Pear Lake Winter Hut

At the Pear Hut, there is currently between 2 and 3 feet of snow on the ground. A rain event last weekend created a persistent, breakable crust on all aspects of the basin. This crust results in “grabby” conditions that make turning difficult. Hut guests should expect to walk most of the way from the Wolverton parking lot to the Hump. The path is icy, so traction devices such as Yaktrax or microspikes are recommended.

Santa delivered just what we wanted for xmas. 7” of fresh powder on top of an already decent base at the Pear Hut. With various warming and rain events this last week, there are a few buried but reactive crusts to keep an eye on. As always plenty of friendly lower angle blue square runs in the front yard and down to the marble fork. Spectacular views and fast touring throughout the tablelands. On the way in the road is icy, snow chains or snow tires and 4wd required. Expect to be walking on snow from the trailhead until the top of the hump (4 miles, 2000ft elevation gain) where coverage gets good enough to start sliding. Still a bit sharky, but abundant easy turns to be had in open areas.

Coverage is variable from the Wolverton parking lot to the Hump. The snow is sparse enough that most parties will prefer to walk until reaching the top of the Hump. From the Hump to the Hut, the ground is nearly covered with snow ranging from 6 inches to 2 feet deep. Many rocks still protrude above the snow, so ski lines must be chosen with caution. Riding conditions vary, with preserved soft snow in some areas and breakable wind and sun crusts in others. Decent riding conditions can be found, though additional snowfall would improve coverage. Conditions above 9,500 feet have not yet been assessed.

The trail to the Hump is dirt, then slippery and frozen snow in the shade, appropriate for micro-spikes.  From the Hump to the hut is deep snow.  Snow conditions at the Pear Lake Hut: currently over 2’ of snow is on the ground up at Pear Lake.  Surface conditions can be described as crusty and wind-scoured.   Pleasant ski conditions can be found on the warmer south-facing slope aspects during the warmest part of the day.

A recent weather event brought both snowfall and rain, adding 8 inches of wet, heavy snow to the Pear Lake Basin. This new snow layer is unstable, frequently collapsing under weight and producing significant “whompfing” sounds, with radiating cracking clearly visible. Hut guests should expect to walk the first two to three miles from the parking lot before transitioning to skis.

Storm totals from the February 6th and 7th storm read 8 inches on the snow stake behind the Pear Lake Winter Warming Hut. The rest of the forecasted 3 feet of snow came down as rain, encasing tree branches in ice all the way to treeline. This created firm and icy conditions throughout the area to the highest elevations of the Tablelands. While shredding conditions were sub par, many guests enjoyed themselves on scenic tours. The hard pack conditions felt like skiing on groomed runs. Ski crampons were the tool to have for ascending moderate slopes. Microspikes were also helpful on the icy bootpack up from Wolverton, which is skiable to the hump from the Panther Gap turn off. Temperatures dipped down to a low of 13 degrees F but the company, cooking, and colorful sunsets kept us warm (with help from Tinkles and our sleeping bags).

The Greek goddess of snow, Khione, smiled on the Pear Lake area this week. Starting Wednesday night, we received almost 40 inches of snow, falling at 1 inch per hour for 40 hours. The storm came in warm with many small snowflakes, creating a dense snowpack. Everyone got out to enjoy some real storm skiing and made strong connections with each other while in the hut, drinking warm beverages and minding ‘Tinkles,’ our finicky and beloved pellet stove. Post-storm, the hut filled with guests enthusiastic to travel throughout the basin.

Trail conditions:

Snow coverage starts at the wolverton trailhead. Warm days have begun transitioning the snowpack, which is firm in the morning and slush by afternoon. Some slab avalanche activity has been observed in the basin and travelers should continually re-evaluate safety throughout the day and week. This recent snow fell on top of a rain/ice layer.

With recent snowfall, overnight lows in the low to mid-30s, and daytime highs reaching 50°F, the snowpack hasn’t fully consolidated into a corn cycle. Expect soft, heavy snow that turns slushy on sun-exposed slopes by midday, while shaded areas remain firmer but inconsistent. Some breakable crust may form overnight. These conditions create a variable snowpack. There is currently just enough snow to start skinning from the Wolverton parking lot, but travelers may be more comfortable in boots and gaiters, possibly with microspikes in the morning, for the first mile of the trail.

22 inches of snow fell the last two days with fresh power all the way to the trailhead.  Expect transforming conditions as warmer seasonal temps return later this week.  With the fresh snow and changing weather, avalanche knowledge and equipment are essential.  Many small (4′) natural avalanches on E NE aspects were observed.

