[pct-l] John Muir Trail Snow {PCT Whitney to Tolumne}

[reynolds@ilan.com]

The warmer than normal temperatures forcasted for Memorial Day weekend will
probably clear the snow from all Southern Californis sensors. Currently Tyndall
and Charlotte Lake show about 7" and Bishop and Agnew Passes show about 13
inches.

What does this tell us about trail conditions?  The offset from this year is
from June 1, July 25 or about 8 weeks. By comparison, last year this event {no
snow on the snow sensors] happened about the fourth week of July, two months
later. The first week of August, 1998 is roughly equivilent to the second week
of June 1999.

I talked to three JMT hikers the first week of August. They said that Forrester
Pass was relatively easy. The snow was soft in the afternoon.  You should have
an ice axe just in case. The avalanch chute on the south side was probably what
they were thinking about. They said climbing the back side of Whitney was
relatively easy. Although snow fields covered parts of the trail and crossing
them was hairy, it was possible to circumvent them and make your own trail to
the next switchbacks.

The third week of August, 1998 is roughly equivilent to the fourth  week of June
1999.
I climbed theback side of Whitney the third week of August 1998. It was a simple
walk up with occasional, small snowfields.

Standard disclaimers apply. Above all, don't let predictions outweigh eyewitness
accounts-Tom


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