[pct-l] detouring around the Sierras

[Jim & Jane Moody]

Evenstar, 

Last year I was struggling with the same questions.  Some folks went north for awhile, but I don't think they had it any easier than those who just kept going northward.  Elevator ('06) urged me to keep on track and to do the Sierras when I got there.  I am glad he did, and glad I took his advice.  You will be, too. 



I  left KM on 2 June.  My best advice is to not go north of Cottonw ood Pass (~mi 750) until you are part of a solid group, a team, that mutually pledges to stay together - for route finding, for stream crossings, for asce nding and descending passes, for reaching a group decision on daily strategies or resupply optioins .  Even if none of you are experienced mountaineers, the safety and judgment of the group will be much greater than that of any one individual. 



It'll be a blast, and you won't belie ve the sense of accomplish when you get to Sonora or Echo. 



Have a great hike. 

Mango 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "sabra985" <sabra985 at gmail.com> 
To: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Monday, May 9, 2011 6:15:37 PM 
Subject: [pct-l] detouring around the Sierras 

I'm in the middle of my thru-hike, and I'm working on figuring out my 
options with the Sierras. It looks like I might be getting there on the 
early side - around the first week of June. I have a time constraint of 
needing to be back for a job Sept 6. The way I see it, I have a couple of 
options: 

1) Detour around the Sierras to Belden (?), go to Canada, flip back to KM 
and finish this year. 

2) Detour around, go to Canada this year, finish the Sierras next year. 

3) Continue northbound as though nothing is standing in my way. 

I know that there's lots of snow in the Sierras this year. I'm concerned 
about route-finding (for days on end), snow travel above treeline, and 
especially the "stream" (river) crossings. I know I can take Ned's course to 
boost my confidence, but I think that even with the training there may be 
conditions that dictate humans let nature run its course for a little while. 
And I would really rather not wait or put myself in a situation that I 
really can't handle. 

SO...would Belden be the logical place to get back on? And what would be my 
transportation options out of KM and to Belden? 

Thanks much! 
~Evenstar 
_______________________________________________ 
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/