[pct-l] Winter PCT Attempt

[Mary Kwart]

I posted several years ago about what seems to be the inevitable
evolution of backpacking on the PCT, analogous to what happens to
mountain climbing routes. When the route becomes crowded and popular,
a new challenge is sought--a winter ascent. Ned's words are true, but
someone is going to do it eventually in our hero myth/extreme sport
fueled society and some may die trying. I am not condoning a winter
trip. You would have to be a helluva backcountry skier with world
class endurance to accomplish it. When I worked in Yosemite in the
90's, I heard that two guys  successfully skied  the John Muir Trail
in winter. One was the Ostrander Hut winter caretaker Howard Weimer.
They did a lot of caching and were expert backcountry skiers with
years of experience. The PCT would require a lot more time exposed to
the elements if your were thru hiking/skiing it, though, and
everything that Ned mentioned needs to be heeded. It is interesting to
see the evolution of backcountry endeavors as extreme sport.

--Fireweed