[pct-l] Sufficient snow for Snow Basics?

[Ned Tibbits]

Mojubee,

Is there enough snow right now to teach Snow Basics?

Most of the skills/wisdom we teach can be taught on very little snow. What 
we have out there right now looks more like a nasty case of lingering Fall 
before Winter sets in:
- lots of ice on-trail,
- frozen lakes,
- sub-freezing days and temps to the teens or lower at night,
- snow on north sides up to 2 feet at 8,000, and
- some trail visibility.

Just getting around safely in that kind of environment necessitates some 
prior experience dealing with it! In our local (Tahoe) Search & Rescue 
training, we spend a fair amount of time covering:
- working in sub-freezing temperatures,
- sleeping/camping on snow/ice,
- anticipating staying warm & dry all the time (don't sweat),
- traction and balance control to prevent falls and becoming another injured 
needing rescue,
- route finding and route selection,
- avalanche awareness & avoidance, and so on.

So, any kind of experience/skills training that you can get before you're on 
your own is priceless for your well-being, confidence, security, and 
enjoyment of where you are. Don't rely on others, once out there, to lead 
the way or teach you what you need to do because they may not know or even 
be there when you need the skill or advice! CYA and get experience dealing 
with the known and anticipated hazards ahead.



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: Mojubee at gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 7:19 AM
To: <ned at mountaineducation.org>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Idyllwild to ADZPCTKO

Thanks Ned
Does the sufficient snow requirement refer to all classes ??

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 21, 2014, at 10:41 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

> I don't know if this will be of interest to any of this year's thrus, but
> Mountain Education will be teaching its Snow Basics Course up in Saddle
> Junction on Mt. San Jacinto the weekend of April 18-20.
>
> As happened the last time we offered this course there, many en route thru
> hikers, who could not attend any of our other course dates/locations, took
> advantage of the course offered there and were able to attended as they 
> went
> by!
>
> I'm just putting it out there:  If you will be in the vicinity and are a
> current-year thru hiker, you need to let us know that you'd like to learn
> what we have to teach during this 3-day snow skills event so we can 
> register
> you for it!
>
> (...all this is contingent on sufficient snow!)
>
>
>
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education
> www.mountaineducation.org
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Trevor McKee
> Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 9:10 PM
> To: Michele Starry
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Idyllwild to ADZPCTKO
>
> OH OH OH, Me too!
>
> I'm starting that same week Michele and am planning on hitching back to 
> the
> KO, then back up the trail where I left off.
>
> Would love a ride from someone in the community, and I'd also graciously
> help with gas money!
>
> -Mayor Trevor
>
> On Jan 21, 2014, at 7:46 PM, Michele Starry wrote:
>
>> Greetings!  My mom and I are hiking the PCT this year, departing April 15
>> (tax day AND a full moon!).  We expect to be to Idyllwild on Thursday or
>> Friday, April 24-25.  We wanted to head back down to ADZPCTKO but aren't
>> sure how to do that.  Is anyone going to be heading from Idyllwild to the
>> ADZPCTKO and then back on Sunday after the kick-off?  We're hoping to
>> maybe kick in on gas money in exchange for a ride.  We're thinking this
>> might be a bit far and maybe we have to skip the kick-off.  Anyone have
>> any ideas?  Appreciate the help....
>>
>> -Michele
>> www.swollenfeat.com
>>
>>
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