From jjolson58 at gmail.com Tue Apr 2 11:13:58 2019 From: jjolson58 at gmail.com (Jeffrey Olson) Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2019 09:13:58 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] Snowpack from 1980 through 2018 Message-ID: <8fbc97c3-cb5b-d247-0f4f-aa8f4c743a39@gmail.com> Here's a history of the snowpack for the last 28 years.? When I look at May 2005, the last time i did a long hike, I can see why I chose to start in Manning on June 7. Jeff https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/westsnow.pl --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From kenwhite64.biz at gmail.com Tue Apr 2 15:15:22 2019 From: kenwhite64.biz at gmail.com (Ken White) Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2019 13:15:22 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] Snowpack from 1980 through 2018 (Jeffrey Olson) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Yep, did the JMT mid June 2011. Honestly, I think the snow made it easier than other times I've walked the JMT Any thoughts on why 2019 has not been updated? > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Snowpack from 1980 through 2018 (Jeffrey Olson) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2019 09:13:58 -0700 > From: Jeffrey Olson > To: pct-l at backcountry.net > Subject: [pct-l] Snowpack from 1980 through 2018 > Message-ID: <8fbc97c3-cb5b-d247-0f4f-aa8f4c743a39 at gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > Here's a history of the snowpack for the last 28 years.? When I look at > May 2005, the last time i did a long hike, I can see why I chose to > start in Manning on June 7. > > Jeff > > https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/westsnow.pl > > > From tokencivilian at yahoo.com Mon Apr 15 11:30:40 2019 From: tokencivilian at yahoo.com (Barry Teschlog) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:30:40 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [pct-l] Snow Status References: <273352231.3863352.1555345840253.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <273352231.3863352.1555345840253@mail.yahoo.com> Well, its interesting to watch the progression of the Class of 2019. Lots of fear there with the Sierra snow pack.? However, at interesting trend may be forming.? Look at the snow plots at: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snowapp/swcchart.action I'd suggest comparing and contrasting the current year with '05-'06, '10-'11, and of course the whopper year of '16-'17. Note how the current year has already started turning down in the early stages of the melt. Note how for the south Sierra, this year is already below the 3 previous big years AND is showing early melt well before the 3 noted big years. Note that the limitations on this tool are such that its not "trail snow" - but it does provide a general sense of the snow pack for comparison to prior years. Checking the weather forecast: South Lake Tahoe looks to pick up some minor snow accumulations today / tonight, then turns to spring conditions for the remainder of the 10 day forecast.? Mammoth Lakes has more or less the same 10 day outlook.? Other than showers tomorrow, San Diego is looking nice for the next 10 days. The stream flow gauge for the South Fork of the Kern River, which drains the Sierra up to the Chicken Springs Lake area is showing increasing melt and the daily melt pattern of higher flow caused by higher daytime temps.?? It'll be interesting to monitor the flows of the Carson River, Walker River and Merced River's as proxies for the melt in the Tahoe down to Yosemite area.? Campo Creek, a proxy for the first 100 miles, is still showing solid flows, so So Cal water should be plentiful. Happy hiking 2019 - The Sierra may not be as bad as you think, especially if you chose a sensible start date and manage your KM arrival date to mid June or a bit later. Pro tip...there's a reason the hikers in the 200X years clustered their starts from mid April to mid May. From marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com Mon Apr 15 14:32:09 2019 From: marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com (marmot marmot) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 19:32:09 +0000 Subject: [pct-l] Fires Message-ID: Seems that once again a lot of new thru-hikers still don't understand our fire ecology in Calif. Your fire permit allows you to have a backcountry stove. Not build a camp fire In every situation --even at a yellow post site( do you even yet know what that means?) the permission to have a fire depends on what is happening right now. Each day and time of day or night conditions change. Unless you are hyperthermic there is no reason to have a fire. You are not Grizzly Adams. Please give up the imaginary preconceived notions