[pct-l] Snowshoes after the thaw

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

I believe this question has been answered quite well, but I had to chime 
in....

We took MSR Lightning Ascent snow shoes into the sierra out of Kennedy 
Meadows last year (May and June) to use them when the snow started getting 
too soft in the afternoon and we expected to suffer through "postholing."

Well, the thaw didn't start until early June, so the night time temps. 
remained in the 20s and we still had snow storms through May, so the snow 
stayed consolidated and hard throughout the day making for easy walking on 
top of the pack.

Come June, the pack started melting out in force, the snow bridges over the 
creeks melted out making for typical, summertime creek-crossing scenarios, 
and at the same time the creeks rose and the crossings became quite 
difficult/dangerous. While the pack remained cold and hard, walking on it 
was easy with the right footwear and traction aids.

So, lets talk about the need for snow shoes after the thaw starts in the 
Sierra. If the morning temps are somewhat cold, the surface of the snow will 
be hard or at least have a crust on it making for easy walking (got to be 
careful about slipping, still). Once the warm spring sun starts working on 
it, the surface will soften and your shoes will get a better "bite." This 
may take you to 10 or 11 o'clock in the morning. Thereafter, the soft 
surface snow will get deeper and soon you will have the threat of 
post-holing (that sharp, sudden, jarring plunge of your leg into the pack, 
often to the knees or deeper, which is very fatiguing to get out of, and 
especially repeatedly throughout the late morning and afternoon).

If you time your ascent over the next Pass such that you reach the top by 
the time the snow gets soft only on the surface, not only will you have the 
choice to glissade down the back side without getting cut up by ice, but you 
may have enough time to quickly hike over the surface all the way down the 
several miles of descent snow to the mud level of water-filled trail and 
rock. (I am particularly referring to the section of trail from Cottonwood 
Pass to Sonora Pass). If you do not time your ascents and descents like 
this, you may have miles of softening snow-covered descent "trail" where the 
chance for post-holing becomes very likely, real, and painful. (We haven't 
even mentioned "suncups" yet!).

So, if you find yourself post-holing and you still have a distance to reach 
the snowline and visible trail, having and being able to use snowshoes 
allows you to continue on without being jarred and scarred. It's all about 
the conditions before you, the air temp, the intensity of the sun, the 
exposure of the snow-covered slope you are on, shade, thickness of the pack, 
whether there is a lot of running water or air under the pack, and the 
amount of debris in the pack that will dictate how soon you will start 
post-holing. Don't forget, walking over and through snow (whether wallowing 
or post-holing) consumes a TON of calories, so be prepared with lots of 
extra food while going through the Sierra!

In essence, you do not need snow shoes to get through the Springtime Sierra 
if your strategy and footwear is good. If you ask, "What's 'good' mean?" 
then you'll have to go out for yourself and learn how to walk on snow to 
find out. Do this, preferably, Before you find yourself in the Sierra on 
your thru hike!!



"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Samuel Ward" <samward36 at gmail.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 3:59 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Snowshoes


> Hello Everyone,
> I'm curious as to why snowshoes aren't more popular on the snowed in
> sections of the PCT.  From all the accounts of those who do an early 
> Sierra
> entry and experience extensive snowed in trail it seems like snowshoes 
> would
> remedy a lot of the issues with post holing and slow moving across miles 
> of
> snow field.  Besides having to carry the extra weight, is there a reason
> people dont typically carry these?  Seems like it would make the hiking 
> much
> more enjoyable.
>
> Sam
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