[pct-l] 2. Snow Traction and Balance; PCT & JMT snow expectations

[Ned Tibbits]

I remembered this morning that I started posting to Facebook lots of great “Snow Myths.” Many of you heard about them, but since you do not “do Facebook,” you couldn’t read it.

I started back in November and I believe re-posted to this group at least the first one. Here is #2:

Snow Traction and Balance:

Ever try to walk on an ice arena? You know how you've got to walk "flat-footed," take short steps, and not push off your toes? 

Snow, when it goes through springtime "freeze-thaw" cycles, can be pretty hard and slippery every morning necessitating this type of control when walking. To help with traction and balance, even when walking in a hiker-made trough in the snow (which can be even more slippery because of compaction), you'll want either deep lugs in your shoes or some kind of attachable traction-aide like chains or crampons. 

Once the surface of the snow becomes soft in the mid-morning sun, the lugs in your shoes should have enough of a grip to keep you moving forward, except when you are out-of-trough on steep side-slopes (gotta use the edges of your shoes). As the snow further softens as the sunny day progresses, you'll be able to push a bit more off your toes without slipping. 

So, traction-aides keep you securely moving forward when the snow is frozen in the morning. Realize, however, that several design factors need be present for you to feel securely stuck to the mountain, 1) teeth under all the areas you stand on, even the edges, 2) the device can't be inadvertently forced, rolled, or slid off, and 3) it must be strong enough to work while you rely on it to give you good grip when going straight up, down, or more importantly across steep snow.

Early-season PCT (April, May, June) & JMT (June, July) hikers:

PCT:  You will likely encounter, after the “normal” winter that we’ve had, snowline at about 9,500 in April and 10,000 in May. The nights may still be below freezing indicating that the Thaw hasn’t started yet. The snow surface will be hard, crusty, or icy in the mornings, flat and without suncups, and strong enough to hold your weight all day long for easy boot swinging! Kicking steps up the passes will be easy as long as you have hiking crampons and/or deep-lugged boots. Glissades off the north sides will be gloriously long, fast, and fun! Creeks will stay at low levels until the Thaw starts (anytime around mid-May). Expect to self-arrest if you slip and fall on any of the steep slopes in the sierra (even those descending into the creeks like Whitney Creek).

JMT:  You guys are heading into the sierra in June. After four “drought” winters, we’ve more or less forgotten what a “normal” winter dumps much less what its following spring looks like! Let me open your eyes, since many of you have no idea what you’re going to be facing...

Expect snowline to be around 10,800 or 11,000 feet, depending on aspect, shade, weather, ambient temperatures, rain, intensity of the thaw, etc.. You guys will be in the high Sierra during the Thaw. The nights will no longer be freezing, there will be huge suncups to wander through, postholing after maybe 11:00am may be a ridiculous wallow-fest, the creeks will be roaring whitewater, and glissading will be silly, too. You’ll be ascending on soft snow and descending in mush, but your descents on south faces will be brief since much of the trail may be sun-baked and have little snow (depending on the month). All slip-and-falls on steep snow slopes may require self-arrest skills to keep you from tumbling into the rocks below. Speed over snow is always about 1mph. Food consumption while snow hiking will be higher than normal. Learn how to stay balanced, when to use traction control devices, how to identify risk ahead, your ascent and descent boot techniques, and when to stop and wait for morning!

#3 is about when to enter the sierra relative to the Thaw!


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education, Inc.
www.mountaineducation.org 
ned at mountaineducation.org 


Mission:
"To minimize wilderness accidents, injury, and illness in order to maximize wilderness enjoyment, safety, and personal growth, all through experiential education and risk awareness training."