[pct-l] Sierra Snow...Good News & Bad News

[Reinhold Metzger]

Hi gang,
Trouble is back in town.
That, of course, is good news for the girls...but bad news for the guys.
The girls are dancing in the Streets and the guys are gnashing their teeth.

Just got back from an extended skiing trip in the Sierra at Mammoth 
Mountain.

I see all this talk about the low snow this year and how snow is not 
going to be
a problem and the PCT will be a piece of cake this year.

DON'T  BE  DANCING  IN  THE  STREETS  JUST  YET!!!
WINTER  IS  NOT  OVER  YET!!!

Yes, Mammoth has received only 76.5" of snow so far this season vs 261" 
last
season for the same period.
That, of course, is good news for "Hiker Trash" like you but bad news 
for "Ski
Bums" like me.
However, 17.5 of those inches this year fell in the first week of 
February and
winter ain't over yet.
There is plenty of snow at high elevations and the passes and it is not 
unusual
for February and March to receive 100+ inches each.
Sierra snow fall is very unpredictable and one big month can change a low
snow year to a high snow year just like that.
Also a late winter can delay the melting which can result in just as 
deep a base
in the spring during a low snow year as during a average snow year.
So plan for snow or at least delay your final decision until later in 
the year.

Well, got to go now, the girls are calling me.

JMT Reinhold
Your ski bumming trail companion.