[pct-l] optimal conditions

Tue Sep 7 18:14:38 CDT 2010

I'm a member of the Revolving Ramen from the Class of 1980. I still have my original t-shirt with GMC written in ink across the back. It had a double meaning: the acronym for Gone Mountain Climbing and the initials of the last names of the orignal three: Garrison, McKinney, Castillo.

 I don't offer opinions on the use of electronic gadgets or ultra-light gear because I have no experience with them.

But I do side with Ned on many of his opinions. The latter post hits the nail on the head. 

Planning and Timing.

We planned for the worst so we had 2 tents, a 4-man Jansport dome that Garrison and McKinney shared the carrying duties and a 2-man Jansport dome that I carried by myself.

We pitched them almost every night, if not out of habit then out of shear "Well, we're carrying them so we might as well pitch them."

We also rode out many a snow storm in them, including our first snow storm not quite to Mount Laguna, a white-out on the top of Mt. San Jacinto in April and 3 nights on the top of a saddle a day into Desolation Wilderness in June.

And, yes, we all wore heavy leather boots. I wouldn't have thought about walking in the snow in anything else.

And that was a key point. If was our plan to walk in the snow and our plan to walk slowly, at least by some mileage comparisons. Our forecasted average was 15-18 miles per day.

Which is why we left Campo in March.

We were in no rush, obviously.

I dream of going back and hiking the sections that I skipped in 1980. If I do, I would have a different plan, different timing, and amost assuredly different gear.

But I would still plan for worst case scenarios.

Ernie Castillo
erniec01 at hotmail.com
248 884 5201

> From: ned at mountaineducation.org
> To: diane at santabarbarahikes.com; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 15:52:12 -0700
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] optimal conditions
> 
> This takes us back to our original topic,
> 
> - Planning and Timing
> 
> 
> If you leave after the KO, the end of April, you only have a 4-month 
> weather-safe window which we'll refer to as your hiking season (May, June, 
> July, and August). To hike the North Cascades into September is risking 
> getting dumped on by early season snow that may not melt off as the days are 
> short and temps are getting colder. By planning this timing, you are hoping 
> that most of the snow will be melted off the Sierra by the time you get 
> there so that you can continue your pace right on through. Not this year. 
> Why not just prepare to hike over snow and leave earlier so you can go 
> slower?
> 
> 
> 
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education
> 1106A Ski Run Blvd
> South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
> P: 888-996-8333
> F: 530-541-1456
> C: 530-721-1551
> http://www.mountaineducation.org
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] optimal conditions
> 
> 
> >
> > On Sep 7, 2010, at 12:38 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> >
> >> Again, we teach "snow sense," winter skills and techniques that
> >> keep you warm and dry and allow you to safely enjoy the Fourth Season.
> > ...
> >>
> >> So, without knowing the credo of the UL, I guess that is what most
> >> thru hikers hope for, ideal conditions and timing, and just "deal
> >> with it" otherwise.
> >
> > The typical PCT thru-hiker does not hike during the 4th season.
> >
> > A lightweight hiker will choose the gear needed for the season they
> > are hiking in.
> >
> > I would hope that even a winter hiker would check the weather report
> > before heading out and not go out in a really bad storm.
> >
> > Curious, what would you think of someone carrying heavy 4th season
> > winter gear while hiking in the backcountry to the immediate north of
> > Santa Barbara/Ventura/Fillmore in July or August? Better prepared?
> > Better able to handle whatever conditions may come his way? A little
> > foolish but probably going to be okay?
> >
> > I'll answer that. It'll likely be 110 degrees during the day. There
> > likely will be very long stretches without water. The flies will
> > drive you insane. The scrub will be tinder dry and might catch fire
> > if you look at it funny. Laden with 65lbs of snow gear, you're going
> > to be one unhappy, overheated, dehydrated camper and it's not
> > farfetched to say that you might actually die. People do die back there.
> >
> > I do not force the gear or strategies I would recommend for hiking in
> > the Santa Barbara/Ventura/Fillmore area in July or August on PCT
> > hikers. It makes no sense. Just as snow tables and snow caves and
> > carrying huge dromedaries so you don't have to dangle over an ice
> > bridge doesn't make any sense for a PCT hiker coming through
> > Desolation Wilderness in July.
> >
> > Diane
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-L mailing list
> > Pct-L at backcountry.net
> > To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> >
> > List Archives:
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> >
> > __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
> > signature database 5432 (20100907) __________
> >
> > The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
> >
> > http://www.eset.com
> >
> >
> > 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/