[pct-l] re:crampons in August

[mardav at charter.net (Marion Davison)]

I too had a bit of a chuckle at the idea of needing crampons on the high 
JMT passes in August, since we do these passes every summer in late July 
and August, with llamas, and without crampons or ice axe.  The llamas 
are quite adept at doing cross-country detours to dodge the snow and 
cornices that we find occasionally at that time of year.  And if you 
really don't like the look of a pass, look for horse tracks.  The pack 
string riders have their own routes over the passes that dodge the snow 
and the dangerous spots.  Many a time we have followed their tracks over 
a pass, avoiding all the snow and risk.  Sometimes these alternate 
routes have signs, but more often they don't.
llamalady