[pct-l] Sierra reports from bloggers

[walt Durling]

Hi Andrea. It's me again, from earlier.

I just returned from KM 4 days ago.  While it was earlier than planned, I took the opportunity of a ride that was available to get me to Bakersfield to fly back east for a family to-do.

The week before last I flew to Reno and took the regional bus to Lone Pine, thinking I'd catch the bus the next day to Inyokern, hitch a ride to Walker Pass, and then proceed north from there.  But after speaking with a couple of thru-hikers at the Whitney hostel who had traversed the 50 miles between WP and KM, reporting very little water and temps to 100, I decided to re-plan. One of the hikers, Daniel, had summited Whitney 2 days before and had got caught in a snowstorm at the top, necessitating he spend the night there in terrible conditions.  He backtracked to Lone Pine to rest.  I think he's posting a video online about it.

The next day I managed to hitch a ride up the mountain to Horseshoe Meadow campground, where I stayed for 24 hours acclimating to the elevation.  I then hiked up Trail Pass to the pct and headed north, wanting  to see Whitney.  After several miles I ran into 2 day hikers who told me that more snow was coming.  That was a surprise because it had snowed 3 days earlier and there was a lot of snow - mostly frozen - on the trail, but I had heard nothing while in Lone Pine about more snow.  Anyway, I turned around and about the time I got back to the Trail Pass junction it began snowing.  It was late in the day so I went down the pass a bit and pitched my shelter.  Fortunately only about 2 inches fell.

Anyway, for the next 2'days the daytime temps rose into the low 50's with plenty of sunshine.  The downside was the snow on the trail softened quickly and I found myself postholing quite a lot on long stretches of trail between 10,500 and 11,500'.   I think I only made about 11 miles those 2 days.  After that the snow became more infrequent.  The third night out I got caught in a hellacious windstorm near the top of Mulkey Pass.  I didn't think my cuben fiber shelter would hold up - a lousy night of howling winds, shearing wind gusts, and holding onto slim shelter pole hoping it wouldn't snap!  Each night the temps went below freezing.  :)

When I got to KM there were about a dozen thrus hanging out and chowing down on burgers and dogs.  Between just south of the portal and KM I had passed about  2 dozen hikers, all in the vanguard of this year's class.  I was able to pass on up-to-date trail conditions to them at least to Cottonwood Trail junction.

Spring in the high Sierras is nothing if it isn't unpredictable, which I found out.  I still had a great time and the mountains are beautiful.  Most of the seasonal streams from KM up to Whitney portal are running, so water availability isn't a problem this early.  Of course, the long climb north out of KM is arduous and has long stretches of arid hiking.  A few miles above the Kern Bridge - the 1st one you cross shortly after leaving KM, there's a seasonal stream running well which crosses the path.  North of that  Cow  creeks have water to get you the second Kern Bridge.  Beyond that, Death Canyon Creek awaits, which has plenty of water.  So, too, does Diaz Creek.

Several weeks from now, what with the low snow and persistent draught, I fear that the 50 miles from KM to Cottonwood Trail might not have as much water as it does now.  I overheard one old local geezer hanging out at the store lamenting on how low the Kern River was, though it looked like it had plenty of water to me!

Anyway, this is what I encountered.  Unless it shows again I think there will only be patches around.  I imagine Whitney will have snow, as will Forester Pass, but I also think that much will have melted and will be passable.  Once my family to-do is finished, I'll figure where to return to the trail.  Hope this helps somewhat, and have fun!  Walt

Sent from my iPad

> On May 19, 2014, at 15:07, Luce Cruz <lucecruz13 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> On Mon, May 19, 2014 at 11:41 AM, Andrea Ogston <andreaogston at gmail.com>wrote:
> 
>> Greetings:
>> 
>> I am heading to Kennedy Meadows Friday and was wondering if anyone has read
>> a PCT blog of someone currently in the Sierras?
>> 
>> Andrea
> 
> Folks in the Sierras right now may not be able to get their reports posted
> due to technical limitations. We have to either be patient, or bold.
> -- 
> Luce Cruz
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