[pct-l] Ice Axe -- Forrester Pass

[reynolds@iLAN.com (Reynolds, WT)]

As Brick reminded me, most people don't cross Forrester in the snow. They
take Ski Mountaineers Pass instead because it is a straight snowfield walkup
and not as steep on the north side. Brick also reminded me that Mather Pass
is much harder. I also wonder about Glen Pass after the rockslide.

I would never do this but if I somehow has a brain fart and decided to, I
would take an Ice Axe with at least a 70MM handle and 6 point walking
crampons. [I will bring several pairs of Grivel walking crampons to ADZPCTKO
to loan to thruhikers]. I would try to climb the passes relatively early by
using the crampons instead of kicking steps and try to get over and down
before I was required to posthole for miles in the soft snow. Still, I would
bring gaiters in case I screwed up and was forced to post hole. 

This is all theory because.................NEVER!

-----Original Message-----
From: Bighummel@aol.com [mailto:Bighummel@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 8:59 AM
To: john@rompel.org; pct-l@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Ice Axe -- Forrester Pass


John,

The years 2000 and 2001 were both below normal snow years in the Sierra.  
Both years had early meltoffs also without any late significant snow storms.

Your timing was good.  Future thru-hikers may not be that lucky, persceptive

or wise should they leave the ice axe at home.  

YMMV,

Greg "Strider" Hummel
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