[pct-l] Cross-country off-trail

Thu Feb 5 21:23:14 CST 2009

Just a few thoughts on the subject of thru hikers going cross-country and 
Stephen's expertise on the subject.

Stephen, clearly, is mountain savvy, able to scurry over, under, around, and 
wade through most obstacles the
High Sierra has to offer. From what he has written, he has virtually walked 
every trail up there over many summers.
This level of knowledge, skill, and wisdom, on the whole, is not possessed 
by most thru hikers who are primarily concerned with making the daily miles 
over the easiest route available.

Cross-country travel in that area, just to avoid one potential bad creek 
crossing, means slow and difficult going, to say the least and raises the 
possibilities of injury (while boulder-hopping, bush-whacking, or 
ledge-crawling), getting lost (not everyone is as adept at visual route 
referencing as he is), unnecessary elevation gain/loss and energy 
expenditure, falling behind schedule, and rescue. Stephen's suggestion of 
taking the low route from MTR to VVR via Florence is the viable alternative.

I used to be the Backcountry Wilderness Ranger in the Piute and Mono Creek 
drainages and, as such, know those high cross-country routes of which he 
speaks. Part of what I did in those days was to visit every lake and scout 
every pass in each area I was assigned. Emergency rescue operations also 
took me into remote and rocky passes and up to climbing routes where people 
were seriously injured.

It would not be my recommendation to any thru hiker who wants to make his or 
her way expeditiously through the area on the PCT that they consider 
cross-country routes (meaning no trails and lots of route-finding and 
boulder-scrambling) at all. Linking maintained trails around an area is 
another story.

This is another backcountry skill that needs training and experience before 
being relied upon to circumnavigate an assumed trail obstacle ahead.

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
To: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>; 
<pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 6:32 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Evolution and Bear Creek crossings questions?

>I use the 15 minute map series by wilderness press.  I think they can be 
>got
> from REI (I get mine at Wilson's in Bishop).  I don't care for the 7min
> topos. The one that covers the area is the Mt Abbott Quadrangle.  It 
> covers
> the PCT from Senger Creek South of Selden Pass and Sally Keyes Lakes north
> past Silver Pass and up to Fish Creek. West it has most of FLorence Lake 
> and
> Thomas Edison Lake.
>
>
> Another alternate I was looking at is instead of taking the switchbacks up
> from Blaney hot springs and the Muir Ranch cut off, just follow the trail
> that out toFlorence Lake and hike the road over to VVR. It's not all 
> covered
> on this map so can't be sure.  On the other hand, the Selden Pass area is
> not as high as the southern passes and it is phenominally beautitful and
> should not be missed unless absoulutely necesarry.  The only time I didn't
> hang out on Selden for a while and ooh and ahh was a couple years ago,and 
> I
> was being pelted with marble size hail, and kinda felt like it too.  The
> other times I've hung out and made coffee and really super nice.  It just
> has a completely different feel than the high rocky southern passes and I
> think you'd enjoy it more.  And it's not long after you decend right down
> into beautiful hemlock forest.  I wont say anymore as I don't want to 
> spoil
> the book for anyone.
> And as far as my taking the side route, the intention is two-fold.  I have
> cross country experience, am comfortable with it; in fact sometimes prefer
> it.  I can't remember last time I actually used a compass in the Sierra, 
> nor
> do I remember the last time I carried one.  I have when I thought it
> prudent, I just don't remember.  But that's how easy travelling can be off
> trail.  Gain a little high ground and you can see where you need to get 
> to.
> Look for the path of least resistance or what appears to be; look for
> another place to get a view along the way and just start moving in the
> general direction, or making the necesarry contour until you can see
> something promissing.  Mind that I have a good sense of direction and
> understand that sometimes moving slowly is moving more efficiently and
> safely, and turning back is always an option in reserve.  Anyway, what I
> thought I might do is scout a route and then right it up for future
> travellers.  The main concern would deal with difficulty of terrain and
> difficulty in finding one's way over it, like bushwhacking, tallus fields,
> stay high or go low to the creek etc...  And yeah I'd make some notes 
> using
> a compass to get proper bearings passing through any vission blocking
> forrest and sort of follow my basic route.  Like I mentioned, I'd be
> bringing extra food, coffee and just make an adventure out of it that may 
> or
> may not be a good idea.  There is a chance I may be sailing to Hawaii and
> change my plans for the long hike north, but in that case I would still be
> in the mtns later in the year and would go walk the terrain because I need
> to go over Seven Gables Pass again and climb Gemini while there.  Then 
> come
> on down cross country and could very easily check out this route I am
> concerned with.  You'll all be hiking in SoCal by the time I know for sure
> what plans I will eventuate.  But for now I have my pack weight down
> to13lbs, and figure to be at 11lbs base without food, fuel, bear 
> management
> devise (nothing until VVR) or ice axe.  If I come over the high off trail
> passes to get to Seven Gables I'll have to wear my boots gaitors and use 
> the
> axe. It's part of the fun; I'll just have my shoes waiting for me at
> Vermilion.
> OK well that's it from me....
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 7:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Evolution and Bear Creek crossings questions?
>
>
>>
>> On Feb 4, 2009, at 11:36 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>>
>>> From: "Stephen" <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
>>> Subject: [pct-l] Evolution and Bear Creek crossings questions?
>>
>> I would be interested in hearing about your off-trail bypass of the
>> crossing if you scout it out. I had considered mapping an alternative
>> route through the Sierras as I did not like the high altitude so much
>> and a lower altitude alternative might have aided my journey. But I
>> did not have anything other than the Harrison JMT maps and the guide
>> book which provide only a small sliver of map. What maps are you
>> using or are you using something like TOPO!?
>>
>> Where I live, just because there is a trail on a map doesn't mean
>> there is a trail in real life. So I'm always wary of alternative
>> routes unless I hear that someone has done them.
>>
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