Schmalz hikes the PCT

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
Hobbes
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:09 am
Experience: N/A
Location: The OC

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by Hobbes »

schmalz wrote:Gtx socks might have been a good idea.
Trust me, GTX socks are worthless in those conditions. Andy & I both had a pair, and while they're initially nice, once they're wetted out (not really from the snow, but the constant flowing streams across the trail, down the trail, and of course the fords), they're just big, wet, heavy weights.

I thought mine where bad, but Andy had to periodically take his off and pour water out of them - at least I could wring mine out. Seems at a certain point, the water is kept in and the air out. LOL

Next time, I would take wool socks - same effect, but better quality. I had two pairs of light syn/cotton for the hot marches through Le Conte, Woods & Kearsarge.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by maverick »

Glad to read you are okay Brian! Your weather will be breezy and a little cool for the next several days. This is the forecast for Tuolumne Meadows:

Today Sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Tonight Clear, with a low around 31. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 58. South southwest wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 64. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 32. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday Sunny, with a high near 72. South southwest wind around 10 mph.

Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Monday Sunny, with a high near 78. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Have fun! :)
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
schmalz
Topix Expert
Posts: 588
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 9:18 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Altadena, CA
Contact:

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by schmalz »

Pics have been added to Calitrails Facebook. Link is in my signature. I don't think you need a Facebook account to see them.
http://CaliTrails.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://facebook.com/calitrails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Jimr
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 2175
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:14 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Torrance

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by Jimr »

When will you be in Tuolumne Meadow?
If you don't know where you're going, then any path will get you there.
User avatar
Hobbes
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:09 am
Experience: N/A
Location: The OC

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by Hobbes »

Wow, what happened to the snow on the south side of Mather? The steep north side of Glen looks about the same, as does the north side of Mather. One week of intense sun is all it took to wipe out the south sides of both Forester & Mather.

We used our ice axes 3 times: ascent of Lamarck, ascent/descent of Mather, and ascent of Glen. When there was still snow on Mather south side, it was pretty steep. In fact, there was a very nice cornice section. That being said, I thought Glen was the most difficult - maybe comparable to Whitney MR alpine conditions.
User avatar
schmalz
Topix Expert
Posts: 588
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 9:18 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Altadena, CA
Contact:

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by schmalz »

Jimr wrote:When will you be in Tuolumne Meadow?
Passing through on Thursday I think. I read the campground and grill are still closed. Lame.
http://CaliTrails.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://facebook.com/calitrails" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Jimr
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 2175
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:14 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Torrance

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by Jimr »

I'll miss you by a couple of days. Too bad, it would have been fun to cross paths.
If you don't know where you're going, then any path will get you there.
User avatar
Snowtrout
Topix Regular
Posts: 294
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:06 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Fresno, CA

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by Snowtrout »

Schmalz, great pics and info on conditions. Looks like a lot of snow has melted off in the last two weeks.

I was told this morning by a ranger that if you are a PCT through hiker, you can stay in the backpacker camp at TM. They aren't allowing jmt hikers there though :\

Missing you by a few days also. I will be at TM on Saturday.
User avatar
FeetFirst
Topix Regular
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:35 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: West Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by FeetFirst »

Thanks for sharing the pics, Schmalz. Very helpful for planning. Have fun!
Hobbes wrote:
schmalz wrote:Gtx socks might have been a good idea.
Trust me, GTX socks are worthless in those conditions. Andy & I both had a pair, and while they're initially nice, once they're wetted out (not really from the snow, but the constant flowing streams across the trail, down the trail, and of course the fords), they're just big, wet, heavy weights.

I thought mine where bad, but Andy had to periodically take his off and pour water out of them - at least I could wring mine out. Seems at a certain point, the water is kept in and the air out. LOL

Next time, I would take wool socks - same effect, but better quality. I had two pairs of light syn/cotton for the hot marches through Le Conte, Woods & Kearsarge.
What brand(s)? I have a pair from Rocky that I've been using for the past three years that are still working pretty darn good in typical spring conditions (slushy snow, wet trails, and fast cold fords).
I'm still rather convinced that you can achieve more than you've ever dreamed of if you just lower your standards.
User avatar
Hobbes
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1120
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:09 am
Experience: N/A
Location: The OC

Re: Schmalz hikes the PCT

Post by Hobbes »

FeetFirst wrote:What brand(s)? I have a pair from Rocky that I've been using for the past three years that are still working pretty darn good in typical spring conditions (slushy snow, wet trails, and fast cold fords).
Those look much better than mine: https://www.amazon.com/Dexshell-DS642HL ... B019Y70IAQ

Andy had a pair of rubber like sock covers, but they also failed. We were constantly fording crotch-waist high water. It was also fast moving, which meant we were moving very deliberately & slowly across, making sure our poles were firmly grounded before taking the next step. The water was moving fast enough to make it difficult to even direct the poles to a certain spot - they would just get swept along - so you had to overcompensate by letting the poles get pushed to where you really wanted them to be before taking the next step.

So, picture a person standing in the middle of a roaring river/creek, braced against the current while stabbing with his poles to try & find a stable location, then carefully moving his legs slightly forward. Repeat as necessary until reaching the other side. Going at that careful pace, the water builds up against you, climbing/splashing even higher, just like the leading edge of a bridge. I don't know how anything could stay dry in those conditions. Maybe a chest high fishing gaiter with built in booties? LOL.

We - and it seems like everyone else - just got used to having wet feet all day. I put my shoes in a plastic bag at the bottom of my sleeping bag a few nights when the temps dropped. It didn't really dry them out, but it helped not putting on frozen shoes, which happened a couple of mornings.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], LMBSGV and 125 guests