[pct-l] Campsites and Snow Pack

[Cosmic Cat]

The simple rule is: don't camp high if you know the weather is going to be
crummy. Forgo the urge to knock out another 5 miles and 2500 feet out before
sunset and sleep on the valley floor where there is more than enough shelter
and flat space.

I think everyone tends to learn this lesson on their own. Jardine warned me
and I didn't listen. But experiencing a miserable night of Washington rain
in the high thirties speaks volumes.

Only a few months to go!!!!

Goodness

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 11:34 PM, Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com>wrote:

> Good info Halfmile.  Gramma Lissa and I found one of the little campsites
> you noted in the San Felipe Hills on our first night up there, tucked off
> trail in a sandy wash that was only big enough for our two tents if we wove
> the lines over and around each others tents.  The wind was howling, but we
> had steep rock walls on 3 sides and were well out of it.  The problem was
> for those coming behind us, all of whom had to hike several miles and more
> before they could pitch a tent.  It is a gorgeous section, and your
> mentioning the lack of suitable tent sites is actually very appropiate.
>
> The next night the winds had blown up even stronger, and it was snowing,
> and
> a group of folks pitched on the ridge.  Not a good thing.  One of them
> brought out his sleeping bag too soon, and was standing on it to keep it
> for
> blowing away, when he accidentally lifted his foot, and the bag went air
> born the moment it was free of his foot.  It sailed off the ridge never to
> be seen again.
>
> Mango and I encouraged the other person we were hiking with to get the hell
> off that ridge as soon as we could, and not to camp in the open.  We found
> a
> protected baranca and pitched out of the wind, but still found ourselves in
> 4 to 5 inches of snow by the morning.  The moral of the story is, don't
> pitch camp on an open ridge in 80 mph winds
>
> By the way, Mango sent me an email a week ago, and is apparently shut out
> of
> this forum due to the computer problems which seem to be plaguing so many.
>  At least I think he still is.
>
> Shroomer
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