[pct-l] Section Hike

Mon Jan 23 23:46:05 CST 2017

Creek crossings vs. Steep snow crossings, which is worse?

Both can be nasty for your health.

The dangerous creeks are those with deep channels, rough creek bottoms, and fast flows. A slip and fall in one of these could be very dangerous, so the key is crossing selection location and skills. Time of day can have an effect on creek volume, but it depends on the intensity of the thaw and your timing in it. Will you die trying? Most likely not, but it can and has happened. You can minimize the danger by practicing the STOP acronym (mentioned in another of my posts this evening) and having the skills to cross this type of creek wisely.

Steep snow can be unnerving, but negotiating it with the right skills after wise decisions can be just like crossing a challenging creek. You've got to know what you're doing. Keep in mind this whole discussion has to do with early season high sierra backpacking, say any time after the thaw starts, around mid-May. The danger with steep snow is falling and tumbling into boulders, trees, going over a cliff, or into a lake/creek below you. The classic PCT injury happens every year on Sonora Pass. There is a snow field on the south side (northern aspect) that claims a few thru hikers because they have already sent home their self-arrest and traction control devices, thinking there won't be any more snow ahead. Retain this, as long as you may have to cross even a short, steep patch of snow across the trail, keep those two items with you! (...and don't use an ice axe! Take a self-arrest pole because it serves to prevent a loss of balance in the first place and then serves to save your life by allowing you to self-arrest or stop your tumble before you run into something harder than you).

Ok, the potential for death is probably greater in a whitewater creek crossing and for serious injury after a steep snow slip-and-fall, but all in all, both are nasty, but the risks are minimized with training and experience, for sure!

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott Diamond
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 4:36 PM
To: Shifali Gupta <sgupta15 at gmail.com>
Cc: Pct Mailing List <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Section Hike

There is snowtel info on snowpack. Someone posted something a while back. I don't know how to pull it and it is pretty early to start looking anyway.

Ned posts often about snow travel. If you need to learn to use how to safely cross snow then I'd sign up for one of his classes ( http://mountaineducation.org/). IMO there isn't any specific training for snow much beyond general fitness. The snow/passes do not scare me but as was posted recently the river crossing will kill you. I think that is where you need to be careful.

In high snow years, a number of hikers have flipped up to Ashland and hiked south to KM. Generally it is not that successful. If there is snow in the Sierras there is also probably snow in Northern Calif. Haven't done it myself but that is what I was told by hikers that did.

        -Scott

On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 7:22 PM, Shifali Gupta <sgupta15 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Claire,
>
> Thanks for starting this thread. I was thinking along the same lines - 
> section hike from Kennedy Meadows to Ashland or Crater Lake (still 
> deciding the end point).
>
> Scott, thanks for the pointer. Do we have a general snow forecast for 
> the summer? Also, what would be the best way to train for snow hiking, 
> especially in Sequoia and Yosemite Valley? I've read that crossing the 
> passes while there's snow can be a little dicey.
>
> Thanks,
> Shifali
>
> On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 4:13 PM, Scott Diamond < 
> scott.diamond.mail at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> That sounds like a great section to hike. Big Section. Given that 
>> time of year and mileage that is probably the best section.  I expect 
>> much snow this season so the later in June the better. Yes mosquito 
>> can be bad but not that bad. Bring bug repellent and a mosquito head net.
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 6:00 PM, claire rdl <clairerdl at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Hi everyone! New to this list, not quite sure how it works, but 
>> > figure
>> I’d
>> > give it a shot.
>> >
>> > Hoping to get some advice on a section hike, thinking around 1000 
>> > miles and starting in late June/early July. For now, I am starting 
>> > at Kennedy Meadows and heading to the Oregon Border. However, I was 
>> > wondering if
>> any
>> > of you know a better place to start around late June/early July, or 
>> > does that sound like a pleasurable hike? I’ve heard mosquitos are 
>> > pretty
>> crazy
>> > around that time, any advice on avoiding them?
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance,
>> > Claire
>> >
>> >
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>
>
>
> --
> Shifali Gupta
>
> Portfolio Deployment Associate | SolarCity M.A. (Climate and Society) 
> | Columbia University B.E. (Information Technology) | Delhi University 
> LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/shifali-gupta/32/9b/860> | 
> Twitter <https://twitter.com/ShifGupta> | Website 
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> #  +1-614-432-1658
>
>
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