Snow Travel 101

Saturday, June 7
Mile 788, just South of Forester Pass

So we go... There? T-Bow scoping the highest point on the PCT; Forester Pass

The High Sierra comes with a whole new bag of challenges. You can read the same advice over and over again (do passes in the morning or you'll be slogging through melting snow for miles, keep your shoes on for creek crossings, air your feet out), but it takes experiencing these discomforts for oneself before one becomes savvy to the nuances of mountain travel. We had big plans to charge the 12 miles from Crabtree Meadows to Forester this morning and hit the pass before noon. We got to the base of Forester at 1:30 and had already been postholing (breaking through soft snow) to our waists for two miles.

Chillin on Snow Island

Glimmer had already posted herself up at the base with plans to hike the pass in the morning, when the snow would be harder and postholing wouldn't be a concern. The Zone, T-Bow and I squinted up at the pass, and, feeling stubborn, slogged another hundred yards with the intent to push through the pass.

The Zone slowly stopped, looked back, and told us she was uncomfortable doing the pass this afternoon. We couldn't see the north side, which was sure to have some sketchy snowfields and a possibly steep descent. It could be miserable at best, and dangerous at worst. T-Bow and I were quick to side with her, and we managed to pitch camp on a tiny spit of rock and gravel. We'd wait til morning. The Ambassador, Billy Jack, and Beeline ended up joining us for the night and laughing at me as I struggled to pitch my Tarptent without stakes... Eventually I was triumphant!

Billy Jack and Beeline giving us commentary as we watch some poor soul inch up the Pass.

I'm grateful to Zone for speaking up. Whether or not the pass turns out to be challenging, we can know that we made a smart and conservative  decision to hold back. We put ourselves at enough risk out here; no reason to put the odds against ourselves when we could easily wait and have a much easier and safer go of it. I love traveling with women.