RE: [pct-l] Fwd: massive snowpack & climax avalanches

["Eric Lee (Office)" <elee@MICROSOFT.com>]

Sly wrote:

>
Hmmm, more doomsday!

How does anyone get this trail in, between heat, snow, fords and let's not
forget the bears and mosquitoes, this trail would almost appear impossible?

One foot in front of the other, til you can't go anymore.  
>

I live in Seattle, and it's true that the weather here has been unbelievably
miserable.  I grew up in the Northwest so I'm used to the winters here, but
even I'm going stark raving mad with all this rain!  The snowpack figures
speak for themselves - there is indeed a HUGE amount of snow in the
Cascades.  The avalanche warning that the original poster referred to comes
from the Seattle Mountaineers at http://www.mountaineers.org/avalanche.html.

Now I'm no expert (insert standard disclaimers here), but I'd imagine that
the current avalanche danger would be long past by the time north-bound PCT
hikers get to Washington (late August?).  The only impacts north-bounders
will likely see are LOTS of bugs and possibly an unusual amount of trail
damage, if this "climax avalanche" thing comes to pass.

However, south-bounders and flip-floppers are a different matter!  If you're
doing the Washington section early in the year (before, say, July?), then
yes, you might want to carefully think through your plans.  That's just
common sense.

Interestingly, the Nation Weather Service does NOT expect flooding in
Washington when all this snow begins to melt.  They feel that the melt-off
will be pretty slow and controlled.  Good news for river crossings, but bad
news for finding the trail!

By the way, this is my first post here.  I've been lurking for several weeks
and I'm learning lots!  Great list!

Eric
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