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[pct-l] Thru-hiker Nth of Kennedy Mdws and conditions Nth of the Sierras

Charlie asked:

<Has anyone heard from any thru-hiker who is currently hiking north of Kennedy
<Meadows? If so, are they continuing thru the Sierras, or did they skip ahead?
<To where? 

I spoke with Martina Osterloh and Brian Dickson last night from Kernville.
They have reports of serious snow in the Sierras and further north.  From
7,000 feet in the Tehachapis they could see solid snow up around Whitney.
They said when approaching San Jacinto it only looked patchy and conditions
ended up very serious, so if this looks solid . . . I related the story in
the L.A. Times Sunday that showed 25 to 35 feet of snow at Lassen Ntl Park
still!  Martina and Brian are hitch-hiking out to Bakersfield, taking a
train to visit a friend in San Francisco and then on by train to Manning
Park to begin Nth to Sth.  

I had just hung up from coordinating this re-arrangement of their schedule
when Brian Sweet(?) called me from Lone Pine.  He had hitch-hiked from
Kennedy Meadows to Lone Pine for supplies, better maps and a good update on
the snow.  He wanted to know if he should wait at Kennedy Mdws for Martina
and Brian.  He plans to cross-country ski alone thru the Sierra's! He has
many years of experience on x-country skis and wouldn't recommend this for
anyone not experienced so.  He is nervous but excited.  I asked him to call
me from Vermillion for an update and check-in, as no one is following him.
I will report when I hear from him, probably around June 20th to 24th.  He
doesn't think anyone is ahead of him and said the people at Kennedy Mdws
confirmed this.  

If anyone is going snowshoeing or x-country skiing in the southern Sierras
in the next two weeks, please look out for his tracks and let me know if
you see any sign of him.  It is a long way to go, 180 miles + (because
Onion Valley road is closed still) alone thru intimidating conditions.

Stride on!

Greg "Strider" Hummel
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