[pct-l] Beginning in March

[Nikki Eddy]

Thanks so much for the advice. I appreciate your feedback and will take your advice! I should have mentioned that I'm just doing a little bit more than Section A at that time because I'm a teacher in a year-round school, so if I don't go on my two week spring break, I'll have to start in mid-June, and have only four weeks, which I fear will be too hot in the desert, although Shroomer gives me hope that maybe it's be better to do it then! I wish I had that traditional teacher's summer off! I feel like I'm in a bit of a Catch-22 situation...too early or too late...story of my life haha!
NE

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 15, 2013, at 2:04 PM, Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> 
>