[pct-l] PCT thru timing for 2012

[Austin Williams]

Nice, I like it.

Austin Williams



www.PlanYourHike.com <http://www.planyourhike.com/>
Info on PCT Gear, Resupply Points, Maps, Thru hiking Movies, etc.



On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 1:59 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

> Based on our on-trail personal observations from 2010 and 2011 when we
> snow-hiked the high sierra in May, June, and July and the Tahoe Rim in June
> and July and personal perspectives from teaching wilderness skills along the
> same area since 1982, we would like to encourage next year's thru hikers to
> consider the following:
>
> Reference Thoughts:
>
> - High-flow rate and volume creek-crossings are more dangerous than hiking
> over snow
> - The longer the upstream drainage from a creek crossing, the greater the
> flow and more risky the crossing
> - Longer drainages exist south of Yosemite and shorter ones to the north
> - Snow Bridges, when judged to be safe, are a great and fast way across
> high-flow creeks
> - Consolidated, Spring snow, whether two feet thick or ten, is walked on
> with the same skills
> - Consolidated snow begins to form in the Sierra as the amount of daylight
> increases, typically in March
> - Navigation over snow is easier above timberline than below and in the
> trees
> - Bears are not as much a problem in a snow-covered high country
> - Fresh Powder Snow storms in Northern Washington can begin as early as
> mid-September and stop hikes
> - Consolidated, hard, spring snow is easy to walk on compared to the Fall's
> deep powder (even with snow shoes!)
> - Sierra snow storms can happen in May, but are usually short and low in
> quantity of snow
>
>
>
> Main Points:
>
> - KM entry into the Sierra in May provides the following:
>    - high snow levels for ease of navigation above timberline
>    - long creek drainages crossed on snow bridges
>    - low creek volumes because the thaw hasn't started
>    - snow bridges are still intact
>    - by the time the thaw starts, you may be above Yosemite's canyons' long
> and high-flow creeks
>    - by the time you hit the navigation-troublesome trees of Tahoe-north,
> you may be out of the snow
>    - bears, mosquitoes, and blow-down are not an issue in the high sierra
>    - you may be in Tahoe in June, able to do Oregon in July, and Washington
> in August, avoiding early-season
>        powder snow storms in September that stop entry into Canada
>    - shorter daily mileage requirements because your hiking window started
> "earlier," thereby lasting longer
>
> What this means is:
>    - you avoid dangerous, long-canyon, high-flow and volume creek crossings
> typical of the high sierra
>    - you avoid the in-trees/on-snow navigation delays found up north
>    - you will be walking over snow in big, open canyons where navigation is
> easier and faster
>    - snow bridges will help you
>    - you can snow-hike straight north without flip-flopping
>    - you can slow down and enjoy the high sierra while killing time for the
> snow to melt up north
>    - you'll arrive at the shorter drainages and smaller creeks of
> Yosemite-north at about the same time as the thaw peaks,         the creeks
> come up, and the snow melts off where you can see the trail through the
> trees
>    - you avoid early-season snow storms in NoWash that can stop your hike
> short of Canada
>    - SoCal is done while cool and water is more available
>
> Translated:
>
> An "early-season" start from Mexico (say April 1st) allows you to:
>    - go through SoCal while cool and wet
>    - go through the Sierra on snow bridges without the danger of high creek
> crossings
>    - arrive on dry trail and high creeks where the canyons are short and
> the creeks are narrow
>    - do your in-trees, difficult navigation up north once the snow has
> melted
>    - go slower
>    - arrive in Canada before the snow flies
>    - no need to flip-flop, just go straight thru
>
>
> These are just our thoughts based on our personal observations and being
> on-trail for the last 37 years teaching snow and wilderness skills. We
> believe this year's thrus will be able to shed some light on this idea after
> having dealt with the thaw while in the long canyons and high elevation gain
> areas of the high sierra.
>
> Ok, release the bulls....
>
>
>
> "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
>
> 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
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