[pct-l] Snow in the Sierras

[Bighummel@aol.com]

A couple of people at the ADZ flew over the Sierras to get to San Diego and 
commented that the Southern Sierra snow coverage looked thin and everywhere 
else looked well covered.  The snow gauges confirm this with no snow at 
Tunnel Guard station, 3 inches at Casa Vieja, etc. and much more to the north 
and at higher elevations (Crabtree Mdws = 11 in., Upper Tyndall Crk = 20 
in.).    Yosemite reports the meltoff in the Valley is earlier this year than 
normal and creeks and rivers are in near flood stage.

If I was at Kennedy Mdws right now, or closing in to it from the south (as 
"Lucky" is, in Tehachapi), I would go for it.  The gauges all show a steady 
(and in some cases, a steep) meltoff with no precipitation in a couple of 
weeks and temperatures steadily rising.  

The timing, IMHO, is ideal.  No or few mosquitoes, no or few bears, little 
snow to deal with, no people other than PCT'ers, good weather.  No other time 
is better in these categories with the exception of the fall, which would 
only apply to North-to-South hikers.

Of course May snow storms do happen occasionally and can temporarily reverse 
the current situation. But, you have to take chances and be prepared for the 
worst.  

IMHO,

Greg "Strider" Hummel
* From the PCT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *

==============================================================================