I’m planning on hiking the trail southbound in early July. How important is it to carry an ice axe? I imagine many people will have passed through the snowpacks by the time I head through, so will the trail still be dangerous enough to require an axe?
PBR
I’ve hiked the trail in july of 03 from south to north and I didn’t see any snow, but the pack is over 200% this year so there may be a little but not enough for the need of an axe, I think
goof
I just bought a Camp XLA 50cm axe that weighs 8.6 ounces. Seems like good insurance for my July 22 start. It all depends on the spring melt but I feel confident we will have significant snow on the southern passes.
idahomtman