[pct-l] Average Minimum Daily Mileage Snow

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Ned, 



I would consider 2005 and 2006 to fit your description of heavy snow years in the Sierra so I can provide some personal data from 2006 as I departed KM on June 5th and hit considerable snow 70% snow coverage beyond Chicken Springs Lake would be my estimate. 



Route finding was not as difficult at the higher elevations as I had expected as we simply took compass readings and made straight for the passes.  Route finding in the lower elevations, below tree line was a bit more difficult, however, on most of the decents you are simply following the canyon and the river.  I left KM with 12 days of food and my hiking partners left KM with 9-10 days of food with the intent to reach VVR without exiting the PCT. 



We definitely saw our mileage drop to 10-12 miles a day on most days. In 2006, while there was a great deal of snow coverage, the temperatures were very warm and there was a very fast snow melt.  But this also led to considerable post holing for travel after 11:30AM. 



Due to the slow go, my hiking partners ran low on food and we decided as a group of three to head out over Bishop Pass for an unscheduled re-supply in Bishop.  Not our preferred choice, but it was the safe choice as we had to assume the conditions were going to be much the same between LeConte Canyon and VVR. 



Though the travel was difficult physically, it was not that difficult to navigate, although I must admit that we did miss Mather Pass by about 1/2 mile and had to double back after summiting the knife edge ridge west of Mather.  Stream crossings were by far the most difficult aspect of the Sierra for us.  From Chicken Springs Lake north to Virgina Lake, all lakes were still frozen over, but the rivers were raging.  We nearly lost one of my hiking partners on the Kerrick Creek crossing due to poor decision making. 



Travelling through the High Sierra during a heavy snow year was difficult but it was absolutely spectacular in terms of beauty.  Though, I do await the opportunity to hike the High Sierra again when I can see what those frozen lakes look like and travel on those high mountain switchbacks that the guidebooks reference :). 



Elevator 




----- Original Message ----- 
From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com 
To: "Gary Wright" <gwtmp01 at mac.com>, "Thomas Ricks" <rickstw at hotmail.com> 
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:27:41 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Average Minimum Daily Mileage Snow 

>From Kennedy Meadows north, anticipating the worst case scenario, all 
snow-covered trail, what is the average minimum daily mileage one can expect 
to accomplish en route to Kearsarge or VVR? 

My guess is 8 to 12 miles per day for route-finding while slogging it out 
through Sierra Cement in and out of the nasty creek crossings.... 

Mtnned 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Wright" <gwtmp01 at mac.com> 
To: "Thomas Ricks" <rickstw at hotmail.com> 
Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:17 AM 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Minimum pack size/volume 


> 
> On Oct 28, 2009, at 12:39 PM, Thomas Ricks wrote: 
>> Please address minimum pack size/volume for a pct hike thru.  My 
>> base weight is approximately 10 lbs.  I am looking at the GG Gorilla 
>> with 2800 ci (46L).  A little small but the other features are very 
>> attractive.  I know the Gorilla has been used for sections of the 
>> pct but am unsure if used for the entire length. 
> 
> IMHO, the most difficult points on the PCT for pack capacity are 
> leaving Mojave and leaving Kennedy Meadows. 
> 
> When you leave Mojave you'll need 6-7 days of food to get to KM (if 
> you don't resupply at Walker Pass) and you'll need lots of water to 
> get you to Golden Oak Spring (18-26 miles depending on which road 
> crossing you start from).  In a dry year, Golden Oak might be 
> unreliable in which case you need to get to Robin Bird.  I don't have 
> the data book in front of me but I think Robin Bird is 32+ miles from 
> Mojave. 
> 
> Out of Kennedy Meadows you don't have to worry about water as much but 
> you'll have a bear canister, possibly an ice axe, and 6-7 days of food 
> (Independence) or 10-11 days of food (VVR). 
> 
> If your gear selection works for those two situations, you're all set. 
> 
> Gary Wright (Radar) 
> 
> 
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