[pct-l] Campsites and Snow Pack

[Scott Williams]

Good info Halfmile.  Gramma Lissa and I found one of the little campsites
you noted in the San Felipe Hills on our first night up there, tucked off
trail in a sandy wash that was only big enough for our two tents if we wove
the lines over and around each others tents.  The wind was howling, but we
had steep rock walls on 3 sides and were well out of it.  The problem was
for those coming behind us, all of whom had to hike several miles and more
before they could pitch a tent.  It is a gorgeous section, and your
mentioning the lack of suitable tent sites is actually very appropiate.

The next night the winds had blown up even stronger, and it was snowing, and
a group of folks pitched on the ridge.  Not a good thing.  One of them
brought out his sleeping bag too soon, and was standing on it to keep it for
blowing away, when he accidentally lifted his foot, and the bag went air
born the moment it was free of his foot.  It sailed off the ridge never to
be seen again.

Mango and I encouraged the other person we were hiking with to get the hell
off that ridge as soon as we could, and not to camp in the open.  We found a
protected baranca and pitched out of the wind, but still found ourselves in
4 to 5 inches of snow by the morning.  The moral of the story is, don't
pitch camp on an open ridge in 80 mph winds

By the way, Mango sent me an email a week ago, and is apparently shut out of
this forum due to the computer problems which seem to be plaguing so many.
 At least I think he still is.

Shroomer