[pct-l] Start thru in March. -- Fuller Ridge

[Brick Robbins]

On Sun, Dec 22, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Rob Langsdorf <sdscpcts at yahoo.com> wrote:
>     The picture you have on Fuller Ridge gives some indication of the
> steepness of the slope. Some years there can be some early melting followed
> by another snow. The early melting can result in an ice layer that is then
> hidden under the snow.

March is in the spring. They most likely wont have those sorts of
conditions. That kind of refreeze is mostly a problem for avalanches.
That late in the season, postholing is a bigger problem

>     One year 4 people I knew, in four separate incidents hit such conditions
> on Mt. Baldy. 2 were killed by hitting trees and bushes.

That is why you carry an ice axe, and know how to self arrest. That
way you don't slide to your death. You will notice Joe has his ice axe
in his hand in that photo.

>  But it could
> still have problems of getting turned into ice and then covered with snow. I
> think that is why people think it is a problem.

I think they have a problem because it is the first snow slope they
have seen and it is all new. If thrus came across the same conditions
at Red's meadow, they wouldn't even notice it.

All IMHO, YMMV, HYOH