[pct-l] INTRO and QUESTION RE: "EARLY ENTRY INTO THE SIERRA"

[ltylerljt at hotmail.com (larry tyler)]

My name is Larry Tyler.  I am 54 years old.  My wife Sandy(44 y/o) and I are 
in the process of planning our attempt to thru hike the PCT this April.  We 
are both Michigan natives.  Since I retired in August of 2002 we have a 
nomadic lifestyle.  Sandy continues to work part time as a travelling 
medical ultrasonographer, leaving us plenty of time for backpacking and 
steelhead fishing.  Currently we are in Virginia until the end of February.  
This has given us the opportunity to train on the ice and snow on the AT in 
Shenandoah National Park.

My first backpacking trip in 1979 was a 10 day cross country trek in Denali 
NP.  I fell in love with the Alaskan wilderness and the following summer 
went back for a 12 day trip in the Brooks range.  I have not been back to 
Alaska but during the last 7 summers Sandy and I have hiked throughout the 
western U.S.  It is difficult to choose a favorite area but a few that stick 
out are the Sierra, the Cascades and the Sonoran desert.

I first heard about the PCT in the early 80's but work and family 
responsibilities precluded any serious thoughts about a thru hike.  However 
the idea of an 'epic journey' kept rumbling around my head.
We now have the time and resources to begin that journey.  We are planning 
on leaving Campo the day before the kickoff party.  We will hike at our 
normal pace and if it is a normal to low snow year enter the Sierra from 
Kennedy Meadows whenever we arrive (estimate June 1).  This is where we 
would like some help from the veterans of PCT travel.

We have ice axes (Grivel air tech) and training and practice in self arrest. 
  We have Stubai ultralight 10 point aluminum crampons.  Are these adequate 
for an early entry into the Sierra?  Is there any additional benefit to 12 
point crampons or steel crampons?  Neither Sandy or I have the technical 
skills for vertical ice climbing.  We do not plan on taking climbing 
harnesses or ice tools etc.

In our winter training on the AT, Sandy has become convinced of the value of 
snowshoes.  She has a pair of Atlas with sort of a mini crampon ice gripping 
device on the bottom.  Our question is in regards to an early entry into the 
Sierra; are snowshoes a necessity?  or are snowshoes a convenience which 
would make the trip easier, more enjoyable ie. less postholing?  We tend to 
travel llightweight: base pack weight 12-13 lbs. (during summer trips)  If 
snowshoes are more of a convenience, consider the additional weight (3 lbs.) 
vs. expected benefits.

Finally, could someone estimate what the percentage of normal travel would 
be possible through the snow.  When we have hiked in the Sierra in July-Sept 
on a full fay of hiking we are able to do 25 miles.  With an early entry 
would 16-20 miles/day be reasonable or would this be optimistic?  This info 
would be helpful in figuring our food requirements from KM to VVR.

Thanks to all

Larry Tyler

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