[pct-l] ice axe

[weathercarrot at hotmail.com (The Weathercarrot)]

<< I would say that you will need it for Fuller Ridge, so I would send it to 
Idyllwild, not WS, then send it to Wrightwood for tackling the San Gabriels. 
 >>

The reason why Warner Springs has been mentioned instead of Idyllwild is 
becuase of those ice chutes south of the Devil's Slide junction. In most 
years, people are more likely to encounter snow issues on Fuller Ridge, 
hence the reputation there. But in the far less common years, such as this 
one, those short spots 2-3 miles south of Saddle Junction are known to be 
more trecherous than Fuller. By the time you go down the side trail to get 
the axe in Idyllwild, you've already passed it. Perhaps instead of the axe 
in Warner Springs you could hitch into Idyllwild from the Pines to Palms 
highway crossing (a day farther south), do the axe pickup and resupply to 
get to Big Bear (or Cabazon/Palm Springs), then you'd have your ixe axe, and 
wouldn't need to drop down the Devil's slide trail. This only applies to 
perhaps an average 1 in 5 years.

You will probably have snow for several miles in the vicinity of the Acorn 
Trail and Guffy Campground (before Baden Powel) but the terrain is largely 
ridge walking. In past high snow years, hikers have followed the route of 
the dirt road which parallels and cris-crosses the PCT through there. The 
ice axe may not be needed until the climb of Baden Powel itself.

wc