[pct-l] Winter PCT hiking

[Ned Tibbits]

If you expect to encounter snow on your trip, train for it! Learn how to 
walk on, in, and thru it with confidence. No more fear.

The PCT in winter is simply awesome!

Here are the basic rules:

    * You CAN stay warm and dry!
        - dress in layers
        - avoid sweating as much as possible
        - when you fall down, brush off right away
        - avoid wetness-causing hazards:
            - buried creeks
            - idiot-makers on tree branches
            - avalanche prone and icy slopes
            - deep snow spots/drifts that can slow your feet and cause a 
fall
        -at breaks, layer up right away
    * Avoid ( recognize in advance) snow dangers:
        - avalanche prone and icy slopes
        - buried creeks
        - buried branches, logs, rocks that could cause a fall
    * Learn how to self-arrest, walk on snowshoes or skis on ice,
        pick a safe route, and navigate on snow.

Remember!  There's no dirt, bugs, bears (for the most part), or fire
    restrictions when snow camping!

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Please visit: www.mountaineducation.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Bache" <tbache at san.rr.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:17 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Winter PCT hiking


>I have to speak up for the Southern California PCT (defined to be from the
> border to Kennedy Meadows).  To my mind, there is no preferred season for
> hiking most of it.  This is based on experience -- I section hiked most of
> the Southern California PCT in the winter (2004-5 and 2005-6) so I could
> save my summer hiking for places too hard and dangerous for me in winter.
> One can argue (and I would) that most of southern California is better for
> hiking in the winter than in the normal hiking season.  The weather is 
> cool,
> but not cold, in the daytime, so chances are that you will feel very much
> stronger than you do when fighting dehydration.  As a bonus, you see 
> almost
> no one.
>
> Baden-Powell, San Jacinto, and Kennedy Meadows have lots of snow in the
> winter, so I saved them for warmer months.  But I had no problems (other
> than occasional rain) elsewhere.  Snow is rare and short-lived below 8000'
> in Southern California except on north-facing slopes -- sort of like the
> Sierras in June.  Below 6000' it is rare even on shaded slopes.
>
> But you should recognize that you can get unlucky -- in San Diego County 
> we
> will sometimes get snow down to 3000' with lots of snow (12" or more) on 
> the
> PCT in the Lagunas.  It would indeed be bad luck to get caught in one of
> these rare storms, but a few days later it will be warm and the snow will
> melt away.  The same sort of thing happens in the San Bernadinos, San
> Gabriels, and Tehachapis -- all the way up to Walker Pass and beyond --  
> good
> conditions most of the time with occasional storms that dump short-lived
> snow.
>
> Your best bet for a winter section hike is Section A (110 miles) and the
> first part of Section B.  Problems with snow are very rare in this area.
> The portions of the trail between Islip Saddle (just west of Mt
> Baden-Powell) and Walker Pass are likely to be fine too, though the odds 
> of
> snow are a bit higher.
>
> Enjoying the mountains year 'round,
>
> Tom Bache
> San Diego
>
>
>> From: "Eric Lee (GAMES)" <elee at microsoft.com>
>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Closed shop on the PCT?
>> To: g l <gailpl2003 at yahoo.com>, Home <jeffreyn at sonic.net>, PCT
>> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>
> Gail wrote:
>>>
>> How bout on the PCT tho???  Can't I pound out ANY of it this winter???
>>>
> Eric wrote:
>> There are parts of the southern CA desert that you can hike in the 
>> winter,
>> though I don't know if there's any contiguous 100 mile sections even down
>> there.  I'm not too familiar with that area.
>>
>> I know for sure that there's nothing in Oregon or Washington, and I doubt
>> there's anything in CA north of the start of the Sierras, either. 
>> There's a
>> reason why it's called the Pacific _Crest_ Trail.
>>
>> On the other hand, you could strap on some snowshoes and have a grand 
>> time in
>> the mountains this winter.  That's what I do!
>>
>> Eric
>
>
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