[pct-l] Strider's March 1 Irresponsible First Sierra Entry Date

[kdpo at gottawalk.com (Ken Powers)]

For a frame of reference - We hiked the John Muir Trail starting on Labor 
Day weekend in 1998 and 1999. The difference was dramatic. In 1998 we had 
spring flowers the whole distance of the JMT with most streams still running 
quite full (not dangerous). We met the first group of  PCT thruhikers at 
Bubbs Creek on July 4th, 1998. In 1999 the grass was brown and no flowers. 
Many of the smaller streams were dry or nearly so.  I think all the pictures 
on my webpage (http://www.gottawalk.com/jmt/JMT.htm ) are from 1999. Then we 
hiked the PCT in 2000 NOBO. We entered the sierra on June 10 and found snow 
everywhere (http://www.gottawalk.com/pct/high_sierra.htm). We still had 
snowbridges over many streams and the rivers were frightening and/or over 
their banks.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AsABat" <asabat@cox.net>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 11:05 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Strider's March 1 Irresponsible First Sierra Entry Date


I did Mather Pass sobo the last week of July 1998, which was a very high 
snow year. The Golden Staircase was free of snow (it gets a lot of afternoon 
sun), but from Upper Palisade Lake to Mather was solid snow and ice. Two of 
us with instep crampons and ice axes stomped steps for the others without. 
The cornice had reduced to a vertical wall that we lowered the packs over by 
rope.

Pictures at
http://www.geocities.com/bsa651/news/1998/newjul98pic.htm

Another problem was high stream crossings. Middle Fork of the Kings was not 
crossable at the Taboose Pass Trail junction. Fortunately, we knew this and 
stayed on the east side crosscountry rather than follow the trail.

The ranger at the bottom of the Bishop Pass Trail told us he had only seen 
30 hikers so far that summer (on the Muir Trail!) and no one else had gone 
south.

AsABat

> Has anyone onlist crossed mather pass SOBO mid June/avg. snow ?


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