[pct-l] all time high snowpack reached

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Ken,

Juliee heard a local weatherman on TV the other day say that due to the 
dense consolidation of the pack, it was like ice and resistant to a quick 
melt...

Our recent experiences along the PCT-TRT in the Tahoe area concur with that; 
the pack is easy to walk on, softens on the surface during the hot day, and 
post-holing is only bad during the afternoon. Hidden hollows around rocks 
and logs beneath the pack is one of the greater hazards as falling into one 
of these can be pretty hard on the legs and back!

The run-off is growing to record volumes such that the creek crossings are 
becoming deadly. Hikers need to take lots of time to find logs and safe 
rock-hops up and down from the trail crossing locations and avoid whenever 
possible wades through creeks at this stage in the game!


"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: "Ken Murray" <kmurray at pol.net>
To: "." <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 5:25 PM
Subject: [pct-l] all time high snowpack reached


> The cool trend of this spring/summer has finally caused the snowpack to 
> persist to the extent that in the northern sierra, the snow is the same 
> level as the all-time heaviest snowpack on record!
>
> http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/PLOT_SWC.2011.pdf
>
> In the southern sierra, it is about the same as last year at this point 
> (although I think the run-off in the creeks far exceeds last year.  Can't 
> prove this, but the reports of hikers and the objective data from Yosemite 
> supports that)
>
> Yikes!
>
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