[pct-l] Sierra Conditions

Tortoise Tortoise73 at charter.net
Fri May 16 23:14:13 CDT 2008


You can get bad wind/rain storms in the Sierra in September too.  About 
Labor Day, 1978, I and a friend were hiking from Devil's Postpile south 
when a big "pineapple express" storm hit the Sierra. Where we were, we got 
deluged with rain.  Father south down by Mt. Whitney, 4 people died in snow 
from hypothermia and ???.

So as Groundpounder Bill says:  Be Prepared and Be Smart. You can get 
walloped with a storm anytime in the Sierra.


Tortoise

<> He who finishes last, wins! <>


William Skaggs wrote:
>> From: "David Dralle" daviddralle at gmail.com
>> Subject: [pct-l] Sierra Conditions
>>
>> My plan is to hike southbound from the oregon-cali border around mid august.
>> This will put me through the sierras in october and into the desert. I'm
>> worried about drought conditions on my hike, especially in the desert in the
>> fall. I've heard a few things about above average snow in the sierras this
>> winter making for some extra water in the streams. Does anyone know anything
>> about this? Thanks,
> 
> Drought conditions in the desert in the fall are pretty much a given, regardless
> of snow levels.  You'll just have to deal with it.
> 
> Anyway, back around March 1 snow levels were trending above average, but
> there was hardly any more snow after that, and right now snow levels in
> the southern and central Sierra are at about half of average for this time
> of year.  So, you can expect things to be pretty dry in the mountains as
> well.  (For northern California, snow levels are currently pretty close to
> average for this time of year.)
> 
> Also note that it's quite possible to get bad snowstorms in the Sierra
> in October -- not usual, but possible -- so you should be ready to deal
> with anything that might happen.
> 
>   -- Bill
> 
> (By the way, please don't quote the whole digest when replying to a message.)
> 
> 
> 
> 
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