[pct-l] Snow training

Mon Jul 13 20:26:40 CDT 2009

Jim,

I'd say that you have a good mountain to train on near where you live, Mt. Roan. However, after living in upstate New York I've found the type of snow you have is far different than the softer and deeper stuff we have out here. So, I would encourage you to schedule a training trip in the Sierra just before you depart from Mexico. If that is not in the books, practice where you are and check into the local school's and outdoor store's winter training classes.

We had a website for years, Mountain Education, but closed it down a couple years ago. You'll have to ask our previous students to speak up on the pct-L to get an idea of what we're all about. We begin offering free Snow Courses as soon as the snow flies, sometime after Thanksgiving. We come out with a schedule thereafter, but one 3-day weekend Course is offered each month until the PCT Kickoff at the end of April. If there is a lot of snow still left over at that point, we may offer one more Course in May.

The Courses are intended to expose aspiring thru hikers to the worst of mountain weather, snow, and terrain conditions so that, with the guidance and instruction of the Course Leader, you will have much to learn about and gain confidence in snow travel, navigation, hidden hazards, hypothermia, dehydration, dealing with the "cold and wet," avalanche awareness and avoidance, ice axe use and self-arrest techniques, snow-cave building, snow-shoeing, snow-camping, winter sanitation decisions, how to safely get water from frozen lakes and streams, in-tent cooking, and more. There is a lot of pre-trip communication regarding preparation of all your "systems," clothing, food, equipment, and what really "works out there."

The weekend trips head into South Lake Tahoe's Desolation Wilderness from Echo Summit's Highway 50 Snow Park parking lot. We travel about 7 miles the first day directly across and over frozen Echo Lake and on up to Tamarack Lake where we establish a base camp for the next two day's instruction. Day 2 is the day hike up, round-trip to Lake Aloha during which we teach navigation skills, avalanche assessment, and map sight-referencing. In the afternoon, if the weather is good, we teach the snow-caving clinic and many spend this night in their caves just to find out that they are warmer in them than in their tents! The last morning we all practice "falling down in the snow," or self-arrest techniques with ice axes or Whippet Poles (Black Diamond), then pack up and head out to the cars by mid-afternoon.

Even if we get 4 or 5 feet of snow fall on us (as we did on one trip in April!), we all have a great time learning that the "White Season" doesn't stop us from backpacking and appreciating the fantastic Wilderness that is ours to enjoy year-round!

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to email us!

Mtnned and Lady J

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: moodyjj at comcast.net 
  To: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com 
  Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 2:28 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snow training

  mtnned,

  Thanks for replying to my inquiry.  I am interested in taking one of your courses, if travel cost, scheduling, and logistics can be worked out.  Do you have a website or a brochure?  When do you start?  Where are you located?  How much do you charge?  Et al.?

  FYI, I am a 62-year-old retired guy who is lucky to still have knees.  I thru'ed the AT in '06 and swore I'd never do that again, but it gets in your head, eh?  I live in Johnson City, TN, in northeast TN, in the mountains.  We're about 45 minutes from Roan Mt, which is above 6,000 ft. and on the AT.  

  Thanks in advance.

  Jim Moody / Mango 

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
  To: "Keith Robertson" <surferkeith at sbcglobal.net>, pct-l at backcountry.net
  Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:12:17 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snow training

  Thanks Handtrock for the additional input regarding the Sierra elevation's 
  effect on the thru hiker, especially while hiking over snow. It takes a LOT 
  of energy and has its own hazards like post-holing that the easterner may 
  not be aware of.

  We have had students drive in from as far away as Portland, Oregon and San 
  Diego and fly in from LA and points in the Mid-west, but any local training 
  prospective students can obtain where they live is always good.

  Our point is this to all future long-distance hikers, be as aware as 
  possible of all the conditions you may encounter on your hike and expose 
  yourself (your gear, food, skills, knowledge base) to them BEFORE you begin 
  your long trip so there will be few surprises or hazards encountered along 
  the way, especially in the more remote High Sierra. Find out what works for 
  you regarding food, equipment, resupplies, and skills. Just because 
  something worked for someone else doesn't mean it will for you. Take many 
  test hikes to find out. Take an outdoor class from the local Junior College 
  or Backpacking store. Make a plan and expect it to change along the way. If 
  at all possible, train where you will be hiking.

  Mtnned
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Keith Robertson" <surferkeith at sbcglobal.net>
  To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
  Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 10:40 AM
  Subject: [pct-l] Snow training

  Mango,

  It would be best for you to plan a trip out here in the west for snow 
  training. An integral part of the issue is altitude as well as snow. You 
  folks on the east coast really don't have any altitude and it makes a huge 
  difference hiking at 13-14,000 feet with or without snow. Even in ideal 
  conditions, the altitude is a huge physical challenge and you really need to 
  experience it along with training in snow hiking.

  Handtrock
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