Here is the water content snowpack data in inches for the Palisades Tahoe SNOTEL station at the 8200 foot level. This station is near the top of the climb out of Olympic Valley and is a good indicator of the snowpack on the WS Trail. Generally, the snowpack reaches its peak on April 1 (46.5 inches) and melts after that date. In years where we can’t get into the first aid stations we may use a snow route. While the snow routes don’t change the mileage and have minimal change on the elevation gain/loss, we will exhaust all options to stay on the regular course. In some years, the access roads to our early aid stations melt out the week of the race. On years when we are unable to lower the river level by upstream dams, we cross the Middle Fork of the American River at mile 78 via boats.
Snow Water Content History
| Year | April 1 | May 1 | June 1 | June 10 | Course | River Crossing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 72.7 | 60.1 | 24.5 | 6.3 | boats | |
| 2022 | 15.1 | 14.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2021 | 24.7 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2020 | 26.6 | 13.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2019 | 63.1 | 52.2 | 37.0 | 19.6 | boats | |
| 2018 | 36.5 | 22.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2017 | 79.2 | 77.6 | 36.8 | 22.0 | boats | |
| 2016 | 41.6 | 28.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2015 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2014 | 20.2 | 11.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | ||
| 2013 | 27.6 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2012 | 33.3 | 24.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2011 | 65.0 | 74.6 | 58.7 | 60.9 | snow route | boats |
| 2010 | 43.0 | 51.4 | 43.0 | 17.3 | snow route | boats |
| 2009 | 45.0 | 37.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2008 | 39.0 | 26.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2007 | 31.0 | 23.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2006 | 72.0 | 78.4 | 44.9 | 18.0 | boats | |
| 2005 | 71.0 | 74.7 | 39.5 | 25.0 | boats | |
| 2004 | 42.0 | 27.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2003 | 49.0 | 63.3 | 31.6 | 8.0 | ||
| 2002 | 63.0 | 50.8 | 13.4 | 0.0 | ||
| 2001 | 24.0 | 21.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 2000 | 52.0 | 36.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 1999 | 70.0 | 63.5 | 30.9 | 23.0 | ||
| 1998 | 80.0 | 75.5 | 66.1 | 51.0 | snow route | boats |
| 1997 | 79.0 | 57.7 | 1.8 | 0.0 | ||
| 1996 | 65.0 | 59.0 | 24.6 | 3.0 | ||
| 1995 | 104.0 | 117.0 | 85.0 | 74.0 | snow route | boats |
| 1994 | 27.0 | 14.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 1993 | 91.0 | 93.2 | 47.0 | 43.3 | boats | |
| 1992 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 1991 | 33.0 | 30.5 | 20.2 | 1.2 | ||
| 1990 | 25.0 | 10.9 | 2.3 | 0.0 | ||
| 1989 | 19.4 | 3.9 | ||||
| 1988 | 17.2 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 1987 | 24.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 1986 | 54.0 | 43.0 | 20.6 | 10.0 | ||
| 1985 | 33.0 | 21.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 1984 | 47.0 | 45.4 | 18.0 | 12.6 | ||
| 1983 | 92.0 | 108.0 | 89.0 | 78.0 | snow route | boats |
Water Content at Squaw Valley Gold Coast
3 Miles Short of Robinson Flat in June 2011
The 2011 River Crossing
