Pct topo maps - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

I am trying to find a set of topo maps for the pct for my thur-hike starting in sometime in early march 08 (nutz I know, but Im a better hiker in cooler weather that the heat), I would like to get my hand on usgs maps(or other)-is there a site online were I can get these maps (found a good site for maps for WA state)-the maps in the all the books/cd/websites I ordered are good, but starting early as im planning too, I would like to get my hands on maps because of all the unknows in weather (dont fancy ripped out pages out of a book or pages printed off the computer if I need to bail or if I get turn around in the wrong direction :-)) Thanks boviine

boviine

#2

Just out of curiosity, what are you planning do to when you get to Kennedy Meadows at the start of May? Do a ski traverse of the Sierra? Or hope for a really low snow year? Or hang out at the Hungry Bear for a month? Because of the distance between water sources, you may find that you hike more miles in a day than you intended to.

But, to try to answer your question. You used to be able to get free topos at http://www.topozone.com, but now they want you to pay for them. One option is to buy a CD-ROM of all the USGS topos for California and print out the ones that you need. For WA, you’ll be there when the snow is melted, so the ones in the guidebook will be just fine. It is pretty hard to lose the PCT if there isn’t snow sitting around.

Again, I would only focus on maps for Southern California as you are not going to to cross the Sierra until conditions are nice and normal. However, if you want some extra ones for the Sierra, take a look at the Tom Harrison Map pack. In SoCal, you’ll mostly need extra maps for the higher elevation areas. So, the first area would really be the Idyllwild-San Jacinto area. Next, probably the Big Bear - San Bernadino area.

Suge

#3

Plenty of people have crossed the Sierras in May and most did not ski it (there is a good journal on the internet of some guys who did ski the JMT though; google it). It use to be more standard for thru-hikers before Ray Jardine’s ideas became popular. However, a few people still do it occasionally though they normally say “Ray who?”. In 2007, you could have entered the Sierras on May 1st and still had lower snow levels then the normal June 15th levels.

From the few (eg. 2, though in different years) people I talked to who have entered in mid-May, they did recommend snowshoes with good floatation. Crampons were a mixed opinion. At least you have the advantage of having the snow somewhat firmer then June without all the suncups. You may be able to take advantage of snow bridges and avoid some of the fords. Given what Rolling Thunder and others faced in early June 2006, I’d take a mid May entry in a normal year anytime in comparison.

Miner

#4

http://students.washington.edu/jlutz/index_files/JMT1.htm

Personally, I’d leave the crampons at home (too heavy). A pair of lightweight skis might do you better than snowshoes. Both will be slow going up, but skis will be much faster on the flats. Snow is annoyingly inconsistent. At some times, you can skip along Legolas-like. Other times, every step is a sinker.

James Lutz

#5

To answer ur question-I was planning on a May 1st go date sierras (if I find out im hiking too fast-I can slow, but im planning on taking it slow and easy because knowing my luck Im going to get hammered by crap weather in socal). If i have to buy snowshoes I dont have an issue with that because I might have to change my supply drop (or even push out the date if safety is an issue) if im up to my wasit in snow, it would be foolish to carry food from km to vvr if im only making 5 miles aday. Every year there is going to be meyham about the snow leval for the sierras-its eather going to be a 100year event and 30 plus feet of snow and a blizzard raging when I get to Km or u can find out its a low year and more snow fell in seattle than the mountain. So I figure I will wait and see.I already have most of my gear but had to change a few things around because of my start date (I’ll post my gear list later to get some fresh ideas from peeps-I tend to go heavy-40/50 pounds avg (base wt between 19/25lbs based on the season) and going ultalite scares the crap out of me). Ty for all ur reply to date and i hope to recieve more replies as time go on about maps.

boviine

boviine

#6

The focus seems always to be on snow travel - but the real potential danger is the stream crossings. Given enough energy and determination, you can probably slog through the snow, no matter how deep. However, there are periods in a heavy snow year when Rock creek, Wallace Creek, Wright Creek, Tyndall Creek, etc. are sporty, no room for error, make it or face very serious consequences decisions.

FWIW - I live in Ridgecrest and spend a lot of time in the Sierra. I use the Memorial Day snow level at Horseshoe Meadows and Onion Valley as a heavy snow year / light snow year gouge. In 2005 and 2006 there was 6+ feet of snow in Horseshoe; 2007, no snow at all.

You won’t know til late spring - plan the trip with a plan A, plan B, etc.

Booger

#7

boviine-

Here’s a link to an interesting discussion we had last year about heavy snow & difficult river fords in the Sierra’s. Happy Trails!

http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=6837&Thread=1&roomID=11&entryID=53104

freebird

#8

If you don’t know how to use a set now, I’d learn real soon. Unless it is a record low snow year, like 2007, you won’t have any trail to follow. Instead, you’ll be navigating by map and compass. Moreover, you’re going to have to deal with potentially lethal avalanche conditions. Hopefully you have some skill already at reading avalanche slopes, or are going to get some soon.

Yes, people cross the Sierra in winter conditions all the time. Many have few skills and get away with it. Many have lots of skill and are in the wrong place at the wrong time. But do you really want to become a statistic? We’ve have 5 people did already in my neck of the woods (WA) from avalanches. Even if you don’t care about becoming a stat, maybe you should care about the people who come out looking for you.

Of course, as always, the choice is yours. Maybe the snow year will be really low. Maybe it won’t. Maybe you’ll get swept away by Bear Creek, maybe you won’t. Maybe an avalanche coming off of Mather pass will get you. Maybe it won’t. Maybe you’ll get lost, maybe you won’t.

