[pct-l] Bridge of the gods, prep and danger, etc.

[Stephen]

Is that where the lady or person got washed down stream?  I heard shortly 
after June, from a NFS ranger on the JMT north of Bear Creek, that some gal 
got washed down stream a short ways, but got out OK.
But I know how stories get changed as they are passed around.  I don't know 
'bout anyone else but dealing with 6ft deep water isn't on my list of things 
to do.  Does anyone know you can bypass Evolution and Bear Creek by crossing 
over to the East side of the Sierra Crest and get back to the JMT just South 
of VVR? I can probably think of eight or more variations including trails 
and or cross country depending on snow.  One can head up Dusy Branch over 
Bishop Pass, take a trail over to the Sabrina North lakes Piute Pass trail 
head, take off in the direction of Pine Creek Pass, go over, Ruskie, 
Feather, Granite Pass, or any combination of other passes that will lead 
into either the Seven Gables lake drainage or Hilgard Branch.  Myself I 
would probably go on down Evolution Basin and then take the Darwin Bench cut 
off to Lamarck or Alpine Col.  Alpine Col might have too much steep snow in 
June, I've only done it in July, but it does drop one down into the Piute 
Creek drainage less than a days walk from Pine Creek Pass, and the Italy 
Pass trail, which leads to Hilgard Branch.  This is how I'm planning to 
traverse that section.  Exactly which route I wont decide for a while.  I've 
been over all this terrain, some of it many times.  I use the Mt Hilgard 
section 15minute map for most of this area in combination with R.J. Secor's 
Peaks, Passes, and Trails book to come up with ideas for some of my travels. 
Just looking at maps for others.  But what I'm saying is if you don't mind 
leaving the PCT proper, there are some interesting alternatives to those 
scary and dangerous crossings that should add only a day or two.  This is an 
issue for those travelling with limited food that have to get to VVR.  I 
suggest bringing two extra days food anyways even if it wont fit in your 
bear device should the creeks turn anyone back.  Myself I am thinking to 
enter the Sierra and gain the trail by one of these routes.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vic Hanson" <vichansonperu at yahoo.com>
To: "PCTL" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 7:55 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Bridge of the gods, prep and danger, etc.


>I can't seem to catch up on the postings here, so some of this is old, 
>sorry.
>
> We didn't have to pay to cross the Bridge of the gods in 2006, but I heard 
> of others that did, so maybe it depends on who is on duty there.
>
> Here is a video of us crossing Evolution Creek in 2006, it was on a curve 
> that started out fine but then went to more than 6 feet deep. Thanks to 
> go-Big for going first and discovering that and for taking the movie of us 
> coming across. The reason we weren't saying anything when we reached the 
> other shore was that we were practically frozen! I crossed it four times, 
> the first with my pack in a large garbage bag like Pang in the video, then 
> went back to get my ice axe and trekking poles.
>
> http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=741285309&k=6W1XYWPSQW3MXFBGPB6TX
>
> It's great if you have all the skills you need before you start the hike 
> but don't let that stop you if you don't. You will learn much on the 
> trail, and others are willing to help. I didn't know navigation using a 
> map and compass before the hike, but I teamed up with others that did and 
> learned a lot. I still wouldn't want to do it on my own under the 
> conditions we were in - we left KM on June 13th (I think) on a very high 
> snow year, but as Elevator said, it was a fabulous experience.
>
> Alcohol stoves - you CAN use them in the cold and high elevations, there 
> is no time that will be a problem on the PCT on a thru-hike. I have used 
> mine in Peru at up to 18,000' and regularly up to 16,500', and at temps of 
> 20 - 30 degrees F. at those elevations, using methanol (same as yellow 
> bottle HEET). It is a little slower starting, ie takes longer to vaporize, 
> and needs more air. I use a combo pot stand/windshield below 15,000' but 
> it doesn't work well above that, so just use and open pot stand with a 
> separate windshield. The same for those sideburners where the pot normally 
> sits directly on top of the stove.
>
> Of course be careful of them in dry conditions, make sure there is nothing 
> flammable near them.
>
> There was quite limited WiFi in 2006, probably more now. There was a 
> coffee shop in Big Bear, hotel in Independence, both free, store in Sierra 
> City (expensive), the trail angels have internet available, but not all 
> had WiFi, most hotels have it, Super 8 is free, as well as others, more 
> librarys are getting it. I bounced my laptop until it got bounced too hard 
> and smashed the moniter!
>
> Got my new Komperdell carbon fiber poles but before I got back here, my 
> sister's dog chewed the grip off of one of them! Does anyone know where I 
> can get it replaced?
>
> I just got a new toy - it is a Garmin GPS 18 USB. It looks like a yo-yo 
> that plugs into the USB port on a laptop and turns it into a travel GPS 
> unit. Comes with a North America road map disk, called n route. Works 
> great but doesn't have the PCT on it! I got it on sale for $50 at buy.com 
> but it is $57 now.
>
> Sugar Daddy
>
>
>
>
>
>
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