[pct-l] PCT-Prep Snow Clinics

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

Here in South Lake Tahoe we just received a foot of new snow at lake level and 2 feet at my construction site at 6700 feet. The forecast is calling for more storms this Friday and this weekend. Seems like the winter storm door is now (finally) open! 

I was up in the Echo Lake Snow-Park parking lot this morning where the temperature was -10 degrees below zero with two and a half feet of snow to plow through. FYI.

There is mounting interest in our PCT-Prep Clinics this winter. These clinics take place over a weekend (to be arranged by the scheduled group), are held in Desolation Wilderness off hwy 50, and are designed to provide knowledge and skills instruction nearly free of charge (all I ask is a free-will offering-if you like what you learned, pay what you feel it was worth) for PCT hikers preparing to depart in 2009 on the following topics:
    
    Snow Camping                                                                                Idiot-makers (read Jack London's, "To Build A Fire")
    Snow Dangers and hidden hazards                                                   The use of "dead man anchors"                                                                                                                             Snow Travel on ice and powder                                                         How to retrieve water without falling in
    Winter Navigation and on-snow route-finding                                      To tent or not to tent
    Avalanche Safety and Awareness (minimal rescue info)                      How to deal with frozen water, clothing, and boots in the morning
    Managing the Cold and the Wet                                                      Hypothermia and How to Stay Warm and Dry
    Required equipment for safe passage                                                Weather and what to watch out for

These weekend Clinics are conducted in the winter preceding your epic departure from Campo or Manning, so the snow quality will not be the same as that in May, June, or July in the higher Sierra, but on-trail practice with an experienced instructor in conditions that are even close is always good.

Group sizes are from 8-10 to allow more time for 1-on-1 instruction and guidance. One Clinic is nearly full already, based on head-count only. More Clinics will be opened up as demand requires. 

Email Mtnned at ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com if you would like to join in or if you have any questions.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Amanda L Silvestri 
  To: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com 
  Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 6:10 PM
  Subject: Re: PCT-Prep Snow Clinics


        Ned

        Thank you for contacting me.  I am indeed interested.  Please keep me informed as to date, location and cost.  Would this be a one-day training or a multi-day training?  I will need to arrange to take time off.  I will be out of state from 1/19-1/23 so I hope that it does not occur during this time.

        Amanda (Shepherd)

        --- On Fri, 12/12/08, ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com> wrote:

          From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
          Subject: PCT-Prep Snow Clinics
          To: "Amanda L Silvestri" <aslive at sbcglobal.net>
          Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 6:53 PM


          Hey, Amanda!

          Sorry it took me so long to get back to you! So far we have 5 people interested in attending one of my pct-specific, pre-trip, snow travel/camping weekend clinics held in Desolation Wilderness, Hwy 50, South Lake Tahoe. If you are still interested, let me know. Also, pay attention to the list for more snow-relevant topics that will help you prepare for your trip along the Crest.

           Mtnned