[pct-l] Snow Prep Course Concern; ice axes

[Stephen]

Ned was this message in response to Mark who is planning only five mile 
hikes?
I wonder where and what kind of trips he's intending.  Not much use for an 
axe most places from mid-June on five miles from the trail heads I've used, 
but that's mostly eastern Sierra or SeqKings which are lower elevations. 
Sounds like he should do some basic backpack stuff first.  Not a darn thing 
wrong with introductory training type hikes like we used to do in the 
scouts, overnighter stuff over the weekends.  Cedar Grove and a number of 
other places in Seq Kings are really good for this sort of thing come June. 
Y'll 'ld have to hike quite far to need an ice axe from Big Trees, 
Lodgepole, Cedar Grove or any number of trailheads there.  And there are a 
couple really cool Sequioa hikes I do as late day overnighters if you know 
where the trails are.
But it's gonna take a while to hike hundreds of miles in the Sierra without 
going more than five miles from the car.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
To: "Mark Liechty" <mlaccs at mlaccs.com>
Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:18 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snow Prep Course Concern; ice axes


> Once again, ice axes can usually be rented, but from our experience for 
> thru
> hikers, an axe-pole combination like the Black Diamond Whippet works best.
>
> An axe is only valuable if it is in hand when you fall and you know how to
> use it to self-arrest the slide. The key here is to know when to stop and
> take the axe off the pack and have it in hand. The skill or training is in
> hazard recognition. This is what this Course strives to teach. Whether it 
> is
> a creek crossing, icy sun-cups, or a steep, although brief, snowfield you
> have to cross, being able to recognize the hazard, stop and research the
> choices before you, and make the wisest and safest choice miles from 
> rescue
> (or, of course, not to) is the most important freedom you have.
>
> You can "Know before you go" or "Learn as you go," it is all about what 
> you
> feel comfortable with, how well you know yourself, and how you deal with
> decision-making. An experienced guy like Reddirt knows his limitations and
> abilities because he's been in the Sierras for a long time and he's a 
> quick
> learner.
>
> Before you venture out on a 3 to 5-month journey in the backcountry, you
> need to ask yourself, "Have I immersed myself enough in the conditions I
> expect to encounter to know how I will respond and act with the items I've
> brought with me and the skills and experience I possess?"
>
> When only 25% finish their thru hikes in one shot, you've got to wonder if
> the rest simply weren't realistically prepared for what they had to deal
> with.
>
>
> Mtnned
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mark Liechty" <mlaccs at mlaccs.com>
> To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
> Cc: "Phil Newhouse" <newhoupa1 at gmail.com>; "PCT MailingList"
> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:11 AM
> Subject: Snow Prep Course Concern
>
>
>> 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.
>>> ##################
>>>
>> 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?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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