Snow levels - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

Has anyone heard of how the snow levels are doing in the Sierras right now, and what the thru-hikers can expect this year?

Megatron

#2

http://postholer.com/

The above has pretty much all you need to know. Also check out

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/

for more raw data. I suggest plotting 05 to 07 for comparison to this years data.

What can you expect? Too early to tell. The spring storms (number and amount of snow) will determine what it conditions will be like.

No matter the case, it’s not worth worrying about. The whole snow thing is overblown. The 05 folks who went straight north showed the Sierra was passable in a high snow year. Us 06 folks had no choice to flip or skip like the 05 crew, so it was either wait or go.

“Ray Day” is an obsolete concept. I went in on June 14th. I’m no Williamson or Skurka, but I got through it just fine. Yes it was tough. Yes there were miles upon miles of snow (~60 to 70 of the 175 from KM to VVR). Yes you had to actually navigate with map and compass (and / or GPS) as the trail was obscured for miles on end. Yes the creek crossings were high, fast and potentially dangerous. Yes an ice axe was all but mandatory. The upside? Amazing scenery and the sense of accomplishment and added confidence you’ll have when you make it through.

Bottom line: The snow conditions will be what they are. You’ll just have to deal with them when you get to them, no different than any other aspect of the trail.

Token Civilian

#3

For those of you thinking about flipping to avoid snow in the Sierra, it won’t be any easier. Here in WA, we are probably going to break all time records for snow fall in the Cascades. Oregon is getting hit hard too. Better to stay linear and deal with the California snow.

On the upside, though, it should be a good year for climbing the volcanoes.

Suge

#4

i love being forced into things i wanted to do in the first place!:smiley: i smell canadian spruce:cheers

neighbor

#5

Thanks Token C for the site help. I was hoping you would say that. I can’t wait for the challenge.

Megatron