[pct-l] snow report just North of Belden, CA.

[themtgoat at yahoo.com (The Mountain Goat)]

Report for those planning early PCT trip near Belden.....5 / 15 / 2004
 
About the Hike:
I meant to hike from Indian Springs at the Belden rest stop to the PCT and then back to the rest stop, this would have been about 26 miles, I cut cross country before getting to the PCT junktion. I got within about 1/2 mile as the crow flies away from posion springs and aquired the PCT trail at around 5500 feet. and went back the remaining 11 miles to the rest stop....
 
Snow Report:
Snow on PCT at Jeep road crossing at 6900' is about 6' deep.
Posion spring is around 6700'. The snow was about 4 feet in that area.
The snow becomes patchy at 6000' and is none exsistant at 5500' feet.
It appears that the cool May we have had so far isn't melting the snow very fast.
 
Trail North of Belden:
On a good note, the forest service has already cleared all there downed trees from the Belden rest stop to Posion springs. 
 
India Springs Trail at Belden Rest Stop:
Anyone thinking of taking Indian Springs please be advised of a number of trees down, which won't stop you, but may slow you down a little, and the thorny brush is shall we say, growing nicely for about a mile or 2. Take gaters for the Thorny Brush if you wish to have a more pleasant hike on India Springs. Snow obliterates the trail as you get above 6000'. 

-Mountain Goat-


		
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