[pct-l] Sierra food and start date

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

(I realize that this thread has probably been exhausted already, but we are 
just getting to our backlog of email...)

Plan your start date based on
- your schedule (especially when rigid things like school or work are 
involved)
- how well you know your abilities (how savvy are your wilderness skills 
thru widely varied conditions?)
- why you are doing the hike to begin with (for personal-goal-accomplishment 
or wilderness absorption)
- the miles per day you want to accomplish (how well do you know your self?)
- when you believe the powder snow will begin flying up north (preventing 
you from finishing)
- how many days off you want (often used as schedule adjusters for weather 
or town delays)
- how often you will be off-trail for resupply and the time it takes to do 
so and come back.

Be aware of challenging conditions that may occur. Many, like weather, can 
turn nasty no matter the month, so go prepared. Some change over the course 
of a day, like creek levels for safe crossings. Snow is slippery, so know 
what you can do on it before you get there. Practice this before your long 
hike. Gear can make a difference, but knowledge and applied skills will keep 
you safe and make for wise judgments when you're far from help (think early 
season).

In our minds, as mountain safety skills trainers, there is only one 
parameter that limits a PCT hike's scheduling and that is powder snow. It is 
a bear to struggle through as an ill-prepared summer-conditions backpacker, 
whether during a late season (May, June, July) or early season (August, 
Sept., Oct., Nov.) snow storm. Hypothermia, dehydration, exposure, 
exhaustion, and injury come to mind. So, make sure you make Canada before 
the powder flies and don't start into the high country before the snow pack 
consolidates into the hard surface that is sufficient for snow-hiking (our 
timing for early departures out of Kennedy Meadows is May 1st. Mid-April is 
possible, but is dependent on the winter and flow of storms in March).

If you are experienced in all the conditions you may face during a hike of 
the entire PCT (which you should be before you start your hike) and are 
confident with the skills needed to get through them safely and without 
worry, then your start date is based on what you know of your self and your 
abilities combined with what you know about the route and its challenges. 
Don't limit yourself because of a fear of snow-hiking. Lean how much fun it 
is and what it takes to be proficient at it. Powder snow is trying; 
consolidated, spring snow is a pleasure to enjoy--just do so with wisdom!



"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J Whippen" <jenna.whippen at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 4:49 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Sierra food and start date


> Hi everyone!
>
> I plan to thru hike this year and I have two questions.
>
> First, it seems from the research I have done so far that not everyone can
> fit all of the food they need in the sierra into a bear canister and some
> food is put in other containers or stuff sacks for a few days.  What do
> people normally stick overflow food into? (a normal stuff sack, ursack,
> etc.) and where do you put that food while sleeping?
>
> The second question regards start date relative to snow pack.  I know that
> the weather could change between now and May, but if it is a low snow pack
> year and there is an earlier start date, does that mean people CAN start
> earlier or that it is recommended to start earlier?  I graduate on May 4th
> and plan on starting from Campo around May 7th plus or minus one day.
> According to my rough itinerary I plan to arrive in Kennedy Meadows on 
> June
> 15th.  If I do leave on this later start date, is scarcity of water the
> only major problem I would encounter or are there other problems to
> consider?  I know that this is a difficult and situational question to
> answer but I would appreciate any feedback or personal experiences with a
> May start date.
>
> Also, I have Yogi's books and have done a fair amount of research, it just
> seems that this year looks to be abnormal already.
>
> Thanks,
> Jenna
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