of what backcountry backpacking is. People from other countries and ecosystems please either read a lot about our fires or trust others. When you are told not to build one ,there are reasons Do you have a ten foot diameter clear space?Do you have a shovel? Do you have water to put out fire. Are you watching it at all times? Is there absolutely no wind? I guessing the answers are all "no". Do you realize that airborne embers can start a fire a mile away? Do you want to be responsible for more of the burn areas like the ones you have walked through and will walk through on the rest of your trek. If you are soaking wet and cold and need a fire ---build one. Otherwise understand how to get warm with your gear. Your emotional need to sit around the fire with friends does not stack up against the lives of all those animals burned alive in the fires The fire west of Whitewater closed the trail for 2-3 years. The fire south of Idyllwild took thousands of volunteer hours and 5 or 6 years to reopen. We used to walk under trees south of the Kern,approaching MacIver Cabin,dropping down to the Mojave desert. The list could go on. Burn down the normal desert chaparral and poodle dog brush (highly toxic allergic plant)replaces it for years--4-5. Do you understand? At this point the majority of you thrus have trouble setting up your tents in the high winds, understanding your food and water needs. That is fine. You'll be fine. You will learn how to do it. Make a mistake and it only impacts one person--unless you have to be rescued. Make a mistake with fire and you kill people and animals and burn down towns/cabins/trees. You impact the water sources. You need that water. Have a wonderful hike. It will be magic. Don't be that backpacker who started the fire in Oregon that burned down hundreds of acres. There used to be a sign noting who did it just before the burn area with the date ---'87 I think. When I first did the trail 8 years later and the trail still went through a tangled mess of stumps and fallen trees. No one ever thinks they are going to be the person who starts a fire. You might not even know ---if the wind carries you embers 3/4 of a mile away. Marmot Sent from my iPhone From pctl at oakapple.net Mon Apr 15 14:50:42 2019 From: pctl at oakapple.net (David Hough reading PCT-L) Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:50:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [pct-l] Fires Message-ID: <201904151950.x3FJogYJ015286@server-f.oakapple.net> In other words, it's usually fine to build a fire if there is no fuel for miles. That's why you carried all that dry wood with you for weeks. And it's usually fine if there is a soaking rain and a wind making you hypothermic - but good luck trying to start a fire with soaked wood. But if you're hypothermic due to light showers after a long dry spell with a brisk cold wind - you better have a plan B. Even stoves are tricky in high wind around tall dry grass and brush. There certainly are plenty of stories about mishaps with alcohol stoves, particularly. From marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com Mon Apr 15 21:08:11 2019 From: marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com (marmot marmot) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 02:08:11 +0000 Subject: [pct-l] Fires Message-ID: Of course I meant hypothermic. If you are too cold or wet to warm up in your gear--it makes sense to have a fire Sorry I did not reread my email to check for typos Marmot Sent from my iPhone From dkwoods33 at gmail.com Tue Apr 16 13:22:25 2019 From: dkwoods33 at gmail.com (David Woods) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 11:22:25 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] Pct-L Digest, Vol 122, Issue 4 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A guy I hiked with briefly in 2005 started a grass fire north of I-10 with an alcohol stove in a high wind (the usual condition in the area) and ended up in jail. I like the "You are not Grizzly Adams" admonition. There are no lions or tigers or other predators on the PCT. We have down jackets. We have stoves or can eat cold food. We do not need a fire for any rational reason. Sent via Gmail and Chrome >Even stoves are > >tricky in high wind around tall dry grass and brush. There certainly > >are plenty of stories about mishaps with alcohol stoves, particularly. > > > > From groundpounderbill22 at verizon.net Tue Apr 16 13:35:26 2019 From: groundpounderbill22 at verizon.net (William E Frenette) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 18:35:26 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [pct-l] Pct-L Digest, Vol 122, Issue 4 References: <1564814605.465656.1555439726557.