PCT-SIERRA (2017) Pacific Crest Trail (California – Sierra Nevada) Tehachapi, CA to Echo Lakes, CA (Sections F-J : 527 Miles) Please put phones on mute unless speaking. This will reduce background noise. Thank You!!! March 21st, 2017 @ 7:00PM Pacific Time Double Tap (Matt Parker) Hitchcock Lakes Sequoia NP Mile 767 August 2007 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 1 AGENDA • Sierra Snow Data & SoCal Potential Snow Areas • Special Gear • Guest Speaker Ned Tibbits (Snow Safety Courses) • Maps • Section G Potential Exit Points • High Sierra Passes Summary & Information Sapphire Lake Kings Canyon NP • Pass Strategy (1 Pass Per Day) Mile 842 • Times of day to ascend & descend from passes August 2007 • Potential Exit Points in the Sierra • Photos of High Sierra Passes (South & North sides) • Flipping Strategies • Water Crossings • Resupply Strategy • Questions & Answers 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 2 GENERAL COMMENTS • All mileage points in presentation are referenced to Halfmile mileage points. • 2017 is a UNIQUE year. 2016-2017 Winter is the 2nd Wettest Sierra Winter on record for the Sierra. • Still plenty of Winter left. However, no major storms in March so far and temperatures have been warm. • May be safer and easier to start earlier (before the thaw). • Daily mileage in snow is reduced (~1 mile per hour). • Multiple set of footsteps in snow, can be confusing. • Lots of roads up to PCT crossings or side passes may be closed until later in the season due to snow. • All photos are taken during the PCT 2014 hiking season which was low snow Winter. Some photos from JMT 2007 (August). • Lots of unknowns and a lot will change between now and when you enter the Sierra. • Have a plan but be flexible and adapt. Muir Pass Mile 837 Early June 2014 Low Snow Year 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 3 PCT Water Report ● 2017 PCT Water Report webinar recording Click Here ● Available online at www.pctwater.com (PDF Format) ● Water reports from Pacific Crest Trail hikers on the trail ● No Water Report for the Sierra section ● Pass Conditions & Water Crossings Report recently added ● Updated several times a day between April-November ● Facebook page created PCT Water & Fire Update Group (Upload Photos Here) ● https://www.facebook.com/groups/1601705620156833/ ● Please send Water Report updates (include mileage points and/or Halfmile waypoints & dates) to: ● email [email protected] ● text (619) 734-7289 ● call (619) 734-7289 (no one will answer, leave voice mail) 4 Sierra Snow (2017) ● As of Late February 2017 Sierra snow levels are ~186% above average snow levels ● Snow can linger on north and east facing mountain slopes or in shade. ● Snow can melt during the day and refreeze at night causing slick dangerous conditions in the morning. ● Hiking on snow be slower than hiking on dry trail even if conditions are not dangerous. ● Snow can completely obscure the trail making navigation difficult. ● Sonora Pass (mile 1,017) can have a lot of snow. ● http://www.climatesignals.org/resour ces/graph-california-snow-pack- conditions-snow-water-content- february-21-2017 5 Southern California Snow ● It can snow at any place and anytime along the PCT. ● Mt Laguna (Mile 42) can get light snow, but it usually melts quickly and not dangerous. ● Mt San Jacinto (Mile 170-191) can have steep dangerous snow. A PCT hiker died in this area during a snowstorm in 2005. Significant storms possible anytime before Mother’s Day (May 14th, 2017). ● Big Bear area (Mile 245 - 275) can have snow. Usually not steep or dangerous along the PCT near Big Bear. ● Mt Baden-Powell (Mile 375 - 385) can have steep dangerous snow. 6 SPECIAL GEAR • Special Gear • Ice Axe (for the Sierras in heavy snow years) Corsa • Black Diamond Whippet Ski Pole • Microspikes (Kahtoola) or Crampons (Kahtoola) Virginia Lake John Muir Wilderness • Self-Arrest Skills Mile 892 August 2007 • Bear Canister BV500 • Required between Sequoia NP & Yosemite NP (Miles 754 – 997) • New for 2017 Bear Canister also required in Desolation Wilderness (Miles 1,096 – 1,117) • New in 2017 Required in Lassen NP (Miles 1,344- 1,363) IF you camp overnight • Ship to Kennedy Meadows (South) • Ship back from South Lake Tahoe (CA), Kennedy Meadows North (CA), or Bridgeport (CA) 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 7 NED TIBBITS MOUNTAIN EDUCATION • Mountain Education Website (Ned Tibbits) • Classes for PCT Hikers • NOBO Snow Advanced Class (6 Day) • Chicken Spring (Mile 751) Lake to Kearsarge Pass (Mile 789) • Classes offered from late April to early August • Classes Offered • Snow Basics • Snow Intermediate • Snow Advanced • John Muir Trail Thru-Hikers • Private