General Conditions

Temperatures were in the mid-70s a week ago, then we had a cold snap.  The high Monday was 41° and the overnight low at dawn Tuesday was 25°.  Temperatures have rebounded; yesterday’s high was 60° and the reading at sunrise today was 44°.  There’s not a cloud in the sky, but it’s a little breezy and the humidity is low. The Central Sierra Snow Lab web site (https://cssl.berkeley.edu/) has more details.

The National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning until 10 AM tomorrow (Friday) because of the winds.  PG&E cut electrical service to customers on Donner Summit at 8:15 PM last night; the agency hopes to lift the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) by noon Saturday (October 17).

There is fall color in some aspen groves, but most leaves are turning yellow, then brown and dropping to the ground.  There is additional color in shrubs and ground cover; but, even by California’s low standards, this is going to be a forgettable autumn foliage display.

Purple Air AQI around the Summit this morning was in single digits (excellent air quality), but half of the stations were not reporting because of the power outage.  There are no active fires nearby.  USFS rates fire danger in the Truckee Ranger District as “very high”; Truckee Fire rates the fire danger as “extreme”.

Sunrise/Sunset: Today’s (October 15) sunrise was at 7:11 AM, about 7 minutes later than a week ago.  Sunset will be at 6:22 PM, about 10 minutes earlier than last week.  The days are getting shorter — by about 2-1/2 minutes each day.

Star Gazing: The Moon was new last Saturday, so light from the waxing crescent Moon will hinder evening stargazing for the next 7-10 days.  However, the PG&E PSPS means there is less light from ground sources.  Saturn was at opposition on October 4 meaning it is at its brightest and is south of overhead at about midnight. Saturn is brighter than most stars, but it doesn’t compare with Venus, Mars, or Jupiter at their brightest.  With a pair of good binoculars, you may be able to make out Saturn’s rings.  As for constellations, Cassiopeia looks like a “W” rotated about 90° and well above the northeastern horizon; the Milky Way was very easy to spot last night at 11 PM between Cassiopeia and the southwestern horizon.  The Big Dipper is very low to the northwest and oriented just about right to hold water at 10 PM.

Forecast

Today will be clear with a high of 63°.  Expect an overnight low of 34°.  Days this weekend will be slightly warmer, overnight lows slightly cooler, and the wind speeds will continue to be elevated as the direction shifts from easterly to southwest.   Clouds will move in next week.  There is a 45% chance of showers on Tuesday when the high/low temperature range will drop to 47°/28°.  Clouds will persist through Thursday, but next weekend (October 24-25) looks good with mostly sunny skies and a temperature range 53°/27°.  The following work week (October 26-30) will be similar to October 19-23 with possible showers Wednesday (October 28°) and temperatures 51°/26°.  There is no sign of significant precipitation in the forecast through the end of October.

Summit News (date unspecific)

Measure T Oversight Committee: Truckee Fire seek two volunteers to fill positions on its Measure T Citizens’ Oversight Committee, which oversees use of Measure T funds.  Applications are due November 6, and terms begin January 1, 2027.  For more details and the application, go to https://form.jotform.com/252864844745066

Cannabis Dispensary: Nevada County’s Board of Supervisors (BoS) discussed selection criteria for cannabis dispensaries in the North San Juan and Soda Springs areas during their meeting in Truckee on October 6. The Board voted 4-1 to move forward with the selection process adding a requirement that any successful applicant’s proposal meet a minimum TBD score, which could be set as early as the next BoS meeting on October 20.  A recording of the meeting is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1-FyMXsew.  The cannabis discussion starts at 03:50 in the recording and ends at 05:46.

The RFA for dispensary applicants is at https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3905/Commercial-Cannabis-Dispensary-Applicati#docaccess-bbeff2aadd2f0d4c29aabb0d69227a76.  Click on “Draft: Request for Application Submittal” to see the proposal discussed by the Supervisors.  The agenda for the October 20 Supervisors’ meeting will be posted at https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=16775

Truckee Fire Fuel Reduction: Tree thinning and removal is in progress along Hampshire Rocks/Donner Pass Road between Cisco Grove and Kingvale. The goal is to improve emergency access and egress along these key roadways.

Donner Lake Rim Trail (South): The Truckee Donner Land Trust has completed 4 of a planned 15 miles of non-motorized trail on the south side of Donner Lake.  The newly completed section lies along Schallengberger Ridge.  For more information, visit https://www.truckeedonnerlandtrust.org/news-events/donner-lake-rim-trail-south-2026-update

Forestry Work around Serene Lakes: Forest health and wildfire resilience projects are in progress west of Hillside and north of Cascade/Pahatsi in Serene Lakes.  The more northerly project appears to be nearing completion.  The tree cutting west of Hillside project is done, but clean-up is still pending.

DSA is Looking for an Administrative Assistant: This person would support the Donner Summit Association Board of Directors in day-to-day operations.  Expected average work load is 10 hours per month.  Pay is $25-40 per hour depending on experience and skills.  For more information see 260725a_duties

Nevada County Calendar: Look for community events throughout Nevada County on their calendar at https://gonevadacounty.com/community-calendar/

Placer County General Plan Update: The General Plan covers many important topics, including where housing and businesses get built, how we travel around Placer County, protecting the natural environment, and providing parks and community services.  Half of Donner Summit is in Placer County.  For more information on update activities visit https://www.placer.ca.gov/10433/General-Plan-2050

Fire Safety: Fire danger on Donner Summit is currently rated as “very high” to “extreme”.  Residential burn permits, required since May 1, have been suspended throughout the Truckee Fire region.  Outdoor charcoal and wood fires — e.g., barbecues — are prohibited (gas only).   See https://www.truckeefire.org for more.