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1564814605.465656.1555439726557@mail.yahoo.com> I use a pocket rocket for cooking , that's it. I do carry fire starter for emergencys but have never used it. BE SAFE ALWAYS -Ground Pounder Bill On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 David Woods wrote: A guy I hiked with briefly in 2005 started a grass fire north of I-10 with an alcohol stove in a high wind (the usual condition in the area) and ended up in jail. I like the "You are not Grizzly Adams" admonition. There are no lions or tigers or other predators on the PCT. We have down jackets. We have stoves or can eat cold food. We do not need a fire for any rational reason. Sent via Gmail and Chrome >Even stoves are > >tricky in high wind around tall dry grass and brush.? ? There certainly > >are plenty of stories about mishaps with alcohol stoves, particularly. > > > > _______________________________________________ Pct-L mailing list Pct-L at backcountry.net To unsubscribe, or change options visit: http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l List Archives: http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. From marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com Tue Apr 16 14:46:20 2019 From: marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com (marmot marmot) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 19:46:20 +0000 Subject: [pct-l] Pct-L Digest, Vol 122, Issue 4 In-Reply-To: <1564814605.465656.1555439726557@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1564814605.465656.1555439726557.ref@mail.yahoo.com>, <1564814605.465656.1555439726557@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Thank you for adding to this conversation. If everyone agrees ----could someone who is on Facebook repost this stream on the 2019 page. More PCT hikers read that site. Each year the new hikers need to learn about this part of "leave no trace" behavior. Maybe some day no one would think of starting a campfire. It used to be normal to find trash, cans,dirty TP garbage of all sorts etc,etc on the trail. No more. People have figured it out We had over 80% of the public lands burn in the Santa Monica mtns last fall. Every time a hiker talks about walking through burn areas and then talks about having a fire at night--I wonder where the mental disconnect is. Yes, many times electrical wires or motor cycle exhaust start fires, but let's not add to it. Marmot Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 16, 2019, at 11:37 AM, William E Frenette wrote: > > > I use a pocket rocket for cooking , that's it. I do carry fire starter for emergencys but have never used it. BE SAFE ALWAYS -Ground Pounder Bill > On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 David Woods wrote: > A guy I hiked with briefly in 2005 started a grass fire north of I-10 with > an alcohol stove in a high wind (the usual condition in the area) and ended > up in jail. > > I like the "You are not Grizzly Adams" admonition. There are no lions or > tigers or other predators on the PCT. We have down jackets. We have stoves > or can eat cold food. We do not need a fire for any rational reason. > > Sent via Gmail and Chrome > > > >> Even stoves are >>> tricky in high wind around tall dry grass and brush. There certainly >>> are plenty of stories about mishaps with alcohol stoves, particularly. > _______________________________________________ > Pct-L mailing list > Pct-L at backcountry.net > To unsubscribe, or change options visit: > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l > > List Archives: > http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ > All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. > Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. > _______________________________________________ > Pct-L mailing list > Pct-L at backcountry.net > To unsubscribe, or change options visit: > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l > > List Archives: > http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ > All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. > Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. From nobohiker at gmail.com Tue Apr 16 17:27:40 2019 From: nobohiker at gmail.com (Nobohiker) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 07:27:40 +0900 Subject: [pct-l] Section hike: Acton, CA Message-ID: Hello pct-l, I am thinking of a section hike starting Friday, heading north of Acton and wonder if anyone has a suggestion where to leave the car for a few days? I am also looking into options to get back from Hikertown, but it doesn?t look like there is a public transit option, is there? Thanks & happy trails Section Hiker Rick From paintyourwagonhikes at gmail.com Wed Apr 17 01:13:06 2019 From: paintyourwagonhikes at gmail.com (Paint YW) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 