[pct-l] Start date / snow conditions / other concerns?

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

June 15 is "Ray Day", or the day popularized by Ray Jardine in his writings.  Truth is, that date may or may not be optimal in any given year, depending on conditions, and on your level of ability. In a big snow year the Sierras mid-June there could still be plenty of snow on the passes and swollen fords as was the case in '05 and '06. As a point of reference, Mammoth Mountain is sometimes open for skiing until July 4th, and the resort's highest elevation is 11,000.  

Repeating something I've posted before gleaned from a conversation from an early 70s thru hiker, before Ray Day became everyone's mantra, the popular opinion was to enter the Sierras in May, not June, and March was typical for many starters. Ned Tibbits is one who started his 70s era hike in March.

My observation is that many hikers want to walk on a clearly defined trail without route finding or snow-related obstacles.  In other words, they want a nice hike without having to raise the skill level required to take on more challenges or risk.  They don't want to carry the gear required for those challenges, either. And that's certainly okay, and one way to approach it.

Personally, I believe there's a sweet spot between the end of avalanche danger and the big melt off, and it's going to vary with the weather conditions in any given year.  I've developed a preference for walking on consolidated snow rather than rotting out snow where you posthole into rocky crevasses.  Snow, particularly firmly packed snow, is a friend, not an enemy.     

L-Rod
 


-----Original Message-----
>From: Lenny Leum <littleleum at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Dec 14, 2008 4:55 PM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] Start date / snow conditions / other concerns?
>
>I remember from a previous post that it is not suggested to enter the high Sierras until around June 15th.  Since I need to finish my trip early September, I was looking at leaving from Kennedy Meadows June 1st (or maybe even a few days earlier).  I don't have much experience in snow conditions, but I'm pretty good with a map and compass, and I did the JMT last summer south to north from Mt Whitney to Yosemite (dumb idea but I guess it might pay off this year) so I at least know the path, even if it was in August at the time... any comments or ideas are welcome, thanks!
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