[pct-l] Ice Axe and Crampons are cheap light Insurance

[Carl Siechert" <carl@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Carl Siechert)]

You can read the news account at http://pct77.org/reunion/rescue.htm. When
we entered the Sierra in early May, there was almost no snow on the ground;
1977 was one of the driest winters on record. It snowed a little bit on May
6, and we had about 12 more days with snow--ranging from a light dusting to
nearly 3 feet--before May was over.

Bottom line: Take the ice axe beginning at Kennedy Meadows. Even though
you'll be entering the Sierra a month later than we did, May storms can make
June travel difficult. And June storms are not all that uncommon either!


----- Original Message -----
From: <Montedodge@aol.com>
> That year [1977] nine hikers were rescued by helicopter out of the
Sierras. A record
> that still stands!!
>    Just because we had a low snow year, don't think it can't backfire with
a
> last blast of weather!!! It can happen. ( It did happen!!)