[pct-l] Snow around Old Station (Sections N and O)

[Georgi Heitman]

Please take this seriously....this 'spring' (I can't really say we've had
one yet) will be much of a repeat of 2006.  We had 3 inches of snow down to
3400 feet on Monday, May 10.  That equates to a foot or more at the highest
point on the PCT in Lassen National Park as well as that lovely climb to
7100 feet coming north out of Belden.  The area north of Burney Falls State
Park to Castle Crags State Park will have gotten several more inches and up
to a foot of fresh as well.  THIS IS ON TOP OF WHAT'S ALREADY THERE.  Our
winter has been long, has produced more snow than the last three or four
combined.  In 2006, hikers were crossing the High Sierra before anyone was
able to pass over the trail from Belden to Old Station or between the two
aforementioned State Parks.  Basically, the only part of the trail that's
open is the two to two and a half day stretch from Old Station to Burney
Falls.  North of the falls, once the snow gets deep, the bail out is either
to return to the falls or to make a difficult cross-country trek east to Hwy
89, landing in a pretty isolated portion of that highway.  Hitch-hiking to
Burney Falls (south) or McCloud/Mt. Shasta City (north) are the only
alternatives available for reaching civilization.  In 2006, I was, for the
most part, unable to convince several folks that hiking out of here before
late June/early July just wasn't possible....the ones that tried, failed.
First hikers to finally succeed arrived around July 2nd.  The one who was
southbound said he never saw the trail, that he just went 'from crest to
crest'...he was from Crested Butte, CO, and left the trail here in Old
Station.  He was sick of snow.  Another had to be rescued, not once, but
twice by FireWalker.  He just didn't believe us when we told him that he
couldn't get there (as in anywhere) from here.  Two SOBO couples were
rescued and flown out of an area east/southeast? of Ash Camp.  They got
their first helicopter ride, courtesy of the CHP. Still others
cross-countried thru deep snow out to Hwy 89.
So far, we've been able to inspire those folk who've been in contact with
us, wanting to hike out of here as early as May 3 to please change their
minds.  There've been a lot of conversations going on to achieve this. But
I'm running out of time to spend on the phone or computer if I'm to have a
place for hikers to come to when they finally start arriving in Old
Station.  The weather hasn't been helpful here and as things dry out there's
much to do.  Please...help spread the word that no one can get more that one
or two days either direction out of Old Station.
Thank you!
FireFly from The Hideaway at Old Station