Defensible Space: A very informative Truckee Fire webinar on fire safety and defensible space is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COz0xBZ74FY&t=535s.  It runs about 51 minutes.  At least two other relevant videos — the documentary Standing Dead and a recording of a Steve Hawks (Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety) Zoom presentation — are available through the Eastern Regional Firewise Coalition web site at https://www.erfwc.org/.  You may need the passcode #2sK1jKw to view the Hawks recording.

Fire Inspections: With one exception, Donner Summit is scheduled for defensible space inspections by Truckee Fire this summer/fall.  The exception is Serene Lakes, which was inspected in 2024 and will be re-inspected in 2027.

Summit Calendar

October 15 (Thursday) 4:30-5:30 PM: DSA’s monthly Board of Directors meeting at Sugar Bowl.  For an agenda (including directions to the meeting location), go to https://www.donnersummitca.com/dsa-meetings-info/

October 15 (Thursday) 6-7 PM: Donner Summit Town Hall at Sugar Bowl’s Village Hall.  This is Placer County’s approximately quarterly community meeting where you will hear briefings from County agencies and be able to voice your opinions and concerns.  Details (including directions) are at https://www.placer.ca.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=57070

October 17 (Saturday) 9-11 AM: Join DSA for a two-hour “trail day” improving walking paths at Gould Park in Cisco Grove.  Meet at the informal parking area on Hampshire Rocks Road near its junction with Cisco Road.  More details are at poster

October 17 (Saturday): Oktoberfest at Rainbow Lodge.  Details at https://www.therainbowlodge.com/events

October 31 (Saturday) 10 AM – 8 PM): Dead Man’s Jam at Boreal/Woodward. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced skating, scooting, and BMXing.  Costumes are highly recommended.  More details at https://www.rideboreal.com/explore/community/all-events/dead-mans-jam-2026/

October 31 and November 1 (Saturday and Sunday) 10 AM – 4 PM: Tube-or-Treat at Sugar Bowl — tubing on SnowFactory-made snow, a live DJ, trick or treating, refreshments, and a costume contest.  For more information, go to https://www.sugarbowl.com/tube-or-treat

November 2 (Monday) 5 PM PST: Registration deadline for the Central Sierra Snow Science School, which will be held at Donner Summit on January 13-15, 2027 (Wednesday-Friday).  Find more details at https://www.csslsnowschool.com/

November 6 (Friday) 5 PM: Application deadline for the Measure T Oversight Committee (see above under “Summit News”).

Resorts

Boreal/Woodward: Woodward Tahoe is open Wednesday-Friday 1-8 PM, Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM – 8 PM; it is closed Monday-Tuesday.  Check https://www.rideboreal.com/explore/community/all-events/  for special events.

Sugar Bowl: Activities are limited while the new gondola is being installed.  It’s Sugar Bowl’s fourth gondola.  For a gondola history see https://www.sugarbowl.com/gondola-history.  Winter opening day November 27 (conditions permitting) has been announced.  For other news go to https://www.sugarbowl.com/home

Donner Ski Ranch: DSR’s Old 40 Bar and Grill remains open 7 days a week.  DSR offers beds, showers, and laundry to PCT thru-hikers and disc golf to anyone interested.  Thru-hikers 21 years and older can claim a 40 oz beer.  Check the DSR web site at https://www.donnerskiranch.com for more information.

Soda Springs Mountain Resort is closed for the season.  Watch  https://www.skisodasprings.com/ for news.

Royal Gorge is closed for the season.  The resort is planning a Royal Gorge XC Ski Team for winter 2026-27; for more information, see https://www.sugarbowl.com/nordic-team.  Check https://www.royalgorge.com/home for other updates.

ASC Training Center (formerly Auburn Ski Club) specializes in training for competition and sponsors events.  The ASC Training Center is closed for the season.  Check their web site — https://www.asctrainingcenter.org — for more information.

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

Avalanche Report

The Sierra Avalanche Center has posted general comments about avalanches on its website  https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/

A short report on the February 17 Perry Peak avalanche near Frog Lake has been posted at https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/observations/#/view/avalanches/83ba330a-5eb4-446e-95b0-495c26faf06b.  It points to a more in-depth report on avalanche.org.

Roads

I-80: The freeway is open and in good condition, but there are lane restrictions and ramp closures (both day and night, both east and west) that cause backups between Colfax and Truckee.  The Hwy 20 eastbound merge with I-80 eastbound is closed on some (but not all) weekdays; details can be found at https://yubanet.com/regional/next-eastbound-hwy-20-closure-scheduled-in-nevada-county/.  Other restrictions are relaxed on weekends but not completely gone.  Plan ahead by following CalTrans reports at https://roads.dot.ca.gov.  Check I-80 webcams at https://caltranscameras.app/cameras/route/I-80

General: Paved secondary roads around the Summit should be in good condition.  Rattlesnake Canyon Road (FR85) north from Cisco Grove was closed for four years starting in 2024 for construction at Fordyce Dam.