[pct-l] BIG SNOW/Problems for 2005 PCT hikers.

[yogihikes at sbcglobal.net (yogi)]

I would imagine that it would be impossible to push the Kickoff to a 
later date, due to the fact that the Kickoff organizers have reserved 
the entire Lake Morena Campground for a specific weekend.
 
All the chatter right now is about the heavy snow in California.  But 
it is only January.  You won't be in the Sierra until June.  Using the 
worst-case scenario where the snow continues to fall and the melt 
is late, use this strategy:
 
Go to the Kickoff.  Instead of hiking from Campo to Lake Morena on 
Thursday or Friday like most hikers do, INSTEAD enjoy the Kickoff 
and get a ride to Campo on Sunday afternoon.  Start your hike then.  
Take a zero in every town for the first 700 miles plus a few days in 
Agua Dulce.  Hike 20-mile days instead of 25's.  This will slow down 
your Campo - KM hike and allow you to enjoy SoCal.  The desert is 
actually very pretty.
 
If the snow is too treacherous when you reach KM, then skip ahead 
to Sierra City and walk Northern California.  Come back to the Sierra 
before entering Oregon.
 
Be flexible.  But don't let January snow predictions freak you out. 
 
yogi
www.pcthandbook.com 
 



Jason Waicunas <pct2005@hotmail.com> wrote:
If the level of precipitation continues to fall in CA, how much of a delay 
should 2005 PCT thru-hikers consider before attempting to trek through the 
Sierra's? Also, won't a "heavy snow year" cause wash-out's of trail 
sections and make fording streams much more dangerous? Could this continued 
weather pattern push the AZDPCTKO to a later date? If hikers are planning 
on catching a ride from the kick-off to Mexico and begin their hike around 
April 24, will they have to sit around for weeks before trying to hike the 
Sierra's after completing the SoCal desert section?
Thanks,
-Jason Waicunas

_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar ? get it now! 
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/

_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l