Courses 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 8 MAPS & APPS • Halfmile Maps https://www.pctmap.net/maps/ • California (Sections F-J) • Tom Harrison Maps • Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Virginia Lake John Muir Wilderness • Kings Canyon High Country Mile 892 • Bishop Pass – North Lake / South Lake Loop • Mammoth High Country • Ansel Adams Wilderness • Yosemite National Park • Halfmile PCT App & Guthook’s PCT App 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 9 SOUTHERN SIERRA Mount Hale PCT Sequoia NP Mile 767 Hwy 395 Potential Exit Points will mostly be to the East of the PCT 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 10 HIGH SIERRA PASSES 1. Trail Crest* Mile 767 (13,646 ft) – least desirable exit point 2. Forester Pass Mile 780 (13,120 ft) – Shepherd Pass (mile 774.6) not a recommended exit point 3. Kearsarge Pass* Mile 789 (11,171 ft) 4. Glen Pass Mile 791 (11,947 ft) 5. Pinchot Pass Mile 807 (12,139 ft) 6. Mather Pass Mile 817 (12,096 ft) Mather Pass View 7. Muir Pass Mile 839 (11,973 ft) Kings Canyon NP 8. Selden Pass Mile 866 (10,910 ft) Mile 817 August 2007 9. Silver Pass Mile 885 (10,748 ft) 10. Island Pass Mile 925 (10,227 ft) 11. Donohue Pass Mile 930 (11,073 ft) 12. Benson Pass Mile 966 (10,125 ft) 13. Dorothy Lake Pass Mile 997 (9,531 ft) 14. Sonora Pass Mile 1,017 (9,633 ft) 15. Carson Pass (Highway 88) Mile 1,077 (8,590 ft) 16. Dicks Pass Mile 1,106 (9,377 ft) 17. Barker Pass Mile 1,125 (7,658 ft) 18. Donner Pass (Interstate-80) Mile 1,157 (7,200 ft) * Trail Crest 8.5 miles off PCT to Mount Whitney Summit (14,505 ft) ~1 day (camp at Guitar Lake or above) * Kearsarge Pass 7.6 miles off PCT to Little Onion Valley Campground NOTE : Hit the High Sierra Passes in Kings Canyon & Sequoia NP early in the day (but not to early to avoid icy conditions) to avoid late afternoon thunderstorms which are common. Avoid descending from tops of passes late in the day which leads to post-holing (extremely slow going) and potential injury. 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 11 POTENTIAL EXIT POINTS (SECTION G) Potential Exit Point to Hwy 395 Kennedy Meadows South (Mile 702) – hitch to Hwy 395 Point of no return until Mile 744.5 (Mulkey Pass). 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 12 POTENTIAL EXIT POINTS (SECTION G) Potential Exit Points to Horseshoe Meadow (9,960 ft) Mile 744.5 – Mulkey Pass (10,385 ft) Mile 745.3 – Trail Pass (10,486 ft) Hitch to Lone Pine (22 miles) from Horseshoe Meadow. Road to Horseshoe Meadow could open later in season due to snow. Reports of a washout on Horseshoe Meadow road also could impact opening date. 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 13 POTENTIAL EXIT POINTS (SECTION G) Potential Exit Points to Horseshoe Meadow (9,960 ft) Mile 750.2 – Cottonwood Pass (11,145 ft) Hitch to Lone Pine (22 miles) from Horseshoe Meadow. Road to Horseshoe Meadow could open later in season due to snow. Potential Exit Points to Horseshoe Meadow (9,960 ft) Mile 744.5 – Mulkey Pass (10,385 ft) Mile 745.3 – Trail Pass (10,486 ft) Hitch to Lone Pine (22 miles) from Horseshoe Meadow. Road to Horseshoe Meadow could open later in season due to snow. 3/21/2017 PCT-SIER ® 14 PASS STRATEGY (1 per DAY) Camp as high as possible to minimize time on snow the next day to avoid postholing in the afternoon. DAY #0 Camp : Tyndall Creek Mile 774 (Bearbox) Tyndall Creek can be a difficult crossing. DAY #1 Forester Pass Mile 780 Camp : Bullfrog Lake Mile 789 (15 miles, ~3,200 ft up) Potential Exit Point Kearsarge Pass* (11,771 ft): Mile 789 junction (10,525 ft) 2.8 miles to Kearsarge Pass (11,771 ft) + 4.8 miles to Onion Valley Trailhead (9,196 ft) Hitch down to Independence, California (popular resupply location). DAY #2 Glen Pass Mile 791 Camp : Woods Creek Mile 800 (11 miles, ~1,700 ft up) Potential Exit Point Baxter Pass* (12,300 ft) : Mile 796 junction (10,218 ft) 5 miles to Baxter Pass (12,300 ft) + 7.2 miles to Baxter Pass Trailhead (6,035 ft) + road walk to Hwy 395 Baxter Pass trail east of the pass is unmaintained trail. Forester Pass Kings Canyon NP DAY #3 Pinchot Pass Mile 807 Mile 780 Camp : South Fork Kings River Mile 812 (12 miles, ~3,900 ft up) Late May 2014 Potential Exit Point Sawmill Pass* (11,347 ft) : Mile 803 junction (10,369 ft) Low Snow Year 3.6 miles to Sawmill Pass (11,347 ft) + 10.0 miles to Sawmill Pass Trailhead (4,587 ft) + road walk to Hwy 395 Potential Exit Point Taboose Pass* (11,360 ft) : Mile 810 junction (10,778 ft) 4.0 miles to Taboose Pass (11,360 ft) + 8.0 miles to Taboose Pass Trailhead (5,430 ft) + road walk to Hwy 395 * High Sierra passes east of the PCT may have snow/ice and ALL are uphill from PCT.