[pct-l] trail conditions reported from hikers in Belden

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

I second that! The snow-hiking conditions coupled with the incredible 
creek-turned-torrent crossings are making for slow progress, tremendous 
patience, the need for lots more food carried, the essential GPS with 
current tracks, experienced navigational skills, self-arrest training, and 
simply knowing when to quit!

Only a few will have the time in the season this year to make it all the way 
to Canada. Flipping won't help either as the snow is up and down the west 
coast.


"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
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jackie McDonnell" <yogihikes at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 3:20 PM
Subject: [pct-l] trail conditions reported from hikers in Belden


> Check out this information I received from Laurie Braaten (trail angel in
> Belden):
>
> "Brenda spoke with someone who reports that the trail is closed near
> Yosemite (Tuolumne?) due to treacherous river crossings.
>
> I just spoke with Cisco and Roadrunner, two section hikers who started at
> Sierra City over a week ago. They encountered lots of snow, a lot of
> technical slow walking, and the markers are sometimes only visible three
> hours apart; a GPS is a must. There are also lots of blowdowns, sometimes
> close together. They were only able to make 10 miles max a day until the
> last day. Fortunately there was not a lot of postholing, but their shoes 
> got
> drenched.  It took a week for them to get to Belden, it would have taken 8
> days but they were out of food and the last 22 miles were relatively easy,
> so they pushed through and got to Belden at 8:35 pm Friday evening. They
> said they are in daily contact via cell phone with someone who is posting
> updates on trail conditions for them, it might be worth a google.
>
> Cisco and Roadrunner's comment was that they didn't see how anyone could 
> do
> a thru hike this year.   Soooo.... once again, it sounds like there may be
> some serious injuries (or worse) if hikers are not willing to be flexible
> and work in some flip flops.
>
> Brenda just shuttled two more PCT hikers. One was a seasoned PCT veteran
> whose comment was "I fear for the life of the PCT hikers, we have been on
> the edge nearly the whole way." They just shuttled from Tuolumne to here,
> and are going to skip ahead a do this section in Sept."
>
> yogi
> www.pcthandbook.com
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