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

[gary_schenk at verizon.net]

 On 12/23/13, ned at mountaineducation.org wrote:

The first problem thru hikers have is they don't know how to recognize such 
a high risk, icy slope, especially if it is covered with a recent, fresh 
snowfall. They won't have their ice axes out because of this and most don't 
know how to use them for self-arrest, anyway.
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IMHO, if you are self-arresting, you already screwed up, big time. Self-arrest works in maybe what, 50% of the time? And you need to stick it within a second or two. And if it is hard ice, you might as well kiss your butt good-bye.

Much more important is knowledge of climbing snow in balance and the use of the axe as self-belay. And knowing the conditions around you. In one of the instances Rob mentioned on Mt. Baldy, there was a thin layer of snow over hard ice. The man who fell was a very experienced mountaineer, he got a bit complacent and tried to glissade in those conditions. He was not able to self-arrest in that ice.

Knowing the conditions around you, and the limitations of yourself and your equipment makes travel in the mountains safe.

YMMV, HYOH, etc., etc. wow.

Gary