[pct-l] Snow

[Steel-Eye]

Good evening, Bob,

I agree entirely with Games.  Russia's Frunze Military Academy has a maxim:
"Snow is not neutral", meaning that it favors those who are prepared and
experienced, but it can be cruel indeed to those who aren't, i.e. the troops
of Bonaparte and Hitler.  If you are a reasonably experienced winter
outdoorsman from the snow-belt you won't have much of a problem.

The Sierras aren't particularly cold in the PCT season, but be prepared for
frost in the morning and maybe a light snowfall now and again.  As was
mentioned recently in reference to tents, it is rare to have to camp on
snow.  Most often there are suitable bare spots.

Most hike through the Sierras without traction aids on their shoes but I've
found that I'm a bit less agile than I was a mere 50 years ago, so if
there's any significant snowpack I like to use poles and instep crampons.

Steel-Eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Sartini" <r.sartini at rcn.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:56 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Snow


> After reading about snow conditions I'm a bit puzzled.  Is a lot of snow
> in the mountains a southern California "lot" by people who are not used to
> snow or an actual lot. Could someone from say Minnesota or Maine or Alaska
> or someplace that has big snow and done the PCT maybe make a comparison.
> I had nine feet of snow outside my door in Vermont last winter and a lot
> of it was still there in April. But I could walk on it and used Yaktrax on
> the icy driveway.