Spring has arrived! Bird songs are in the air, the Marble Fork of the Kaweah has opened up and the days are long; cold plunge anyone? Warmer daytime temperatures are turning the snow in the Pear Lake area to slush but has not transitioned it to corn just yet. Be on the lookout for rollerballs and pinwheels, signs of impending wet slide avalanches. Be particularly careful on steeper slopes if temperatures do not go below freezing at night. There is continuous snow from Wolverton to the hut, but high temperatures in the forecast will raise the snowline rapidly.

Road and Safety Information
For current Weather and Road Conditions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, call (559) 565-3341, and press 1.

Be sure to:
–understand the road between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks is closed for the winter.  All travel to trailhead must go through Three Rivers, CA using SR198.
–check the weather: conditions can change quickly in the Sierra!

For weather updates visit:
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-118.6669349586591&lat=36.60239215572939

For current park conditions visit:
— check the park conditions
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Be prepared!
— have tire chains in your vehicle

Important Reminders for Registered Hut Visitors:

• Please understand the road between Kings Canyon and Sequoia is closed due to winter road conditions. Check road conditions before you embark on your journey.
• You must have a wilderness permit. Permits are free and can be filled out at Giant Forest Museum at any time. The registration box is outside the museum, just to the south of the front doors.
• When considering any adventure, plan for the safety of the least experienced person in your group.
• When in doubt, don’t go out! Let’s have a safe season everyone!

You are responsible for your safety.

Natural areas present hazards. Cold temperatures, icy or uneven ground, wild animals, biting insects, and changing weather conditions all pose dangers. Rocks roll, trees topple, and limbs drop without warning. People create other hazards with campfires, traffic, snow play, and poor decisions.

Understanding and preparing for the risks is a critical part of every trip to a National Park; visit www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/safety to learn more.

WILDERNESS PERMITS
Wilderness permits are required year-round for all overnight trips in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ wilderness, including the Pear Lake Winter Hut. For your own safety, you are required to fill out a free wilderness permit at the Giant Forest Museum (self-service kiosk open 24 hours) so that your travel plans are submitted to the National Park Service.

SAFETY STATEMENT & AVALANCHE RISK
The trip to the hut is for experienced backcountry skiers and snowshoers only. It should not be attempted by beginner skiers or snowshoers. The trail is steep and includes a 2,000-foot elevation gain in six miles. A fun outing with good snow conditions can easily turn into an eight or more hour ordeal with poor weather or bad snow. Low clouds and whiteouts are common, which can make following the trail very difficult. Not everyone makes it to the hut as planned. We recommend starting out on the trail as early as possible. It is essential that survival equipment be taken. For your safety, it is advised that you review the “what to bring” checklist provided and be prepared for your trip. All equipment should be in excellent condition, and all winter backcountry users should be familiar with proper avalanche techniques. Avalanche conditions exist at all times on the trail to Pear Lake. Users are ultimately responsible for assessing the dangers and determining if they should proceed on their trip or cancel it. Hut visitors travel to the hut and use the facility at their own risk. A refund will not be issued because of a winter storm.

Please review the cancellation policy if needed.

For more information on avalanche safety, please visit:
www.avalanche.org/avalanche-education/
www.weather.gov/safety/winter-avalanche

HANTAVIRUS
Regarding the potential for exposure to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) at Pear Lake Winter Hut: Mice are native rodents in the Sierra, including the Pear Lake wilderness and Pear Lake Winter Hut. The Pear Lake Winter Hut will be cleaned according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines prior to opening for the season. The Sequoia Parks Conservancy will set traps and continue to use CDC cleaning procedures when rodents or rodent droppings are detected. However, the Sequoia Parks Conservancy cannot guarantee that the hut is HPS-free. Hut users are advised of the risks, and those wishing not to be exposed to the potential of HPS may choose not to register for the Winter Hut.

For more information on hantavirus safety, please visit:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/HantavirusPulmonarySyndrome.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html

EARLY DEPARTURE*
*Emergency situations only. For your own safety, it is not advised to depart from or arrive at the hut on any days that are not your designated ski-in or ski-out days. We know unforeseen circumstances may require you to depart the Wolverton parking area before the road has been plowed. In this rare situation, you must use the guidelines that are provided to you when you complete your reservation.
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By submitting a reservation form for the Pear Lake Winter Hut, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of the liability waiver.

There are NO REFUNDS or date changes. Refunds can only be given if the Generals Highway has been closed or the National Park Service has issued an official trail closure or advisory of no backcountry travel on your reserved ski-­in day.