Who’s hiking this year,(Pct )April 2005 NB? How do you feel about the heavy snow falling in the Sierra’s? Should we start much later? Heaviest snow fall in 90 years is quite sobering. What is everyone thinking about?
vinson
Snow, Snow, so much snow!
system
#2
The fact is there is a lot of snow; the unknown is how fast it’s going to melt.
I live in Ridgecrest with a clear view of the Sierra Crest from Walker Pass north to Langley. On the eastern slopes, much of the snow is gone south of Olancha - although there is still plenty over the crest.
I’d start as planned, but be willing to hang out at Kennedy Meadows or into Lone Pine from Horseshoe Meadow until Forrester and the passes north are passable.
booger
system
#3
Seems like every year everyone is freaking about “record” snow! Look, April is MONTHS away! Snow-melt happens! :lol Anyhow, I’ll be picking up the trail at Kennedy Meadows–> June 18th! See ya there!
dervish
system
#4
I was in Mammoth skiing the last two days. It is too early to predict the snow levels in late spring. This last storm of 80 inches was very wet and it really solidified things.
I drove by the road to Kennedy Meadows last night at sunset. The Peaks in the area have snow for the top 1000 feet. Two weeks ago there was chain control from Little Lake to Nevada, very unusual
san onofre guy
system
#5
“I’ve heard the words, ‘The highest snow year on record’ at least five times in the last 10 years.” – Karen Berger
I get the impression that if you look at snow levels over a large area over a half year, you’re going to find some aspects at some places at some times that look pretty scary.
But, hopefully, it won’t be dangerous underfoot when you arrive! :oh
Eric
system
#6
Booger is right, start at Campo on your preplaned date unless its 4/1. Take your time and enjoy the hike thru the DESERT of so/cal. You don’t really want to hang out too long at K/M as theres not much going on up there and no fast food places nor movies etc, MidMarch will be time to watch the spring snow levels…Just remember even if you push thru the Sierras, VVR and T/Mdws may be closed still. :cheers :cheers
MEADOW Ed
system
#7
I’m just curious about this snow on the PCT deal. Why does it stop you from hiking through using snow shoes with cleats on them or crampons with an ice axe? Is there other problems involved? I’m from the north east and the only hiking I have done out west is the Grand Canyon in January.
Big B
system
#8
For one thing, imagine that every step you take, you plung in up to your hip. So, perhaps you wear snow shoes instead of crampons. Now, when it gets cold (as it is from between about 6pm and 9 am), the snow is a sheet of ice and you have to tip-toe your way over a pass. The cleated snowshoes really won’t help you much. You’ll need your crampons. So, you’ve got both with you now. While traversing (with your perfect ice axe technique) a snow covered flank with a 500 foot run out, you realize that what you thought was nice, soft snow, actually has quiet a bit of ice to it. You’d like to put your crampons on and ditch the snow shoes, but there is nowhere to do it. With all the snow, the trail cannot be found, as there are precious few signs to begin with and the signs, even blazes, seem to have mostly disappeared from wilderness areas. So, you’ve got your map, compass, and a lot of skill to navigate on. Hopefully you won’t walk under an serac or get caught in an avalance. The PCT tries to take the most scenic route possible, which makes for, even in summer time, some precarious trail. Lastly, you’ve battled through all the snow, and you haven’t even gotten to the most dangerous part: The river ford.
In the end, one can certainly traverse the Sierra in the winter time. But,it would take more skill, heart, and courage than I have.
Suge
system
#9
The unique glory of the Sierra is its accessible wildness. Easy in summer, but a fact requiring planning and great care in executing in winter and during the snow melt.
The PCT - the trail - goes through magnificent country. Get off-trail for any reason and you are faced with a different and more immediate set of challenges. You can mess with the rules and regs - but not the laws - as in the law of gravity or the laws of snowmelt fluid dynamics.
Even in winter - 90% piece o’cake - but the 10% over the passes can kick your butt.
And until you’ve inadvertently found yourself chest deep in a raging stream you thought was quite passable, you tend to overlook the problem of stram crossings.
booger
system
#10
As someone who has done 6 trips to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in the dead of winter you cannot even begin to compare the two. Yes its icy and steep but your not looking for the trail. On the pct i have lost the trail because of deep snow and took a 75 yard fall down a steepclinb and postholed another time on top of Forester Pass and opened a gash on my forehead by hitting a bare exposed rock.
MEADOW ED