[pct-l] El Nino for 2010 and snow hiking

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

Hi, Carey!

At Mountain Education we train hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts how to 
prepare for and safely conduct their own backpacking trips into the Fourth 
Season. We have snowshoed the length of the Sierra during all of the winter 
months, whether there was a lot of snow or just a little. So, here is our 
advice regarding the "passability" of the Sierra under snow:

Unless there is a drought, you will be dealing with snow somewhere along the 
trail, whether on the peaks of SoCal, along the high sierra, or in the PNW 
where the pack may still be lingering once you get there, so learn how to 
deal with it, either by getting out and practicing in it on your own this 
winter, reading how others went through it, or attending some sort of class, 
club, or other course that will teach you how. This is just being smart and 
looking ahead to see what you're up against and preparing for it in whatever 
way makes you feel "ready."

Whether there is 6 inches, six feet, or 20 feet, you deal with it the same, 
cautiously. You suddenly can't see the trail easily, so you'll have to know 
how to navigate topographically while being very careful how you place your 
feet so as not to twist your ankle or slip on a buried rock or branch. The 
more snow, the less you'll have to worry about rocks and branches, but you 
will have to watch out for buried tree trunks, boulders,  lakes, and creeks. 
As the day's heat melts the snow in the Spring, you'll need to watch out for 
shaded and morning ice and afternoon postholing (hard on the ankles, knees, 
and backs), not to mention the suncups and creek crossings.

Just be aware that these hazards are out there and learn how you're going to 
identify and deal with them once you're there. Don't rely on "the other 
hikers" to help you through the tough spots because they may not be around 
when you need them. If they are, they can only tell you how to physically do 
what you must. You still have to have the experience through practice, the 
balance, and/or the foot/body/motor control to pull it off on your own 
without getting hurt (visualize, here, crossing the icy chute below Forester 
Pass or any of the white-water creek crossings within the springtime 
sierra).

So, our advice is to start whenever you feel like, because you're probably 
going to have snow anyway (unless there is a very light winter or a 
drought). If you start early, say April 1st, you'll have more snow, but less 
miles per day needed to get to Canada before the next Winter begins so you 
can go slower and do more things along the way (fishing, exploring, peak 
climbing, side trail hiking, photography, reading, sun-bathing, etc., etc.).

Mtnned
Mountain Education
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carey Russell" <carey at kestrelfilms.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:23 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Influence of El Nino for 2010?


> I'm currently preparing for a thru-hike of the PCT for the summer of
> 2010 and am curious if others are discussing the potential affects of
> El Nino weather patters for 2010.  I'm only marginally familiar with
> this cyclical pattern, but my understanding is that the western U.S.
> should be receiving   increased precipitation including extra snow in
> the Sierras.  Because of this, my concern is that the high sierras may
> not be passable until much later in the hiking season.  Any thoughts
> or experiences from previous El Nino years on the PCT?
>
> Thanks, Carey
>
>
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