[pct-l] crampons

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

On Oct 23, 2009, at 12:56 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Of course when glaciers calf it is kind of act of god stuff.

Glaciers? Good god! Now you tell me there are glaciers???

The only place I saw a glacier on the trail was on Goat Rocks in  
Washington, and the trail was no longer on it. (The Packwood  
Glacier.) I met a guy who had thru-hiked in 1977 and he was amazed  
how far the glacier had receded. Global warming, he said. Now the  
trail is 15 feet above the glacier and you'll be wishing it was still  
on the glacier. (Solution, take the high route for a safer trail.)

I think Mtnned & Lady J gave the best description of the Sierra snow  
and what kind of gear is useful. I would only add that at 135lbs I  
never ever postholed on any Sierra snow except when I broke through a  
little pocket. I did posthole in snow near Mt. Baden-Powell. I'd say  
that the snow conditions in the San Bernardinos/San Gabriels might  
actually be scarier than in the Sierras.