[pct-l] Oregon Snow

[Jordan Beckett]

After reading Postholer's bit about the temp in Oregon being nice and
a bit below normal, I had to laugh...and then with the questions about
where the herd is, I figured I would drop an email about Oregon
conditions. I got into Cascade Locks yesterday with another thru,
Justin. Aside from him and Eric D at Timberline, I haven't seen thru
hikers since Seiad Valley, but with the Happy Camp fire there should
be some people hitting Southern Oregon right about now. For those
starting Oregon who get a chance to check the list, maybe I can help
you plan your resupply so you don't end up having to do any rationing
to compensate for the slower snow travel.

-There is a ton of snow still around Diamond Peak area; before you get
on the ridge while in the forest, and after until you get near the
lakes and Willamette/Shelter Cove area. The travel isn't bad, and if
you get caught out, don't worry cause there are places to camp in the
trees and the path is blazed quite well through there. Oh, and the
mosquitoes are quite rabid, ripe, and voracious around here. I would
gladly trade +/- 10 degrees for less skeeters! Hopefully it will be
better by now, but in Southern Oregon up to the Sisters they were
absolutely horrendous around mid July.
-The Sisters region was for me, about 5-7 miles of snow travel without
trail. I lost the trail for a bit, and didn't find it again until
Obsidian Falls, and then lost it again until the lava sections into
McKenzie. Directional travel isn't hard with the mountains, try to
keep your elevation constant and be patient.
-Mt. Washington should have hardly any snow by now, but Three Fingered
Jack has a lot of ridge lines, and several north facing slopes that
were troublesome. I personally prefer hiking sans poles, and had to
perfect the secret ninjutsu "holding hands with the hemlock" to get
through some parts. At times, you find yourself on a ridge with snow
50 feet up and 50 feet below-- it again takes time to get around and
stay on the trail. Here at least you can piece the trail together and
not lose it entirely.
-I lost the trail in Jefferson around the Cathedral Rocks area, and
didn't have it again until after the shale lake area. There are a lot
of lakes up on that ridge right now, and the shwacking isn't all the
pleasureable trying to find it heading down. The good news is that
Russel Creek should still be frozen over, so no worries there. I don't
have much advice for this section, because I was constantly cutting
diagonals trying to find the OST or the PCT, but with no luck.
Jefferson Park is quite snow covered, but going up to the viewpoint
and into Hood National Forest wasn't bad--it was almost like a snow
covered sierra pass.
-On Mount Hood life gets easier. Where the PCT starts to split up,
there is still snow, and I ended up off track cause there are a few
extra creeks in the area. My best advice is not to try your luck and
shwack to the trail, cause the forest is viciously thick around here.
I heard from a day hiker that it is better higher up on the hiker
trail than down in the forest in the equestrian part, but that is just
hearsay.

All in all, planning 40s, or over 40s isn't a good idea-- I learned
the hard way-- but I made up for it with tasty pizza at the ski
lodges! Plan on slowing down in the snow, my mileage got cut in half
in some places where I had to spend a lot of time cross countrying.
Take maps, watch your compass/ the sun, and with perserverance Oregon
isn't all that terrible right now. I've got to get off the trail cause
I'm starting grad school in a week or so, and don't have time to
snowplow through Washington as well. I'm bummed cause I got way off my
schedule of finishing by early August, but big mile days are tough
with all the snow in Oregon and no footprints to follow. Cheers, and
hopefully this long winded summary will help a few hikers out. Jordan
/ Jordache