[pct-l] Snow sensor limitation awareness

[Barry Teschlog]

To those considering flipping to a location because the snow sensors now read zero, a word of caution:

Just because the sensor says zero, doesn't mean there isn't a lot of snow in the area.  The Sonora Pass (~ mile 1018) sensor read zero about 3 to 4 weeks before I arrived there on July 5, 2006.  There was still LOTS of snow in the area.

Many times, the sensor is at a pass, which in many locations is the local low spot of the trail, not the high spot, like in the High Sierra.  Many times you'll CLIMB out of the pass (mostly typical here in Washington for the highway passes).

A concrete example of this is the Stevens Pass sensor reads no snow (and has for about 5 days).  Yet, a quick look at the Stevens Pass Ski Area web cam page showing the slopes you'll climb immediately south of the pass shows that they're still some where in the 40 to 60% snow coverage range.  Hardly zero snow.

Just be aware that what you think might be snow free, in fact may still have significant snow.  Plan accordingly.