[pct-l] Ned's snow camp

Mon Mar 7 12:44:01 CST 2011

Sourdough your welcome, my pleasure in fact,

So to answer your questions in order:

My start date is April 15th.
Not sure about kick off, I wish it was either earlier or farther up the
trail, everyone at training this weekend is going and lots have already gone
in the past, either hiking or just enjoying.
I hiked the AT in 2006, started March 23rd and climbed Katahdin October
10th, best 5 1/2 months ever!!!!!!  I made so many good friends and great
memories on the trail, but damn there are a lot of climbs.  That's where I
got my trail name, Flying Tortoise, that I wear with honor.
Sure you can contact me, either through g-mail or call if you'd like, my
number is 805-689-4276, if I don't answer I'll call back, just let me know a
good time to call.

Steven (Flying Tortoise)

On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 10:19 AM, 'Sourdough' Foster <
athruhiker2006 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> THANKS soooo much for taking the time to share this!
> I am going in mid April just before starting nobo on 4/19.
> Being from Chattanooga TN....I NEED snow training!
>
> When are you starting your hike?
> Are you going to KO?
> When did you hike the AT?
> And would it be ok to contact you for some more specific preparation
> questions about this course?
>
> My cell is 423-762-5144
>
> THANKS!
>
> Sourdough        GA->ME '06
>
> *
> When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
> He finds it attached to the rest of the World.
> John Muir
>
>  *
>
> * *
>
> PPlease consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* Steven Mueller <mueller.s.r at gmail.com>
> *To:* PCT-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> *Sent:* Mon, March 7, 2011 1:05:28 PM
> *Subject:* [pct-l] Ned's snow camp
>
> Hi all once again,
>
> This weekend I had the pleasure of attending one of Ned and Julies (can't
> forget Snowball) Winter snow courses.  What a weekend!!!  To begin with I
> was joined by some of the nicest people that are going to be part of the
> 2011 thru-hiker community;  Liz (my ride up from SB, also a neighbor from 1
> 1/2 blocks away that I'd never met and a great person even after 18 hours
> in
> the car and 2 days in a tent lol), Neil (no matter when he starts his hike
> I'll be following him (man that guy can hike)), Lisa (don't go to Alaska
> until AFTER your thru), John "me 2" (always ready to answer a question) and
> Barney "to be hope" (if only I could see the landscape through your eyes,
> every step is a miracle).
>
>
> I was a little apprehensive of Ned, he does have his definite opinions in
> his online presence, but there are some definite reasons for this.  His
> experience level in the mountains and snow are incredible, his PCT thru was
> in 72' and since then he's been saving lives both in the real world and
> teaching others to save their own.  In person he loves sharing his
> experience but listens and learns along with the rest of us.  The best part
> of the weekend was sitting around the snow table and sharing stories and
> information.
>
>
> We were also blessed with the presence of his wife Julie, man can that lady
> keep the pace up.  She had great stories and always a smile and a helping
> hand, Ned and Julie make a heck of a couple.  They also brought along their
> pet polar bear, Snowball, take about a slave driver, he let us know when we
> weren't moving fast enough in his opinion (remember don't feed the bears).
>
>
> The first day was the hike in, 4 1/2 miles across frozen lakes, snow
> covered
> hills and lots of stops for questions and information.  For anyone that has
> never snow shoed let me tell you it's not a walk in the park, there are
> muscles that I didn't even know that I had that are still sore.  We set up
> tents and pretty much were in our bags by 6:30.
>
>
> On Saturday, after a long breakfast, we did the self-arrest in the morning.
> Learning to walk along bowls in your snowshoes, in your boots and feel
> safe,
> and then Sliding down the hill, on our stomach, back, head-first, upside
> down (I so sucked at that one), you start to see that if the worst case
> scenario happens and you do happen to start sliding you don't have to
> panic.
> There were lots of seriously fun moments sliding around.
>
>
> After lunch we did a hike around the lakes in the area, focusing on
> navigating with a map (no compass required (you learn to orient yourself
> without one)) (halfmiles are great because of the scale, thanks again
> halfmile).  The only thing I'll say about that is don't believe anyone when
> you can read a map correctly.  The Desolation Wilderness is so incredibly
> beautiful in the middle of winter.
>
> That night we got to experience a winter storm, between 8 in the evening
> and
> 8 in the morning on Sunday we had at least 8 inches of wet snow, winds that
> were pretty intense throughout the night (they sound like a train coming
> off
> of the mountains and then they are upon you, pretty cool).  It was iffy at
> times as to if we were going to stay another day because of the storm, but
> during a break we broke camp and about 3 hours later we were at the parking
> lot.  The lesson learned was if the weather is bad, you're not sure if you
> can make it out without getting cold and wet, then stay put, ride it out
> and
> when you can safely get out do it then, it's not a race. On a more personal
> note in the dead of night, on a cold and windy night a tent with a
> vestibule
> is sure handy, lol.
>
>
> This trip taught me a lot, both about snow, hiking and the people I'll be
> hiking with. It made me reevaluate my gear, there is a reason that people
> are moving more and more towards ultra light camping.  While I'll never be
> ultra light I'm not going to be ultra heavy anymore (I was already 10 lbs
> less than my AT thru).
>
>
>
> My favorite piece of gear is my Marmot Oracle jacket  it works in the rain,
> wind and snow, followed closely by my Feathered Friends down booties,
> NeoAir
> sleeping pad and Marmot Helium Membrane 15 degree bag.  I'll never trade my
> Asolo boots for trail runners but more power to those that do.
>
>
> To sum it up I'd highly recommend Ned's course to any hiker, thru-hikers,
> day-hikers, weekend warriors, everyone.  Anytime you can meet up with a
> bunch of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts and learn lots of new things then
> it's time well spent.
>
>
> Thanks again Ned and Julie, along with my fellow snow campers,
>
>
> Hike your own hike and happy trails,
>
>
> Steven  (Flying Tortoise)
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