[pct-l] Start thru in March. -- Fuller Ridge

[Ned Tibbits]

Perfect comment, Gary!

On Mountain Education's Snow Advanced Courses in the high sierra (over 
Forester, Glen, Pinchot, Mather, etc.), this is what we try to point out all 
day, every day. Conditions are constantly changing, especially during 
freeze-thaw cycles of snow, so you can't let yourself become complacent or 
go too fast that you don't notice the little signals all around you that 
say, "Watch Out--Accident Waiting to Happen Ahead!"

No joke, but you don't have to be "on-alert" all the time, just aware of 
your changing surroundings, even just going from steep shade to steep sun on 
snow (this is a big one!).

Snow-hikers are out there to enjoy themselves in the awesome, snow-blanketed 
scenery! Although there is quite a bit to be aware of for personal health 
and safety, once you have it pointed out to you, once you see it, feel it, 
and it makes sense to you, how you proceed  thereafter will melt into 
"auto-pilot" leaving you to just enjoy the walk!

Books and Videos on the various hazards and the skills needed to overcome 
them help to expose the need to learn more, but nothing beats going out onto 
the snow and being taught, then practicing the skills until they become 
reflexive.

Even the pros get into trouble!



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: gary_schenk at verizon.net
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 7:50 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Start thru in March. -- Fuller Ridge

On 12/23/13, ned at mountaineducation.org wrote:

The first problem thru hikers have is they don't know how to recognize such
a high risk, icy slope, especially if it is covered with a recent, fresh
snowfall. They won't have their ice axes out because of this and most don't
know how to use them for self-arrest, anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMHO, if you are self-arresting, you already screwed up, big time. 
Self-arrest works in maybe what, 50% of the time? And you need to stick it 
within a second or two. And if it is hard ice, you might as well kiss your 
butt good-bye.

Much more important is knowledge of climbing snow in balance and the use of 
the axe as self-belay. And knowing the conditions around you. In one of the 
instances Rob mentioned on Mt. Baldy, there was a thin layer of snow over 
hard ice. The man who fell was a very experienced mountaineer, he got a bit 
complacent and tried to glissade in those conditions. He was not able to 
self-arrest in that ice.

Knowing the conditions around you, and the limitations of yourself and your 
equipment makes travel in the mountains safe.

YMMV, HYOH, etc., etc. wow.

Gary
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