Lastly, it is a long, long way from KM to VVR on snow (VVR may not even be open). If you want to cover the roughly 175 miles, assuming an average of 10 mpd (no skis, working very hard), you’re looking at 2.5 weeks of travel. Are you really ready for that?

This all may be moot. Maybe you’ll have another historically low snow year. But I think depending on global warming isn’t really a safe bet.

Suge

#9

Suge, stop the scaremongering. You are projecting your own fears/comfort levles on this which is wrong. The winter conditions that are happening now through March are not what will be the case in May. Avalanches will not be a problem in May. Snow conditions in May in the Sierras are not the same as they are in Winter. The snow has consolidated and is wet and melting and has been for awhile. The danger for avalanches is pretty much past as the snow that could have broken lose already has.

Even in high snow years, VVR is usually open by mid May though the lake shuttle isn’t running (meaning a 6mile hike to get there). I do agree that a slower pace is likely, though I disagree that it would take 2.5 weeks to get to VVR. Though personaly, I’d exit over Keasarge Pass for a resupply.

In my opinion, the biggest danger is breaking through the snow and finding that you are over a lake since the ice is melting. I can recall 2 cases Sierra hiker deaths from this. One was unknowly camping on a lake and during the night the hiker trapped in his sleeping bag and tent broke through the ice and died. The other one was snowshoeing and broke through the ice and drowned. However, these happened in early June when the ice/snow was weaker/thinner then what you’d have in May. Though avoiding hiking over water is still the smart choice. Fords are always risky but they should be lower then in June for most years. The whole idea behind Ray Day was a compromise from dealing with snow verses dealing with high water levels at the fords; if you are more comfortable with snow verses fording, an earlier date is called for. You do run a higher risk of getting a storm dumping more snow then you have in June. The snow will be icy early and late in the day so you may need to cut steps with your axe. The snow can be soft in hte middle of the day and some postholing will happen even with snowshoes.

The Funk Brother’s Journal from 1975 is online here and they had a May 9th entry date which should give an idea of possible conditions and they did get snow dumped on them. Rolling Thunder’s journal from 2006, though an early June entry, due to the exceptionally high snow levels that year, he encountered conditions normally found in May, only worse due to the snow being softer due to the warmer June temperatures. They might make an interesting read for someone considering an early entry. Especially in regards to daily mileage.

I’m not saying that there isn’t risks in doing this. But I don’t think they are more then going in June in a high snow year which people do all the time. Know your skill and comfort levels and judge the conidtions yourself in Spring 2008 and don’t take comfort in the fear of others. But if you find that part of youself is hesitating, you might do well and listen to that inner voice.

Miner

#10

I should correct one thing. Though VVR can be open as early as the 1st week of May in low snow years, you really shouldn’t count on them being open before Memorial Day unless you have contacted them directly ahead of time. They don’t normally guarentee an opening date until they actually open. It would suck to find that you can’t get your package and still have 2 days to Red’s Meadow.

Miner

#11

I’m not trying to induce irrational fears in anyone, but rather trying to make sure that people know the risks when venturing into western mountains when there is still a lot of snow on the ground. By May there should be a pretty solid snow pack. But what if there is a big snow storm in May? This has happened in the past and will happen again. Then you’ll have a loose, unconsolidated layer on top of a a very hard layer. Avalanche danger spikes as a result.

Of course, this might not happen, and it might be a really low snow year. All I want is for people to understand the sort of risks that they’ll be taking by entering into the Sierra earlier than their skill and experience level should allow. The Sierra, like the Cascades are not the Smokey Mountains. Traversing them in winter conditions is not something to be taken lightly or on a whim.

I went through the Sierra in 2003, an average snow year, starting June 10. Conditions were perfectly safe, especially with a group around me to help with route finding decisions. Had I gone through a month earlier I probably would have made it, but the safety margin would have been much, much slimmer, especially as there would be few other people around for help.

Suge

#12

I think Suge is correct in pointing out the potential dangers of hiking through the Sierras in the snow.
From what I’ve read, there are many hikers who attempt this that are not really ready should something go wrong.

I don’t think he/she was scare-mongering but merely pointing out some of the things to consider. I would rather have a hiker scared into caution then a hiker who goes out unprepared.

I personally would not make such an attempt alone and would think long and hard before going in a group.

Good luck:cheers

jalan jalan

#13

You can download almost all 7.5’ series USGS topos at libremap.org.

orangutan2k

#14

I am a certifiable map freaky geek. Always have been; just love them.

What you want to buy is the MoreThanAMile map package, morethanamile.com. This is simply the supreme set, bar none. USGS quad data, all organized and packaged for your pleasure. It took me 18 hours to print out all of them, but seeing them in each resupply package along with the guidebook sections brought a wave of joy to my heart. There is none finer for topographic detail and color pleasure. There is one thing better however for trail location: the guidebooks.

I shout it out for all to hear across every saddle and switchback along the trail: The guidebook maps are A WORK OF ART!!! The precision with which they chart the trail is simply ASTOUNDING!!! We should all appreciate what the authors created in an era LONG before GPS. These guys were the supreme beings of cartography and I have never heard them get credit for it. Go ahead, you want to know your progress amidst a series of 40 switchbacks? Count them!!! You will end the climb after you turn 40 times. The maps in the guidebook are INCREDIBLY ACCURATE. They never disappointed me, and again, I am a freaky map geek.

I am glad to finally get this out in a public forum, it has needed to be said for a long time. CHEERS TO THE GUIDEBOOKS CARTOGRAPHERS!!! Modern technology has not yet approached their skill, detail, and cunning. Really a remarkable achievement I was consistently amazed by along the trail.

Hans Berg