[pct-l] Snow Safety this April-June

Tue Feb 9 01:12:10 CST 2016

Good summary of the conditions that may be faced in an average to high snow
year Ned.  The only thing I'll add is that in 2010, a slightly above
average snow year, but which had little melt out due to an unusually cold
spring, we encountered dangerous snow bridges, lots of steep slope snow
traverses, very high and dangerous stream crossings and pretty much all you
describe, right into July.  It was not an unhikeable situation in the
least, but took teamwork and lots of knowledge about tactics for
approaching each of the obstacles.  We were lucky enough to have as a
member of our team, a Swiss mountaineer with many years of experience in
snow of all kinds.  Another member had taken your course the prior winter,
and I had experience crossing the Western Divide in deep snows in the past.
  We were a determined group of good friends who made this one of the high
points of the entire thru hike.  Getting experience in these conditions
beforehand is invaluable.  So if you can get it, go for it.  Maybe we'll
have a low snow year, or a warm spring, and it won't be an issue, but if it
is, you'll want to know how to handle it.  The High Sierra in snow is
incredibly beautiful in it's spare grace and rocky grandeur and not to be
missed.

Shroomer

On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 10:30 PM, Ned Tibbits <ned at mountaineducation.org>
wrote:

> Many of you are watching the Sierra weather and accumulated snow pack
> intently as you prepare for long hikes and even thru hikes of the PCT and
> JMT this April, May, June, or July. You want to be prepared for the hazards
> that exist in the mountains during this time of year, usually considered
> too early for dry-trail hiking, and that is good!
>
> So, you ask, “How can I go into the Sierra at this time of year and remain
> safe while having fun?”
>
> The early-season challenges are primarily:
> -  Snow
> -  High creek crossings
> -  An occasional snow storm
> -  Freezing nights (pre-thaw) and cool days
> -  Postholing, suncups, snow blindness, and exposure (during the thaw)
>
> If the snowline is at 10,500, most of all the trails below that elevation
> will be snow-free, but not always dry! Once the thaw starts, about mid-May,
> the Sierra heats up, the snow melts rapidly, and water is running
> everywhere, especially right down the trail, until it finally reaches the
> creeks! Although this is a minor thing to prepare for, it contributes to
> chronically wet feet and lots of slip and falls.
>
> So, you’re climbing up toward Forester (NoBo on the PCT) or Donahue (SoBo
> on the JMT) and you see the snow ahead at the end of the canyon. You
> continue on and hit patches of snow in the shade below trees, in corners of
> the trail, or up high enough where the snow is everywhere and you can’t see
> the trail anymore. What should you do?
>
> The things that should be on your mind are:
> -  How do I walk on snow such that I don’t slip and fall?
> -  How much traction will I need to solve this?
> -  Where is the trail going because I can’t see it at all anywhere?
> -  Postholing is exhausting and can potentially cut my skin and hurt my
> knees. How do I solve this issue?
> -  Suncups are nasty, slippery little depressions that slow me down. What
> is the best way to get through?
> -  I can go straight up and down, but going across steep side-hills is
> terrifying. What now?
> -  The snow is ice in the morning and soup in the afternoon. I can’t move
> in this stuff! Not fun!
> -  The creeks are foaming, frothing, wide and deep, roaring, freezing
> nightmares. How do I cross them?
>
> There are solutions. There are techniques that work well to keep you safe,
> warm, and dry. You need to know what to do before you are in the midst of
> these predicaments. An ice axe or crampons will not solve everything.
> Researching what others faced and learning about how they dealt with all
> this will help, but doesn’t solve everything, either. Yes, learn before you
> go. Better yet, Practice before you go!
>
> Now, combine the two, Learn and Practice! So, you have a permit that
> allows you to enjoy the Sierra during these months, but you really have no
> idea what the place is going to look like nor how you will have to modify
> your summer skills to deal with winter and thaw issues. Crampons and ice
> axes are not the end-all to your safety concerns. But you have learned,
> realized, that they can help!
>
> Have you ever walked on an ice arena? Do you remember what it was like to
> walk up to the ski area lodge wearing your sneakers on snow? What you need
> to do these next few months is to go up into the snow and go snow-hiking
> and snow-camping to practice what it will take to stay upright, balanced,
> and moving slightly forward while not falling.
>
> Have you ever tried climbing down into a snow-filled creek to get water
> without falling in? How about walking on a frozen lake? Do you know when it
> is safe to walk over a snow bridge without it collapsing and you falling
> into the creek below? Now, some of these conditions will not be present
> during June or July, but if this winter trends toward “heavy,” they
> certainly have been in April and May!
>
> Learn and Practice before you’re out there miles from help or rescue. Yes,
> an ice axe can be used to arrest a tumble or slide down a steep slope, but
> do you know when that will happen such that it is in your hand before it
> does? Yes, a Whippet solves this problem, but do you know how to
> self-arrest? Take a class in the snow somewhere that shows you what you
> need to do, teaches you how, and helps you to practice it to perfection. Be
> prepared for the expected conditions. Be wise!
>
>
>
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education, Inc.
> www.mountaineducation.org
> ned at mountaineducation.org
>
>
> Mission:
> "To minimize wilderness accidents, injury, and illness in order to
> maximize wilderness enjoyment, safety, and personal growth, all through
> experiential education and risk awareness training."
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.