[pct-l] Re: ice axe to ?

[o123david at hotmail.com (David O)]

Trying to remember where an ice axe was needed in my 98 thruhike, starting 
5/15 at Campo...

- The ice chutes south of the Devils Slide turnoff were way too steep for an 
ice axe to be of any value. There would not have been enough time to use it 
and it would not have done much good on the steep terrain below the trail. 
Crampons, even cheap instep crampons, would have helped. I found the ice 
chutes terrifying.

- On Fuller Ridge you may or may not need an ice axe. It depends on whether 
or not ice has formed on top of the snow. The trail is difficult to follow.

- I needed an ice axe on the trail down to Wrightwood and after that on 
Baden Powell. On Baden Powell you should follow Ray Jardine's advice and go 
up the ridge instead of trying to follow the switchbacks.

- A group of us flipped up to Canada, starting south at the beginning of 
July. We were told that the snow level was average at the border and 
increasingly above average to the south. Ice axes were needed, but even one 
week later they were no longer needed. There were some ice chutes in 
Washington state, the last right before the descent to Snoqualmie Pass, that 
were frightening.

- Immediately south of Sonora Pass there was snow, possibly still there from 
the previous winter. It was somewhat icy and I would have preferred to have 
my ice axe with me.

- We were the last group of thruhikers to make it through the Sierras, late 
in October. Snow usually comes and stays sometime during the second half of 
October. We were lucky and just made it, being hit by snow just after 
crossing Forester. Even if it had snowed earlier, ice axes would not have 
been needed in the fresh snow.  David