[pct-l] Southbound Hiker

[Steel-Eye]

Good evening, Austin,

I don't have extensive experience in the autumn Sierras, but temperatures below 20 F probably won't be your greatest concern.  As an Oregonian you've probably been around enough mountain snow to know that while spring snow is well coalesced snowpack --- something you can walk upon --- autumn snow is usually soft; the kind of stuff you have to walk through.  Postholing through snowpack can be monumentally aggravating, but wading in 2 ft. of fresh stuff really makes a long day.  Generally, snowshoes don't even help much.  Regarding early-season snow, you might be guided by the experience of the last PCT hikers through Washington in '07.

Another ominous difference is what tomorrow will bring:  Travel over snowpack usually gets better every day as the stuff melts.  Hiking in autumn snow always carries the threat that conditions can easily get a whole bunch worse on short notice.

Steel-Eye

^^^^^^^^^^  Serious hikers gather at:  http://www.aldhawest.org/  ^^^^^^^^^^

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Austin Williams 
  To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 4:51 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Southbound Hiker


  I really appreciate the advice.  It sounds like I should move my start date up a few weeks.. perhaps to mid July.  How is the weather in the Sierras at the beginning of the fall?  Temperatures in the 20's?  I do own a heavier zero degree bag which I *could* send to myself if needed to.... but I'll stick with my 20 degree-er so long as it sounds safe.

  -Austin





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