[pct-l] Beginning in March

[Scott Williams]

In 2010, a high snow year primarily because the spring was so cold the snow
just never melted, I left Campo on 4-11-10 only to be stopped by
significant snow and ice in the San Jacinto's.  We'd just had the first
airlift due to a person slipping on Apache Peak.  A few weeks prior,
another person attempting to get over the ice in these mountains without an
ice axe, slipped and cut his hand to ribbons using a pocket knife to self
arrest.  Freebird had an ice axe during this accident and did fine.

At Idyllwild, SAR members asked us not to enter the mtns given the
conditions and 13 of us chose to rent cars and jump to the Saufley's, who
were gracious enough to open early, and hike to Walker Pass and then return
to the San Jacintos after a few weeks of melting out.  The only problem was
that there was no melting out as it remained so cold.  We were snowed on in
the Tehachapis.  After returning, and with ice axe in hand, we hiked out of
Idyllwild and into what was the toughest section of ice and snow we
encountered all summer and that's including 5 weeks of mostly snow and ice
in the High Sierra.  None of us had what we would later use for traction in
the Sierra.  I wore Trax, made for flat level ice and snow, and they lasted
one serious day before one of them ripped on a branch sticking through the
ice and I finished with only one on my feet as we descended from Fuller
Ridge.  It's no joke up there in a high snow year.  Cliff Hanger got her
name up when she crossed a frozen rock face hanging by her nails.

When we all entered the Sierra we had a mix of microspikes and several pair
of Kahtoola KTS aluminum crampons, and we all carried ice axes, as did
pretty much everyone I met entering the Sierra in early June.  We had
needed that equipment from Idyllwild till the Saufley's after descending
from Baden Powell.

Many folks out early chose to hike the roads around the San Jacintos, a
wise decision, but a real shame as they are beautiful, the first touch of
alpine country on the PCT.  Looking down from the deep snows to the deserts
and the lights of Palm Springs was amazing, if a bit disconcerting.

Every year is different, but in a high snow year, or a cold spring, you'll
need the same tools and warmth in the "desert" mountains as you'll need in
the High Sierra.  Last year I don't think anyone needed any of it.  On the
CDT the snow was so low that although we did use our ice axes once, we
basically carried dead weight until we all mailed them home at Lake City.
 Could have done without the cramps too.

If you can sleep comfortably in a 30 degree bag on snow at 13,000 feet in
the High Sierra, then you can do it in the San Jacintos, but that would be
way too cold for me.  The coldest nights all summer in 2010 were some of
the nights at and near Lake Morena, just a few miles north of the border.

The desert in bloom after a good wet year, as we have going now, is
incredibly beautiful, and starting in mid March, you'll miss much of the
cactus bloom, only to find yourself smack up against the High Sierra in
early May.  Even the start of June is early for those peaks.  Check the
weather before starting in mid March, but if it stays cold and snowy as the
West is right now, have all your snow gear ready for use by Idyllwild.

Good luck on the adventure of your life!  It's wonderful out there.

Shroomer