[pct-l] SOBO Questions

[Ned Tibbits]

Just a reiteration to Pockets and Splash and anyone else interested in what 
we teach thru hikers preparing for the long trails.

Mountain Education will be offering one of our Snow Basics Courses in Oregon 
next month (March 8,9,10). We will not make it up to Washington to offer one 
there. The rest of our Basic courses are taught in the Lake Tahoe area.

We provide these skills courses to build confidence and personal security so 
that worry fades, your future trips will be more fun, and you can stay safe 
longer in the backcountry.

These courses are designed to teach you how to:
- Use , hold, carry and Self-Arrest with an ice axe,
- Navigation over snow, above & below timberline,
- Walk on snow without falling,
- Obtain water without getting wet ( or falling in lakes and creeks),
- Consider the safety of cooking inside your tent when the weather is 
storming for days,
- Evaluate Avalanche potential around you,
- Not get hurt while walking on snow slopes,
- Evaluate snow bridge stability for safe crossing of creeks,
- Conduct an Emergency Rescue (post-avalanche and other debilitating 
mountain injuries,
- Choose safe routes over snow (including ascents and descents from passes),
- and more....

We just want you to know for yourselves what is really out there and how to 
deal with it!



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: Sevenon7th at yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 5:40 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] SOBO Questions



Hi Pockets...

I may be able to offer some insight.  In 2005, I hiked southbound on the 
PCT.   It was an incredibly low snow year in Washington State (not sure that 
the same applies this year... and it is early yet, we could still see 
significant snowfall before the end of the official "mountain winter" season 
here)  That being said, I left Canada on June 15.    On a normal snow year, 
that start date, would likely require snowshoes and gps navigation.

In southern California, many of the water caches were maintained and/or had 
some remaining water from the Northbound hoards. Some were empty.   So, from 
my perspective, if one is traveling southbound, treat the water caches like 
an unexpected gift.  Don't count on them.     Most trail angels were still 
hosting hikers when I went through (Saufley's and Andersons); although there 
were some others that were more geared toward the northbound hikers and not 
available in late fall.

It sounds like Mt. Ned has offered for the ice axe / orienteering 
training... that seems like a good option.  I used to teach mountaineering, 
and depending on where you are located, could be coerced into doing a one 
day training session if that does not work out for you.

Anyhoo.... hope this helps.  Happy Trails!
Splash

________________________________

From: T.Rem
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 9:04 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] SOBO Questions

Hi all! After completing my 2012 NOBO thru-hike I stayed in Washington, got
a job, and started day-dreaming about the next big walk. Since I'm already
so close to Canada I've been entertaining the notion of trying a PCT SOBO
attempt this summer.  I'm aware that SOBO can be more challenging and I had
a few questions I was hoping some of the good folks on pct-l might be able
to help me with.

I read that mid-June is usually the average start date- depending on the
snow of course- any thoughts?  Unless there are some more big storms on the
way (you never know) it's been a fairly mild Winter in Washington- this
could end up being a good year for a early SOBO start.

The water caches in So-Cal- can  I expect them to still be maintained?  If
so, for how long?

Do trail angels usually still take in SOBO hikers or will they totally be
burned-out from the NOBOs by the time I come along?  Not that I'd blame
them!

Is there anyone out there that lives in Washington and who might be willing
to give a guy some mountaineering and/or orienteering lessons?   I learned
a lot from my NOBO but last year was a cake-walk as far as snow goes.  I
started April 6th so I probably ran into more then the rest of the herd
(especially in Oregon) but I'm not sure if I'm feeling cocky enough to solo
my way through some of these Washington passes without some more experience.

Thanks!
Pockets
pct-footfalls.blogspot.com
_______________________________________________
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/
All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.