Re: [pct-l] View from here II

[frank tripicchio <frtripi@zeus.kern.org>]

Joanne Lennox wrote:

> The snow that is on the ground this year shows a PCT where much of the
> trail has snow way above average and way above what happened last year.
> This year seems to be unusual because such a high percentage of the trail
> has above normal snowpack; normally there is a reprieve from the snow
> either in central and Northern California or in Oregon, depending on which
> direction you start out from.
>
> the normal focus is not hitting the sierras too early, or starting in
> Washington too early.  Most of the Scenic Trails snow page and the data
> that is easily available has data for the two extreme ends of the trail -
> Washington and the Southern Sierras.  The important story this year may be
> what lies in between.
>
> Anybody that attempts a Washington to Mexico thruhike is in my prayers.
>
> I feel that I can get through the High Sierras, even in May this year (with
> crampons, and very early morning starts, etc.)Wading through the snow in
> the Sierras passes means that you usually have a valley below where camping
> will be possible off snow.  As you go father North however, the snow gets
> deeper and deeper AT LOWER AND LOWER ELEVATIONS. This means that after
> wading through the Sierras, you now have another month at least to not only
> break trail but to live in the snow.  At that point, I am willing to wait
> for a while or go north to Castella or Ashland for hopefully better
> pickings.  But I also know and am intimately acquainted with the "winter
> wall" that happens in Washington, and know that by the end of September all
> hopes of reaching Manning may be erased ( and it can happen sooner than
> that ).
>
> Goforth
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Joanne,
based on your observations, at what point would you suggest picking up an ice
axe(going North from Campo) and where will the bugs start to be an issue?
frank

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