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[pct-l] re: questions from a novice

mark - starting in may down at whitney you'll see alot more snow.  in fact,
it may not be passable at all.  thru hikers try and time the hike to leave
kennedy meadow after june 1.

i know what you're thinking (i think:) - less snow further south.  not the
case here, as the southern sierras are much higher than around tahoe.

starting in tahoe late june should be ok.  only problem might be dicks pass
in the desolation wilderness, although the tahoe area has only average to
below average snow depth as of april 1, so you may be just fine.  by the
time you reach the high sierra south of yosemite, snow levels should be
quite reduced.  last year i hiked sonora-ebbetts pass over july 4, and
caught a couple miles of snow north of wolf creek pass.  three years ago i
did donohue pass to piute pass in early-mid august - just a mile or less of
snow over silver pass(?), and no cornice.

consider learning how to use an ice axe for self arrest, and carry one
early in the hike (don't bother if you haven't practiced, tho - false sense
of security).  you can send it home if the snow is not bad.

as for river crossings, there are few if any "dangerous" ones north of
yosemite, tho of course any crossing can be dangerous, another reason for
starting at tahoe.  by the time you get into the high sierra late
july/early august (if you're not churning up the miles, that is), water
levels should be past their peak.

hope this helps.   that's going to be a beautiful hike.

mike

=========================================================
Michael Henderson		mikeh@royalrobbins.com

We cannot know what we can do in advance.  The only way 
to find out is to go all-out trying, thinking only success.
     - Royal Robbins
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