and have a good view of the eastern horizon, you should be able to spot Venus.

Forecast

Conditions should be pretty stable over the next week — upper 60s or low 70s during the day and around 40° overnight.  There is a mini-heat wave tomorrow and Saturday, however; expect highs of 81° Friday and 79° Saturday before low 70s Sunday.  Skies will be sunny; probabilities of precipitation are in single digits for almost every day in the next 14.  Use sun protection when outdoors — especially when on snow.

If you want to recreate outdoors at Donner Summit, the next two weekends look very good.  High will be around 80° this weekend (May 31 – June 1) and 75° next weekend.

Events

May 31 (Saturday) Noon – 3 PM: Sierra Meltdown at Woodward Tahoe (aka Boreal) opens the summer season for skateboarders and scooter and bike riders.  This community celebration kicks off summer with open park access, cash prizes, giveaways, music, free food and beverages, and casual challenges designed to get everyone involved.  For more information, go to https://www.rideboreal.com/explore/community/all-events/sierra-meltdown-25/

June 1 (Sunday): Possible “soft” opening of Summit Soups in rental space next to the Soda Springs Post Office.  Opening depends on whether the owners (Jesse Hick and Anthony Olson) finish their remodeling and final inspections are completed.  The plan is to have a couple main dishes and a couple soups each day (one of each vegetarian) made from ingredients supplied by local farms.  If not June 1, soon after.

June 7 (Saturday), 9 AM – Noon: Join DSA for the annual Summit Clean-Up Day.  Wear sturdy footwear; bring gloves and sun protection.  Sign-in at the Soda Springs General Store 9-10 AM; get an area assignment and supplies.  Return to the Store for a free lunch after dropping trash in a local dumpster (provided).  For more info, text 530-448-1837 or see  clean up flyer

June 10 (Tuesday) 6 PM: Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, a history talk by Ron Grove at Truckee Tahoe Airport (10356 Truckee Airport Rd., Truckee).  For more info, go to https://museumoftruckeehistory.org/

June 20 (Friday): This Play Forever Friday is also the planned opening day for all mountain bike parks and trails at Boreal/Woodward.  Get a day pass for $25, and $5 goes to a local charity.  For more information, check https://www.rideboreal.com/explore/community/all-events/play-forever-friday-062025/

July 4 (Friday) 9:40 AM: Firecracker Mile in Truckee — a benefit race supporting the Auburn Ski Club Legacy Foundation.  For more information and registration, go to https://www.asctrainingcenter.org/events-races/truckee-firecracker/

July 11 (Friday) 6-9 PM: Join the South Yuba River Citizens League for their annual Wild for the Yuba dinner and auction in Nevada City — a benefit for SYRCL’s scholarship program.  For more information and tickets, go to https://yubariver.org/

July 12 and 13 (Saturday and Sunday): Trails and Vistas Art Hikes — A fusion of art experiences and forest immersion.  Guides lead small groups from one performance setting to the next, where award-winning musicians, dancers, poets, and visual artists present their works.  For more information, go to https://www.trailsandvistas.org.

July 19 (Saturday) 2 PM – ??: Dance Party in the cul de sac at the west end of Allen Drive in Serene Lakes.  Music by the Rock-O-Holics, ice cream at intermission.  Bring chairs and drinks; a donation for the band would be appreciated.

July 21-25 (Monday-Friday): Water Week Science Camp by Headwaters Science Institute at Serene Lakes gives children ages 5-12 a chance to explore nature while having fun in the mountain environment.  For more information, go to https://headwatersscienceinstitute.org/science-camp/summer-camps/

July 31-August 1 (Monday-Friday): Plants and Wildflowers Science Camp by Headwaters Science Institute at Serene Lakes gives children ages 5-12 a chance to explore nature while having fun in the mountain environment.  For more information, go to https://headwatersscienceinstitute.org/science-camp/summer-camps/

August 4-8 (Monday-Friday): Animals and Insects Science Camp by Headwaters Science Institute at Serene Lakes gives children ages 5-12 a chance to explore nature while having fun in the mountain environment.  For more information, go to https://headwatersscienceinstitute.org/science-camp/summer-camps/

October 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday): Donner Party Hikes.  Choose from among eight Saturday hikes with a guide who provides historical commentary.   Distances range from 2 to 6 miles.  There will be a Sunday tour at Alder Creek and an exploration at Donner Memorial State Park.  For more information and registration, go to https://donnerpartyhike.com/general-information/

Resorts

Boreal/Woodward (indoors) is open Monday-Friday 1-8 PM and weekends 10 AM – 8 PM.   There are a number of other possibilities ranging from 2-hour sessions to 5-day action camps.  Check https://www.rideboreal.com

Auburn Ski Club is closed for the season.   Check their web site — https://www.asctrainingcenter.org — for more information.  Pull down the “Events and Races” tab for information on the 4th of July Truckee Firecracker benefit race.

Donner Ski Ranch has closed for the season — “The snow has gone.”   DSR’s Old 40 Bar and Grill is open daily from 8 AM. Check the DSR web site at https://www.donnerskiranch.com

Sugar Bowl winter operations are closed for the season.  For summer activities, check  https://www.sugarbowl.com

Soda Springs Mountain Resort is closed for the season.  For more information, visit https://www.skisodasprings.com/

Royal Gorge is closed for the season.  Check http://www.royalgorge.com/home for more information.

Kingvale Resort (on the south side of I-80 at exit 171) is closed for the season.

Avalanche Forecast

The Sierra Avalanche Center issued its final avalanche forecast on April 19.  The forecast advised caution where heavy wet snow overlies weak layers, especially on steeper slopes.  Check the SAC web site (https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org) for details.

Roads

I-80: The forecast is generally favorable for the next two weeks, but be alert to construction and lane closures.  There are at least three possible choke points eastbound — the worst between Kingvale and Soda Springs.  You can get onto “Old 40” at Cisco Grove and drive at a more leisurely pace along Hampshire Rocks Road and Donner Pass Road all the way to Truckee.  Plan ahead by following CalTrans road reports at https://roads.dot.ca.gov.

General: Paved secondary roads around the Summit should be open with no restrictions.  Off-highway vehicle routes (unpaved) will open as snow melts.  Roadside snow along I-80 begins at about 5500 ft elevation.