23:13:06 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] Section hike: Acton, CA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rick, One option is to leave your vehicle at the KOA campground south of Acton. I think the cost is $5 a day. Then hike to Hikertown and petition the caretaker (Bob) for a ride back to your vehicle at the KOA, for a donation. Another option is to leave your vehicle at Hikertown, and petition the caretaker (Bob) for a ride to the KOA, for a donation, and then hike back to your vehicle in Hikertown. The Metrolink stops in Acton, and Lancaster. The problem would be getting to Hikertown, from Lancaster, which might be accomplished by petitioning the caretaker (Bob) for a ride to Hikertown, for a donation. The second issue would be parking your vehicle somewhere in Acton, or back at the KOA campground, then getting a ride from the KOA to Acton. (6 miles) Another option is to park your vehicle at the Saufley's, in Agua Dulce, and then either hike NOBO from there to Hikertown, or if you are referring to the KOA as being your Acton starting point, get a ride from someone at the Saufley's, back to the KOA, to start your hike NOBO, then see if Bob, the caretaker at Hikertown, will return you to the Saufley's, for your vehicle. <> <> <> When you refer to Acton, know this, the PCT isn't at Acton, but about 6 miles south near the KOA. <> <> <> Prior arrangements need to be made with the Saufley's, to gain permission to leave your vehicle at their house. Another possibility would be to see if you can leave your vehicle at the Anderson's house (Casa De Luna) in Green Valley, and get a ride back to the KOA from someone there. Again, I would check ahead of time for permission to leave your vehicle at their house. KOA mile #444 Soledad Canyon Rd, Acton, CA https://koa.com/campgrounds/acton/ Saufleys #454 Agua Dulce, CA https://hikerheaven.com/ Andersons #478 Green Valley, CA https://www.facebook.com/casadelunapct Hikertown #518 HWY 138, Neenach, CA http://www.hikertown.org/ Vincent Grade / Acton, CA Metrolink https://www.metrolinktrains.com/rider-info/general-info/stations/vincent-gradeacton/ Good luck! Paint On Tue, Apr 16, 2019 at 3:27 PM Nobohiker wrote: > Hello pct-l, > > I am thinking of a section hike starting Friday, heading north of Acton > and wonder if anyone has a suggestion where to leave the car for a few days? > I am also looking into options to get back from Hikertown, but it doesn?t > look like there is a public transit option, is there? > > Thanks & happy trails > > Section Hiker Rick > _______________________________________________ > Pct-L mailing list > Pct-L at backcountry.net > To unsubscribe, or change options visit: > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l > > List Archives: > http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ > All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. > Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. From nobohiker at gmail.com Wed Apr 17 07:55:42 2019 From: nobohiker at gmail.com (Rick) Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 21:55:42 +0900 Subject: [pct-l] Section hike: Acton, CA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8FFAB72D-B931-461D-A909-285B8A260975@gmail.com> Thank you Paint for taking the time to write this up so detailed, much appreciated! I?ll check in with the folks you suggested. Should be a good time of the year to hike this section. Rick > On Apr 17, 2019, at 3:13 PM, Paint YW wrote: > > Rick, > > One option is to leave your vehicle at the KOA campground south of Acton. I think the cost is $5 a day. Then hike to Hikertown and petition the caretaker (Bob) for a ride back to your vehicle at the KOA, for a donation. > > Another option is to leave your vehicle at Hikertown, and petition the caretaker (Bob) for a ride to the KOA, for a donation, and then hike back to your vehicle in Hikertown. > > The Metrolink stops in Acton, and Lancaster. The problem would be getting to Hikertown, from Lancaster, which might be accomplished by petitioning the caretaker (Bob) for a ride to Hikertown, for a donation. The second issue would be parking your vehicle somewhere in Acton, or back at the KOA campground, then getting a ride from the KOA to Acton. (6 miles) > > Another option is to park your vehicle at the Saufley's, in Agua Dulce, and then either hike NOBO from there to Hikertown, or if you are referring to the KOA as being your Acton starting point, get a ride from someone at the Saufley's, back to the KOA, to start your hike NOBO, then see if Bob, the caretaker at Hikertown, will return you to the Saufley's, for your vehicle. > > <> <> <> When you refer to Acton, know this, the PCT isn't at Acton, but about 6 miles south near the KOA. <> <> <> > > Prior arrangements need to be