[pct-l] Snow Prep Course Concern

[Mark Liechty]

ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com wrote:
> You say you're not prepared for a snow travel and camping course because of equipment issues and your plan will be to try to avoid snow wherever possible. This plan is always the first rule, avoidance, but not always possible as many will attest who have traveled the Sierra. This is one reason why the Snow Course is offered and why you were originally interested in it, to be prepared to skillfully travel over snow with greater confidence and safety when you can't avoid it.
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>   
I am probably the least qualified person on this list to reply but here 
are my thoughts.   

I don't think I will be doing the entire PCT for several years.  However 
I do plan on increasing my backpacking in the sierras to several hundred 
miles a year over the next few and this looks like an essential tool to 
have in my arsenal.  

A large part of what makes this course so appealing is that, according 
to the map, I will never be more than 5 or so miles from my car.     If 
things get really bad I can get out.  It will cost me much pride and 
probably have me thrown from the list so it is a very very last resort 
but it is a safety net that will not be available once I get 20-50 miles 
from the car and a nice spring day goes bad in an hour or two.

We can read all we want to about what to do and what not to do and how 
to dress and what to be ready for and how to eat and all that other 
stuff but the only way it really sinks in for me is to get out and do it. 

Just something to think about if you or anyone else is still on the 
fence.  

Oh yeah, the piece of gear I am missing is the ice axe.  Will need 2 
(one for my son, one for me)   Still looking for one if any have a great 
deal but am not certain if it will be a one time use or will end up in 
the garage with all the other stuff.  Since I don't know what I don't 
know I need to trust Ned that this is an essential tool and besides, it 
sounds like the fun part of the course so why not?