[pct-l] Snow conditions in Mammoth

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Chuck 

Beeman, 



In 2006, another above average snow year, there were several folks that left KM in early June (June 1) and carried snowshoes.  Rolling Thunder and Rainskirt I know both carried shoes.  I was a day behind them and what I found is that snowshoes would have been beneficial in some areas, but I am not convinced these sections were worth the additional weight, considering that I was already carrying sufficient supplies to go thru to VVR.  In 2006 I had 12 days of food due to the high snow level.  Specifically, I think the snowshoes came in handy in the lower elevations on the north sides of the high passes.  The reason I say this is that typically we would undertake the last 2000 feet of the pass in early morning and the snow was still consolidated to climb well without shoes.  We typically encountered snow for 5-6 miles on the north side of the pass but didnt really posthole until we got off the steep north slopes and shoes would have helped for 1-2 miles in my opinion. 



Elevator 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CHUCK CHELIN" <steeleye at wildblue.net> 
To: "Paul Cronshaw" <beemancron at hotmail.com> 
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Monday, April 5, 2010 8:17:32 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snow conditions in Mammoth 

Good morning, Beeman, 



Occasionally someone will carry – and presumably use – snowshoes on a NoBo 
PCT hike but it’s pretty rare.  In ’98 Chris Bailey documented a crossing of 
the Sierras that he and Jenelle made in a very heavy snow year. 
http://www.aldhawest.org/Gazette/V4_1_Impassable.asp  As I recall they 
didn’t use snowshoes. 



Remember:  The depth of the snow doesn’t really matter provided the snow is 
well coalesced into snowpack that can – usually – support a hiker. 

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=264464 

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=264576 

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=264768 



Steel-Eye 

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965 

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye 

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09 


On Sun, Apr 4, 2010 at 11:38 PM, Paul Cronshaw <beemancron at hotmail.com>wrote: 

> 
> Just back from a family trip to Mammoth over my spring break. 
> 
> The first two days, a storm came in and dumped 18" of new snow. 
> A winter wonderland in springtime! 
> 
> 
> http://picasaweb.google.com/beemancron/MammothSpringBreak#5456502026231395474 
> 
> With another storm scheduled tonight to bring more snow to the Sierras, I 
> am wondering if 
> the Sierra start date from KM might have to to be adjusted. 
> 
> I used snowshoes for the first time to do some cross country exploring. 
>  Has anyone hiked the PCT in a heavy snow season in snowshoes? 
> 
> The Beeman 
> 
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