Conditions Report by Climbing Rangers:
WEEKLY CONDITIONS REPORT:
@bishopclimbingrangers
Fall is here! It’s officially that time of year. Get the pointy shoes out. Climbing Rangers will be on duty later this month.
For more information on current conditions, please visit ladwp.com/EasternSierra.
Real-time data on flow levels are available online: https://wsoweb.ladwp.com/
Patrols through the Bishop climbing areas will be starting the Bishop Climbing Ranger Season in late October.
Happy Thursday everyone! You know what that means, conditions report time! Highs in the Bishop area will be in the mid 70’s in the day with lows in the upper 50’s at night and early morning. Perfect conditions! Without further ado, here’s our report for the weekend:
Owen’s River Gorge:
Water levels are down and most of the Gorge is accessible to climb! After an extended period of high flows, some river crossings have changed and gotten a little spicier. Use caution crossing the river as always. Water flows are subject to change with little notice so check out LADWP’s release schedule on their website for the most up to date information.
Pine Creek:
The high country is seeing more frequent storms and Pine Creek has received a bit of snow and rain. We often see increased rockfall events in the canyon after storms, so it is a good idea to wear a helmet and exercise caution while climbing in Pine Creek.
Volcanic Tablelands:
Google has been sending climbers going to the Happys along the Upper McNally Canal road. The best way to go from town is via Chalk Bluff Road, and the alternate route has the potential of people getting stuck. So if you are following Google Maps, check the route before following it. As always, please drive slowly on Chalk Bluff Rd. Speeding has been an ongoing issue for us here as well.
Buttermilk Country:
Perfect climbing conditions ahead! Please do your best to drive slow, be courteous to other users, park to one side of the road, stay on trail, and park nose-in along the pullouts.
Stay Tuned for Climber Coffee 🤗
🐍 Rattlesnake Season is (still) here 🐍
Temps are rising, and rattlesnakes are on the move in the Eastern Sierra. Recent sightings have been reported in the Tablelands (Happiness & Sads), Buttermilks, Druids, and the Gorge.
Rattlesnakes aren’t aggressive, but they will defend themselves if startled. That “ch-ch-ch-ch” you hear? It’s just their way of saying: “Hey, I’m here—please don’t step on me.”
Snakes play a vital role in our ecosystem. Give them space and respect, and they’ll usually return the favor.
Stay safe out there: 👀 Watch where you step, sit, or place your hands. 🚶 Stay on trails—avoid walking through tall grass or brush. 🐶 Keep dogs leashed and close. 🎧 Skip the headphones—you’ll want to hear that warning rattle. 🪨 Approach boulders, ledges, and cracks with caution.
💉 Dog owner? Rattlesnake avoidance training and vaccines are available for dogs.👉 Bishop Veterinary Hospital is hosting a training on 4/16—call them for more info.
🚨 If bitten:
▪️Stay calm and call 911 immediately.
▪️Get to medical care as quickly as possible.📍 Northern Inyo Hospital — 150 Pioneer Ln, Bishop, CA
▪️Keep the bite below heart level on the way to the hospital.
Do NOT: ✖️ Apply ice or heat ✖️ Try to suck out the venom ✖️ Take medication, alcohol, or caffeine ✖️ Use a tourniquet
Be alert, stay safe, and enjoy the spring season responsibly.
Restoration Rundown: A Stewardship Series
How can we keep the stoke high and the impact low?
Stay on trails & designated zones: Avoid compacting the soil and trampling fragile new seedlings by sticking to established paths.
Mind your gear: Keep crash pads and equipment off restoration areas to protect regrowth. Don’t drag crashpads around because it increases erosion. Please do not tie your pets off to any vegetation as it is very fragile.
Respect restoration zones: Even if they look barren, these areas are working hard to recover. Compacting the soil makes it harder for new seeds to germinate.
Be a crag ambassador: Kindly remind fellow climbers to follow these practices. Volunteer at our stewardship events—it takes a village!☕️Bishop Climbing Rangers
Sierra Forever
ROAD CONDITIONS 📣
**For the latest information on conditions on the California State Highway System, please visit the Caltrans QuickMap website at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or download the app to your smartphone. You can also call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623). Tioga Pass is CLOSED for the season to Yosemite.
Volcanic Tablelands Geology
The martian rocks, deep canyons, and diversity of life in the otherworldly volcanic tablelands have inspired humans since first venturing into the area ~12,000+ years ago. Surprisingly, there is an incredible array of life in a place that appears rather hostile. While the desert feels tranquil today, it was born from a catastrophic volcanic explosion 🌋 more violent than any eruption humanity has witnessed. 767,000 years ago, the Long Valley Caldera erupted and 25 cubic miles of blazing hot rhyolite tephra rocketed high into the atmosphere and rained back down to Earth ☄️ in an apocalyptic scene. The crater left behind from this blast was 20 miles long, 10 miles wide, and over a mile deep. Ash from this explosion 💥 has been found as far away as Kansas and Nebraska! 125 cubic miles of blistering molten pumice raced out from the caldera soon after and smothered the landscape and all the life within it. Slowly, this material cooled and hardened into the rock we know as Bishop Tuff. Ash at the bottom compressed under the immense weight and became densely welded while the light fluffy material on top was stripped away by wind and rain. Slowly, life 🌸 came back to reclaim the area and the Owens River carved its way through the landscape, excavating the Owens River Gorge and the steep relief at the edge of the Tablelands. Faulting action combined with the eroding power of water sculpted the wonderful canyons of the Happy and Sad boulders where we climb today! 🧗
