[pct-l] A Wake-Up Call

[rmoak at sixmoondesigns.com (Ron Moak)]

Mtnned writes >> Just thought I'd ask if all of you are aware of the
challenges you'll be facing negotiating the snow pack and passes once you're
in the High  Sierra.  
 
I hope every one of you have spent at least 4 days to a week cranking out
as many miles as you can in the snow, under intense sun or nasty, blowing,  
whiteout cold, to test yourselves and your gear.  It's one thing to hike a 
summer, dry trail toward a pass and top it over a field of snow, maybe  try
to glissade down the backside, and another to live in it for days on end.<<

Gee what a gloom and doom post. If you decide to quit Pacific Crest
Builders, you can get a job writing copy for Bush's speeches on Terrorism! 

Does the Sierra pose challenges? Sure, but by the time thru-hikers enter
them, they are hardly hiking wimps anymore. Learning which end of an ice axe
goes up helps. Learning how to cross areas of snow covered trail helps. Then
again finding a couple of seasoned hikers and joining them on the journey is
probably just as good.

The Sierra is time of shear hiking thrill. It's not the Bataan Death march.


Fallingwater