I am the FIRST!

[Chickenfeet]

To say on this new forum...

Weren't the Sierras incredible? Lots more snow last June than Wintergreen has about now.

[chai guy]

Yes, one of the most amazing parts of the trip for me. It was like living in God's art gallery.

I have to say that I just started snow shoeing last year and I love it. I had considered taking snow shoes, but when I got to the Sierra, I realized that I was too late to make them useful. One of the big problems is that they don't traverse really well, and the amount of time you spending taking them on and off when needed is excessive.

But this year Kahtoola came out with some snow shoes that are designed for Adventure Racing, which also happen to PERFECT for PCT hikers like us. It's a two part system, part 1 is the "Flight Boot" which is a neoprene boot with a crampon on the bottom, designed to be worn with a trail shoe! Part 2 is the "Flight Deck" which is a snow shoe that has no straps or buckles, you simply "click" into it with the boot (like a snow ski binding) and you're off. Pretty sweet!
http://www.kahtoola.com/flight-boot.html
http://www.kahtoola.com/flight-deck.html

It's a crampon and water proof boot, when you need it, and snow shoes when you need those. And they weigh just over 60 oz , so they're light weight too!

[Palmer]

This is my first post, and I'm trying to learn more about the PCT for a possible thru in '11. How much showshoeing is actually required? Are the snowshoes heavy? If I were to do the AT, I could keep my pack weight below 20lbs., but I worry that wouldn't be possible if I need to carry a lot of extra stuff to get by on the PCT.

[Magnet_]

How much showshoeing is actually required? Are the snowshoes heavy? If I were to do the AT, I could keep my pack weight below 20lbs., but I worry that wouldn't be possible if I need to carry a lot of extra stuff to get by on the PCT.

Hi Palmer, I carried snowshoes last year in '06 but never used them and sent them home from Independence. I would say that most did not carry snowshoes (or crampons). Conditions are different year to year and will probably change a good deal even week to week as the snow melts in the spring and early summer. In most cases, I would guess that snowshoes are not worth their weight and not required. The pair I carried were MSR Denalis and weighed somewhere between 3 and 4 lbs I am not the most knowledgable on this but it is my understanding that they generally are not going to be of use when traversing or decending. You could ascend with them going straight up, and they might extend your hiking day a bit, but they don't work out too great with suncups. Might depend on your particular snowshoe design? Someone please correct any errors here...

As for your pack weight. I think it would be possible to have your full pack weight below 20 lbs. Might be tricky with the extra water you have to carry in the desert and food in the sierra. My pack weight was definitely not close to 20 lbs :( so I can't offer much advice there.

[girlscout]

in a heavy snow year, you hear people talk about bringing snow shoes, but you actually see far fewer snow shoes on the trail, and those that bring them tend to ditch them at the first opportunity.

[Palmer]

That's a relief. What about an ice axe, and learning "self arrest"? I have absolutely no idea what that means.

[Ender]

I didn't see a single person with snowshoes when I was in the High Sierras, and there wasn't a need for them at all. If the snow is still deep, plan to do your snow hiking in the morning hours when it's still firm enough to walk on top of without breaking through.

As for an ice axe... you should carry one in parts, but you should also know how to use it, otherwise it's just extra weight. Self arrest means that if you slip and start sliding down a snow slope, you use the axe to stop (arrest) your fall. It takes a little bit of practice, so it's worth it to see if you can find someplace that gives lessons. Otherwise, buy a cheap ice axe and find a small hill and practice by yourself. It's not hard, it just takes a bit to make it feel natural.

I ended up not having my ice axe because I missed the mail drop. I never needed it, but there were times when I'd really wished I'd had it. Either because the slope I was hiking on were very steep, or I just wanted to play in the snow with my axe. That, and it makes an excellent cat hole digger.

[girlscout]

the ice axe issue really depends on what the conditions are like in the year you decide to hike, and also the date you leave kennedy meadows. last year was a big snow year, so most folks took an ice axe from km. i left km on june 24th, which is fairly late, and still had lots of snow traverses, but i found my ice axe and crampons to be superfluous, and so i sent them home from independence. and i never regretted the decision. my trekking poles were fully sufficient to help with stability in the snow.

my advice, if you're concerned about the snow issue, is to put yourself behind the herd and leave km at a somewhat later date. there will be less snow, and more footprints through it to help you.

btw, this year is so dry that there's been almost no discussion of the ice axe issue on the pct-l, a huge contrast from 2006 and 2005. very few hikers this year seem to be even considering an ice axe.