[pct-l] Fuller Ridge / San Jacinto

[Bighummel at aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

Yogi writes: 
"That said, what good would an ice axe be for this section?  
Go  ahead and hit me, I'm ready for the blow!!!"

 
Yogi, I think that I know you well enough that none of your  communications 
would be meant in an antagonistic manner.  
 
Fuller Ridge, being on the north face of San Jacinto and therefore in its  
shadow well into the Spring, and yet immediately adjacent to the desert and  
therfore subject to periodic warm winds in the Spring, can and has melted in the  
day and frozen solid ice in the night.  Should you as a thru-hiker come  
through in this condition, you may find it cloaked in solid ice.  Yep, the  
runouts are too short to self arrest, but an ice axe can be used to cut steps  and 
secure yourself in times of peril.  Crampons might be a good  alternative to an 
ice axe in these conditions.
 
I've seen it in these conditions as have others.   Your timing  and the 
conditions will always vary.  Better safe.  There is no  alternate route around 
Fuller Ridge other than walking the long winding road  from Idylwild.
 
Best regards,
 
Greg