[pct-l] Early season JMT condition report

[Jesse Crocker]

Hello All,
Just got back from a thru-ski of the JMT a couple days ago.
There is a lot of snow right now, 2-4 feet along the touleme river, 8+ 
feet in colby meadow.  Lots of big avalanche debris from this winter. 
Thru-hikers might get lucky and be able to cross Evolution creek on 
avalanche debris about a mile upstream from the regular ford, the debris 
pile is about 15 feet thick, and proably has some trees in it.

Switchbacks from guitar lake up to Trail Crest are mostly melted out, 
and the trail to the summit of Whitney is easily passable WITH an ice 
axe.  There is about 5 miles of trail near the muir trail ranch turn off 
that is melted out, and a couple miles of partly melted trail on the way 
up bear ridge, but other than that the trail is 100% snow covered.

All bridges are in good condition.

The tub at reds meadow is open, there are a few dry patches of ground to 
camp on, but the bathrooms are all locked.

My message to thru-Hikers: if the sun cups dont get to big, it might be 
a great year to do the jmt on skis, if the conditions are right, it can 
be way faster.

For pictures see: 
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1861081323656.2093224.1139611913&l=547923e3b9
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Mountain Goat(pct 2009)