[pct-l] How early can the sierras be entered?

[Bruce Harvey]

Winter 05-06 was fairly heavy snow year in Sierras.  Several hikers  
departed KM early intentionally, concerned more about stream flows  
than traveling and camping on snow.  For good detail on '06 high  
Sierra passage of three hikers, Rolling Thunder's 06 journal on  
trailjournals.com is suggested.  It illustrates well all the  
considerations Steel Eye has aptly noted.  Hiking companion 3 Gallon  
also has journal on trailjournals, and  companion Inaki, may also  
have  one online somewhere.

geezer, '07


On Oct 21, 2008, at 7:12 PM, Steel-Eye wrote:

> Good evening, Adam,
>
> As you can see on the historical snow plot site
> http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/PLOT_SWC.2008.pdf  the  
> residual
> snowpack levels in May and June can vary greatly.  '83 was a heavy  
> year but
> there were some thru-hikers that season.  This plot for the spring '09
> season should be definitive prior to a hiker needing to make a  
> commitment to
> leave Kennedy Meadows.  Heavy snowpack in the early season will  
> require:  1)
> Snow travel, route-finding, and snow camping experience; 2)  The  
> weight of
> additional gear; 3) The weight of additional food; 4) The  
> understanding that
> snow travel, route-finding, and greater weight means fewer miles  
> per day --
> hence even more weight of food, and; 5) The willingness and self- 
> reliance to
> hike a vast stretch of remote trail with many fewer other hikers.
>
> Enjoy,
>
> Steel-Eye
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^  Serious hikers gather at:  http://www.aldhawest.org/   
> ^^^^^^^^^^
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <amccurdy at student.umass.edu>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:56 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] How early can the sierras be entered?
>
>
>> After reading some of the post about hiking early in the Sierras I  
>> was
>> wondering
>> what peoples opinions are on how early the Sierras can actually be
>> entered?  I
>> was also wondering if there would be any additional gear needed.   
>> I've
>> hiked in
>> the snow but much of the time I've had to carry either snow shoes or
>> crampons
>> would that be necessary?
>>
>> Adam
>> _______________________________________________
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>
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