SEASONS
Heavy on sunshine, and predominantly dry, the Sierra and surroundings offer weather conducive to running year-round either in the mountains, on the flanks, or on the valley floor, especially when compared to most other mountain regions.
The Owens Valley has a climate of extremes. It’s hot in summer and cold in winter. Average highs at the peak of summer are near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter daytime highs hover in the mid-5o’s and overnight temperatures dip into the low 20’s and colder. The High Sierra, however, is typically mild in summer, making it comfortable while the valley is roasting, as long as you avoid mosquito blooms.
Summertime can develop thunderstorms and occasional monsoonal patterns.
Winter brings variable dry periods interspersed with storms. In big snow years, the Sierra Nevada, meaning “snowy mountain range” in Spanish, is known to accumulate 8-foot dumps in a single storm.
Characteristically, the region has long shoulder seasons that offer some of the best use days.
With the effects of climate change blatantly evident in prolonged drought cycles, late summer and fall also face the challenges of a long, dry, fire season.