[pct-l] Snow-free routes

Mon Jan 23 22:05:42 CST 2017

Hey, Karen!

I'm happy to hear that you're going to be out on the trail this summer! Yes, I remember well the Snow Basics Course you attended in north Tahoe on the TRT back in 2011 and how courageously you deal with your limitations!

Mid-July to mid-October...and avoid steep snow patches after this winter may be challenging pretty much anywhere, I'm beginning to think! The advice from Jeff and Scott is good, but I want to add that NorCal, even though it may be lower in elevation, it is shady down in the trees, so the snow may remain covering the trail well into July. Remember, after big snow winters the main ski areas like Squaw and Mammoth can stay open (certainly on their higher runs) to July 4th, meaning just north of Squaw and Donner there may be lingering snow even at trail elevation. Those were the almost the conditions we experienced on our SBC in that area in 2011. All it takes is a steep patch of snow across the trail to send you into emergency planning mode (How do I get around this thing?).

Look at a trail profile, pick the lowest elevations in NorCal, call ahead to the ranger stations to find out what the current trail conditions are, follow the trail reports from any thrus who've already gone through the area, and pick off the lowest and driest trail segments in a flip-flop manner. Oregon, being a bit flatter with less steep snow, could be safe going for you come the latter part of July, maybe. Washington I would stay out of, because it is steeper and more on and off ridges, until maybe mid-August. Again, call ahead. The Sierra from Donner south I wouldn't suggest you venture into until August 1st after the winter we're getting!

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education, Inc.
ned at mountaineducation.org 

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Scott Williams
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2017 1:44 PM
To: Jeffrey Olson <jjolson58 at gmail.com>
Cc: <Pct-l at backcountry.net> <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Snow-free routes

Hey Special K, I second the Lassen to Whitney, (or Kearsarge as that's your
connection) and the nice thing about this is you could start a bit earlier, to beat some of the heat, as the Lassen area, and Sierra north of Sonora Pass is so much lower in elevation than the "High Sierra."  If you watch the weather, you might be able to even get started in early July if we get a melt out.  But as you have the flexibility to jump when it gets good, just bide your time and take off when the conditions look best.  If you start earlier, you'll also probably finish before the first snows of Oct.
Shoot for finishing by late Sept and watch the weather.  So great to see you're still knocking out big sections!

Shroomer

On Mon, Jan 23, 2017 at 12:41 PM, Jeffrey Olson <jjolson58 at gmail.com> wrote:

> You could start at Hat Creek, or in Lassen, and hike south to Mt. 
> Whitney and out at Whitney Portal.  That's about 750 miles.  When 
> asked where you're hiking this year, answering, "Lassen to Whitney" 
> has a nice ring to it.  The first couple weeks in October are 
> beautiful in the southern Sierra
> - and you'll likely have the JMT part to yourself.  And if weather 
> does come through, there are multiple bail points.
>
> I've been snowed in in mid-september in the Emigrant Wilderness, - 
> it's kind of the luck of the draw, as you probably know.
>
> Jeff, Laramie, Wy
>
>
>
> On 1/23/2017 11:41 AM, Karen Keller wrote:
>
>> I am looking for ideas and advise, especially from those of you more 
>> familiar with Northern California, Oregon and Washington. As happy as 
>> I am that The Sierra is finally getting this much needed respite from 
>> the persistent drought, it creates some challenges for this particular hiker.
>> Snow, and the avoidance thereof, is the primary reason I am a section 
>> hiker. I can hike for a couple of months continuously, I can pick the 
>> time to start. I'd like to cover 500-800 miles without jumping around too much.
>> So far, I’ve hiked everything south of Kearsarge Pass. Initially, I 
>> hoped to start there in mid July and hike north as far as Castella or 
>> Dunsmuir at least, if not further, by about mid October. If I hiked 
>> the same section southbound instead, during the same time frame, I'd 
>> not only start a very long, dry section (Hat Creek etc) in the worst 
>> heat of summer, I'd end up in the Southern Sierra in mid October, 
>> which is a bit late for that altitude. I am a very slow hiker (the 
>> other reason I'm not a Thru). Any suggestions? If I waited until Mid 
>> August to start would it make much difference? (PS. Ned is amazing. I 
>> love him! I drove to Tahoe and took a snow course from him in 2011, 
>> after I had a harrowing experience with snow on Fuller Ridge.  I 
>> highly recommend it. I learned so much! However, my particular 
>> limitations are not going away. I have already given away my ice Ax 
>> and crampons.) _______________________________________________
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