General Conditions

Spring continues at Donner Summit, though weekends remain problematical.  Last weekend was chilly and damp with snow touching the higher elevations.  But mid-week continues to be good — warm and sunny.  In fact, it’s so good that the snow is melting faster than it should in a normal spring.  There’s been no new snow at the Central Sierra Snow Lab in Norden in the past week (https://cssl.berkeley.edu/).  CSSL reports 363 inches of total snowfall this season compared to a 360 inch median over 1991-2020.  Daytime highs have been in the 60s with overnight lows above freezing.  It’s possible to find good snow in the backcountry, but you may have to carry your skis or boards to reach it.  Check web cams at Sugar Bowl (http://www.sugarbowl.com/home) and Donner Ski Ranch (http://webcams.donnerskiranch.com/) for up-to-the-minute views of current conditions.

Sunrise/Sunset: Today’s (May 8) sunrise was at 5:54 AM; sunset was at 8:02 PM.  Sunrise is drifting earlier by about 8 minutes each week. Sunset is drifting later by about 7 minutes each week. The days continue to get longer — by about 2 minutes each day.  Sunrise turns around (becoming later) in early June, sunset turns around (becoming earlier) in early July.  The two cross over at the summer solstice (June 20), when we have the longest day.  We’re now getting more than 14 hours of sunshine each day.

Star Gazing: Roughly 25° above the western horizon after sunset (8:45 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, a bit west of overhead; it’s still closer to the Gemini twins, but it’s moving noticeably eastward — toward Leo (left-to-right flipped question mark).  The waxing half Moon is east of Leo; it will be full on May 12 making evening stargazing difficult for the next few days.  At midnight you should be able to spot the Big Dipper nearly overhead; the pan opens to the north and the handle stretches east.  If you’re up at 5 AM and have a good view of the eastern horizon, you should be able to spot Venus.

Forecast

For the most part, the next two weeks will continue to be spring-like (early next week is an exception).  Expect daytime highs in the 60s with overnight lows around 40°.  It will be mostly sunny.  Next Monday (May 12), the forecast includes a high temperature of 36° and an overnight low of 26°; there’s 2-4 inches of snow predicted.  It’s mostly a one-day change; but Sunday will be cooler (a high of only 55°) and Tuesday will be a “recovery” day as clouds move out and the thermometer only reaches 47°.

If you want to recreate outdoors at Donner Summit, both of the next two weekends look good.  The weekend of May 10-11 will have a high of 68° Saturday and a high of 55° on Sunday.  It will be breezy Sunday as the wet weather approaches.  The weekend of May 17-18 will have a high of 64° both days with normal winds — more consistent weather across that weekend.

Events

May 9 (Friday) 12-1 PM: Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation takes its first Deep Dive into Affordable Housing.  TTCF’s speaker, Denise Vega Karate, Housing Coordinator at Sierra Community House, shares insights into her organization’s efforts to support residents in need of housing.  Register for the Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mHRZO7TERaeGZOtNPEdmqg#/registration

May 13 (Tuesday) 6 PM: Truckee’s Chinese Railroad Story, a history talk by Jerry Blackwill at Truckee Tahoe Airport (10356 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee).  For more info, go to https://museumoftruckeehistory.org/

May 21 (Wednesday) 3-4:30 PM: A free on-line webinar about wildfire mitigation, resources available, and Firewise Communities.  Register for Truckee Fire’s Firewise Virtual Office Hours at https://www.truckeefire.org/firewise

May 23-26 (Friday-Monday): Open tavern and bar and overnight lodging available at Rainbow Lodge.  For details, go to    https://www.therainbowlodge.com/events.  Guest rooms may be booked at https://therainbowlodge.client.innroad.com/ 

May 24 (Saturday), 3-5 PM: Join DSA at Rainbow Lodge for a briefing on plans to upgrade Gould Park in Cisco Grove (https://www.placer.ca.gov/5974/Cisco-Grove-Gould-Park).  This is your chance to provide feedback on improvements that will make the park more appealing to both locals and visitors.  Proposed changes include new signs, walking paths, an artists’ corner, and a bike repair station.  Light refreshments will be provided.  If you think you might attend, please send an e-mail by May 13 to  admin@donnersummitca.com  with a head count in your party so we can plan logistics.  But come even if you didn’t send the e-mail; we want your input.  See also Gould_Park_Poster

June 7 (Saturday), 9 AM – Noon: Join the DSA for its 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.  See also  clean up flyer

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

October 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday): Donner Party Hikes.  Choose from among 8 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

Donner Ski Ranch chair lifts will run Saturdays and Sundays 9-4 “till the snow is 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

Boreal (the winter mountain) is closed for the season.   Woodward (indoors) is open Monday-Friday 1-8 PM and weekends 10 AM – 8 PM.   There will be a summer outdoor program.  Check https://www.rideboreal.com.

Auburn Ski Club is closed for the season.   Check their web site — https://www.asctrainingcenter.org — for more information.

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) offers tubing, sledding, and a rope tow terrain park. Their web site is http://www.kingvaleresort.com. For snowmobile tours, you can check the web site of their Kingvale partner at https://www.hlatours.com

Avalanche Forecast

The Sierra Avalanche Center avoided staff reductions by appealing threatened cuts at the end of this winter season.  Nonetheless SAC issued its (previously planned) 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: There are currently no chain requirements on I-80 and the forecast is generally favorable for the next two weeks.  But beware of possible snow on roads Monday, May 12 (see Forecast above).  Plan ahead by following CalTrans road reports at https://roads.dot.ca.gov. Public parking is available at California Sno-Park sites (https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23055); purchase permits in advance through the web site or at vendors on approaches to Donner Summit.

General: Paved secondary roads around the Summit should be open with no restrictions.  Off-highway vehicle routes (unpaved) will open as snow melts.