made with the Saufley's, to gain permission to leave your vehicle at their house. > > Another possibility would be to see if you can leave your vehicle at the Anderson's house (Casa De Luna) in Green Valley, and get a ride back to the KOA from someone there. Again, I would check ahead of time for permission to leave your vehicle at their house. > > KOA mile #444 Soledad Canyon Rd, Acton, CA > https://koa.com/campgrounds/acton/ > > Saufleys #454 Agua Dulce, CA > https://hikerheaven.com/ > > Andersons #478 Green Valley, CA > https://www.facebook.com/casadelunapct > > Hikertown #518 HWY 138, Neenach, CA > http://www.hikertown.org/ > > Vincent Grade / Acton, CA > Metrolink https://www.metrolinktrains.com/rider-info/general-info/stations/vincent-gradeacton/ > > Good luck! > > Paint > >> On Tue, Apr 16, 2019 at 3:27 PM Nobohiker wrote: >> Hello pct-l, >> >> I am thinking of a section hike starting Friday, heading north of Acton and wonder if anyone has a suggestion where to leave the car for a few days? >> I am also looking into options to get back from Hikertown, but it doesn?t look like there is a public transit option, is there? >> >> Thanks & happy trails >> >> Section Hiker Rick >> _______________________________________________ >> Pct-L mailing list >> Pct-L at backcountry.net >> To unsubscribe, or change options visit: >> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l >> >> List Archives: >> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ >> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. >> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission. From marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com Thu Apr 18 11:22:50 2019 From: marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com (marmot marmot) Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 16:22:50 +0000 Subject: [pct-l] Fwd: mustard plants are bad In-Reply-To: <5f7b040f-f170-755b-8a03-413d5f0d1882@gmail.com> References: <5f7b040f-f170-755b-8a03-413d5f0d1882@gmail.com> Message-ID: Mustard plants https://la.curbed.com/2017/4/18/15351548/super-bloom-weeds-wildflowers-southern-california -- what also happens when we have a fire Marmot From jcorey328 at gmail.com Thu Apr 18 12:06:52 2019 From: jcorey328 at gmail.com (Joe Corey) Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 10:06:52 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] (no subject) Message-ID: -- Joe Corey 530.209.3087 jcorey328 at gmail.com www.joe-corey.com From pambryant58 at gmail.com Thu Apr 18 16:24:14 2019 From: pambryant58 at gmail.com (Pamela Bryant) Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:24:14 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] PCT trail condition to Mt Baden-Powell, Section D of Halfmile maps Message-ID: Has anyone been on the PCT trail that goes up to Mt Baden-Powell, Section D of Halfmile maps? Wanting to know trail conditions. . . . . from the trailhead up to near the top of Baden-Powell. Any info is greatly appreciated! Pam Bryant (Trooper - Section Hiker) From dkwoods33 at gmail.com Fri Apr 19 12:12:51 2019 From: dkwoods33 at gmail.com (David Woods) Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:12:51 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] Pct-L Digest, Vol 122, Issue 7 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sent via Gmail and Chrome On Fri, Apr 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM wrote: > Send Pct-L mailing list submissions to > pct-l at backcountry.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > pct-l-request at backcountry.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > pct-l-owner at backcountry.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Pct-L digest..." > > > Please DELETE the copy of the complete digest from your reply. ONLY > include stuff that applies to your reply > > > > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:24:14 -0700 > From: Pamela Bryant > To: pct-l at backcountry.net > Subject: [pct-l] PCT trail condition to Mt Baden-Powell, Section D of > Halfmile maps > Message-ID: > < > CAE5HO4XYP4Bxo_sS8Y2QQTNuC3S1M7W70kqHUMgh8RAcj2d3zA at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Has anyone been on the PCT trail that goes up to Mt Baden-Powell, Section D > of Halfmile maps? > > Wanting to know trail conditions. . . . . from the trailhead up to near the > top of Baden-Powell. > > Any info is greatly appreciated! > > Pam Bryant (Trooper - Section Hiker) > > > ------------------------------ > > I saw it from the South flying out of LA on 4/2. It was snow covered on > the south then so the north side had to be worse. I can see the north side > of San Gorgornio out my window and it has a very substantial snow pack. Th > trail up Baden-Powell may be decent though if it has had enough traffic. >