[pct-l] Dreary weather in the North Cascades

[goforth at cnw.com (Joanne Lennox)]

On the east side here in WA , we are having dreary, dreary weather - 
raining, cloud level 1,500 ft., 48 degrees.  A nice warm rain will actually 
melt snow faster than the sunshine, but I don't think that is what is 
happening on the PCT.  It was just as bad yesterday.   Last Saturday, I 
could see new snow down to 4,500 feet on Mt Sauk.  Sometimes the weather 
amelioates as it goes East, and the rain dumps more on the West side.  The 
weather has been lousy for a week, and the forecast for the coming week does 
not look a lot better. I think I would take my chances in Oregon or CA.

Every time I look out the window or hear the rain on my tarp all night, I 
think about those folk out there onthe trail.  I don't stop thinking about 
them.  Trying to manage the snow pack in rain or sleet in the NOrth Cascades 
must be one of the toughest trail experiences.
You never get dry, and start to wonder if there is a dry piece anywhere on 
the earth.  It is so easy to get cold and start to try shortcuts or make 
mistakes.  In California , I always knew that eventually the sun would come 
out and I would get dry.

Concrete is a possible place to hole up and a two hour drive from Rainy Pass 
(well named), I could take a few people.

Goforth


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Davison" <mardav@charter.net>
To: "John Mertes" <Tortoise73@charter.net>; "PCT List" 
<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Pack animals on PCT


> John Mertes wrote:
>
>> Well I have an unique llama experience, though it occurred well off the 
>> PCT. I was hiking in Redwood Regional Park near Oakland, CA on a winter 
>> day. Lo and behold a group came the other way along the main trail. In 
>> front was a llama who came up and "kissed" (licked) me on the forehead. 
>> The other party was upset but it was a delightful experience for me. 
>> Llamas are interesting!
>>
>> John
>>
>> DjgPct@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> In a message dated 6/6/2005 4:41:50 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, 
>>> ECPG@peoplepc.com writes:
>>>
>>> They are  not motorcycles and a bad/tired/confused animal will wreck 
>>> your hiking  plans faster than 20 feet of snow anywhere.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ===========================================
>>>
>>> This reminds me of a funny story that I heard.  A local fellow who 
>>> packs often and has done so for years, was engaged to teach some young 
>>> girl  campers about packing with llamas.  He and the camp counselors 
>>> planned a  long weekend trip into our nearby wilderness area, where he 
>>> had packed many  times.  He brought along 15 or so llamas.  About 3 
>>> hours into the  trip, all the llamas sat down.  He could not get them 
>>> off the ground for  anything.  Finally they had to cancel the pack trip. 
>>> The girls went  home.  The llamas stayed put just sitting for TWO DAYS! 
>>> Finally they  decided it was time to get up, and they did.  It was his 
>>> last llama  experience!
>>>
>>> Betsy
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> Just one of my five llamas is a kisser.  If you approach him with your 
> face thrust forward and your hands behind your back,he will carefully 
> sniff your whole face.  He sometimes gently  nibbles my face with his 
> lips, although I haven't seen him do that to anyone else. He is especially 
> interested in sniffing men with facial hair.
> On the trail I have seen him stick his face right into the face of passing 
> hikers, and I tell them to throw their hands in front of their face.  This 
> will make him back off instantly.
> I know it is a bad habit but some people find it endearing. llamalady
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