[pct-l] weather from the trail

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

I have been hearing the "no rain gear" comment from a number of hikers, and it is pretty upsetting to me.  Weather in southern California in the spring time is highly variable, and always has been.  This is not the first spring time storm we have had. There have been several seasons with this type of springtime weather, even as late as June. The seasonal instability is compounded further by global climate change, with even greater extremes of weather conditions.

I simply cannot understand why hikers would forfeit their rain gear over a span of 700 miles with high elevations and rugged mountainous terrain, not research the types of conditions they might get caught in, and be prepared for it. I wanted strangle the guy who told me on the phone that, "this is the desert, we weren't prepared cold weather."  Somehow getting their sorry behinds off the mountain became my problem to deal with and I'll make no bones about being extremely annoyed with him and his group.  It's difficult to imagine that these folks have the skills and mettle to make it through to Canada, and I wonder what they'll do when they're caught out there without some warm trail angels house to run to, or a road conveniently located to hitch out on.

I've come to the conclusion that there are a number of Darwin Award candidate wannabes out on the trail this year.

L-Rod





-----Original Message-----
>From: Diane Soini <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
>Sent: May 24, 2008 4:43 PM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] weather from the trail
>
>I've been stuck in Wrightwood because of the weather. Tonight will be  
>my third night here. I hiked a small section of PCT from Inspiration  
>Point to Vincent Gap. The snow is deep, slushy and wet. I do not want  
>to climb to 9000 ft.
>
>I do not foresee the snow melting any time soon because the  
>temperatures at elevation are very cold and the snow is pretty thick.  
>I plan to head out tomorrow despite the snow and probably skip the  
>trail completely and stay on Highway 2 which is slightly lower in  
>elevation than the trail. One thing I have noticed is that all the  
>campgrounds around here seem to be in cold, windy places and for this  
>wimpy Santa Barbara girl, cold, wet and snow are no fun. Especially  
>since I have mesh shoes and no rain gear to speak of.
>
>I have been staying with a local family. Last night they had 13 hikers  
>staying with them, the most ever for them. All but 4 left today to  
>hike in the snow anyway. It's the only way to get out of the snow.  
>Let's hope there's no more precipitation so we can get out and back to  
>the nice warm desert!
>
>Happy Memorial Day. Welcome to summer.
>
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