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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Folks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Looking at the most recent information it looks
like deep snow in northern NM and southern CO: <A
href="ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2008/snow0803.gif">ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2008/snow0803.gif</A></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I still plan to hike NOBO, starting in late April
at Columbus, because I want a longer hiking season to work with. I am
willing to be extremely flexible, but definitely want to finish northbound at
the Canadian border.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Given the latest snow information, where am I
likely to hit the first hit deep snow?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Will the deep snows likely result in deep water on
the Gila River route at that time of year?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If I temporarily skip a section of trail, what
suggestions do people have for another long section, or sections, I
can do while waiting for the deeper snows down south to melt? For example, if I
head up to South Pass and hike south, how likely is it the deep snow will have
mostly melted by the time I get to where it was?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>How about skipping much farther north, say to the
Butte area, then heading south? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've done enough post-holing in my life to know
that I want to avoid post-holing, so any other sensible options people can think
of, I'd like to hear them!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Colter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My 1,000 Mile Hike and Paddle Across Alaska<BR><A
href="http://www.bucktrack.com/Alaska_Brooks_Range_Traverse.html">http://www.bucktrack.com/Alaska_Brooks_Range_Traverse.html</A></FONT></DIV>
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