[pct-l] Baden Powell/Wrightwood conditions

[matt at mattmaxon.com (matt maxon)]

Yogi
Well you'd think so but at this point wouldn't take any bets you wouldn't
find some snow up on Baden-Powell "somewhere"
Trail90
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "yogi" <yogihikes@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Bill & Cathy" <tahoe.cat@verizon.net>; <metam01@earthlink.net>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 9:46 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Baden Powell/Wrightwood conditions


> The end of AUGUST?  This is Southern California.  The snow will be gone by
August.
>
> yogi
> www.pcthandbook.com
>
>
>
>
> Bill & Cathy <tahoe.cat@verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi Will Baden Powell be doable by the end of August? Will there still be
> some snow? Ground Pounder
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Monty Tam"
> To: "David Toms" ;
>
> Cc:
> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 6:15 PM
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] Baden Powell/Wrightwood conditions
>
>
> > Right Dave
> > Just west of Islip Saddle is no good.
> > I roadwalked southbound through the two tunnels next to it. Other than
> > that the trail worked well for me.
> > On the South Fork. Beautiful, I mean really nice 5 mile canyon, white
> > water below, no snow, saves miles, water on the trail, I loved it.
> >
> > Tough part was connecting the Manzanita and South Fork junction. Vague.
> > After 5+ miles(NOBOs) on the Mazanita/High Dessert Trail, turn
left/north
> > at the grey rocky campground before the river. Very first left on the
> > campground road. Follow it up the river direction past where you walk in
> > the river 50-100 feet (shallow) where there's a little trail washout.
5++
> > miles uphill.
> >
> > Monty
> >
> > (Michele, thanks for the granola bar.)
> >
> >
> > > [Original Message]
> > > From: David Toms
> > > To:
>
> > > Cc:
> > > Date: 5/15/2005 3:29:05 PM
> > > Subject: [pct-l] Baden Powell/Wrightwood conditions
> > >
> > > Just a short conditions update from Michele and me (Dave) regarding
> > > conditions on the PCT from Wrightwood.
> > >
> > > 1) Most importantly: if hikers are uncomfortable with snow travel, the
> > > alternate route presented at the kickoff (Manzanita/south fork trails
to
> > > Islip saddle) may be inappropriate. This route brings you onto the PCT
> at
> > > Islip saddle, leaving you to pass over the 7900 foot high ridge of Mt
> > > Williamson. The descent from this ridge has a northerly aspect and
> > > considerable snow in places. It took longer to descend this route than
> to
> > > ASCEND Baden Powell. Other hikers used Manzanita/Burkhart (brings you
> out
> > in
> > > cooper canyon and reportedly a nice hike) or planned to roadwalk
around
> > > Williamson. Whether the road tunnel is safe for hikers I don't know.
> > >
> > > 2) 'Official' PCT from Vincent Gap towards Baden Powell hits snow
> > rapidly.
> > > By 6900ft you are in continual snow. The trail was not visible at all.
> > > There is what appears to be an old avalanche slope (40ft wide, no
trees,
> > > 35-45degree slope) that leads pretty much all the way to the summit of
> > Baden
> > > Powel; this is what we took. There were 2 other sets of footprints
both
> > > ascending and descending.
> > >
> > > 3) This slope is relatively exposed; we were using 6 point crampons
(not
> > > insteps) which cover the whole front of the foot. We also used ice
axes,
> > and
> > > at times were close to the limit where we felt comfortable unroped (ie
> if
> > > we'd had a rope we wouldn't have used it, but if the slope had
steepened
> > > 5-10deg we would have).
> > >
> > > 4) At 7700ft the gradient drops to a comfortable 25 degrees or so, the
> > views
> > > opened out and it was a nice fast ascent - 3hrs from Vincent gap to
> > summit.
> > > At summit the monument is not visible.
> > >
> > > 5) We followed the ridge from Baden Powell over Burnham, Throop and
> > Hawkins
> > > - this isn't the true PCT; we were just above it. Beware of the
> cornices;
> > > some break lines were at least 12 feet back from the edge. Following
the
> > > true PCT 100ft below the ridge would be much less scenic and misses
all
> > the
> > > summits. 6hrs from Baden Powell summit to Little Jimmy. At Windy gap
the
> > > trail sporadically reappeared.
> > >
> > > 6) We spent the night at little Jimmy. There were fresh adult & cub
bear
> > > tracks in the morning near the camp. We've already heard of other
hikers
> > (at
> > > South Forks camp on the alternate route) having bears in camp. We've
> been
> > > hanging our food since Wrightwood.
> > >
> > > 7) At little Jimmy there is so much snow that the outhouses are
> > completely
> > > buried. You can walk over the roof and not realise, until you see 2
> > inches
> > > of the roof poking through the snow. I guess that means 8-10 feet of
> > > consolidated snow at 7500 feet.
> > >
> > > 8) After little jimmy we followed the PCT until 0.2 miles from Islip
> > saddle
> > > where it disappeared under a huge avalanche. I suspect that when the
> snow
> > > melts there may not be a PCT underneath any more. We couldn't find the
> > exit
> > > from this avalanche and descended it to Hwy 2 and roadwalked the last
4
> > > minutes :-)
> > >
> > > Hope this is of use to people; I've cc'd it to Jack Cain at the
> > Wrightwood
> > > hardware store who requested a conditions report so he could put it in
> > the
> > > register.
> > >
> > > Hike safely. Baden Powell will be there next year.
> > >
> > > Dave & Michele
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Winks & nudges are here - download MSN Messenger 7.0 today!
> > > http://messenger.msn.co.uk
> > >
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