[pct-l] Ray Day

[Ryan Christensen]

By Mid April there should be accurate snow data to get
an idea what the Sierra snowback will be like for the
year. In general I would say that if you are
interested in avoiding "the wave" then plan on leaving
Kennedy Meadows before June 15th-- but you should also
be willing to traverse deeper snowpacks and swifter
stream crossings. As of right now, its too early to
tell how the snowpack in the Sierra will be for the
Class of 2008. That will take several more months. 

You will have a good idea of how the snowpack will be
before leaving Kennedy Meadows. 

Ryan


--- Steve Fosdick <hikin_steve at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I guess I don't get this. Is there accurate "snow
> data" available by Mid April to help set a start
> date, or do you just pick a date and go for it.  For
> me, I think I'll be more concerned in adjusting my
> schedule to avoid 'the wave' than I'll be to adjust
> for snow or lack of it. My pace might flex a little
> early on depending on the snow data, but once I'm on
> the trail, will there be a good way to get the data?
> I doubt I'll be connect to this list much once I'm
> on the trail. (I'm actually looking forward to a
> summer of no e-mail and no cell phone!)
>    
>   Hikin_Steve
> 
> 
> Sean Nordeen <sean at lifesadventures.net> wrote:  This
> is what I read somewhere, but since I'm not Ray
> Jardine I could be wrong.
> 
> Ray Day is June 15th in a normal snow year. It was
> the opinion of Ray Jardine base on HIS hiking style
> and a normal snowpack year as the optimal time to
> enter the Sierras with the least gear, make the most
> mileage and not to have to deal with the peak water
> levels and its associated dangers at the major fords
> while still having time to make it to Canada before
> the weather turned cold/snow. Basically its a
> compromise between snow levels and ford levels. You
> could wait a few weeks latter for the water levels
> to drop after they crest, but you'd be behind
> schedule for finishing.
> 
> RJ also typically traveled with more of a minimumist
> gear list then many hikers do, even by todays
> standards. He always sleept at low altitude to
> compensate for the lack of gear and covered more
> miles/day in the Sierras then most to insure that he
> was indeed at a low elevation when he stopped.
> 
> Ray Day is probably not the ideal day for most
> hikers as they aren't hiking Ray Jardine's exact
> hike. I suspect for the hiknig pace of many, a few
> days earlier would be better, but it is close
> enough. The problem with it is many years are not
> average snow years but most people treat it like a
> fixed date on a calender much like Christmas with no
> understanding of the reasoning behind the date and
> fail to adjust their departure date accordingly. It
> also should be adjusted to take in your own
> gear/skills/experience with snow and fording rivers.
> 
> The Postholer website is an attempt to adjust the
> June 15th based on the current snow conditions. It
> doesn't do a bad job, but, in my opinion, it is an
> imperfect algorithm that doesn't deal with the
> extreme weather years very well. Case in point was
> the recently passed 2007 hiking season with its
> extremely low snowfall in the Southern Sierras.
> Considering how low the snow pack was by May 1st, I
> found the idea that the best entry date still being
> in early June unreasonable.
> 
> But the best entry date depends on you. Some enter
> in May with the gear, skills and mindset to deal
> with the snow. Others enter latter and have the high
> pace needed to still finish their hikes on time.
> Pick the date that works for YOU and HYOH.
> 
> -Sean
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