Sierra High Route in October?

[Paloma]

Just wondering, how risky is it to attempt the high route solo in October? Weather looks great for the next 10 days.

[maverick]

Welcome to HST!

Just wondering, how risky is it to attempt the high route solo in October?

Depends on when in October you plan on going out (anything past the 15th increases your risk), how many days you are planning to be out for (the shorter the better because you can only get a somewhat accurate forecast for 5 days out), and on whether you have the experience and gear to deal with any surprise inclement weather.

Weather looks great for the next 10 days.

Never trust the forecast for more than 5 days out, especially from October on.

Please read: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4205#p25161

[Paloma]

Thank you!

[longri]

October 15 is a good rule of thumb. Take a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=14142

But there's a difference between calculating the odds at home and actually being there.

Be careful.

[Ska-T]

Are you planning to do a section or two of the High Route or the whole thing? With the unpredictable October weather it makes more sense to me to do a section that can be completed in a week or less. Roper's book divides the whole route into 5 sections (or chapters).

The other thing that is a concern is that you describe yourself as a level 3 backpacker, which suggests some experience in off trail travel but not extensive. If that is an accurate assessment then I suggest you do section 2 or 3 of the High Route, since the route finding is more straightforward and you are often near more popular areas (in case you need help).

[Paloma]

Thanks for the link for October weather. That was precisely what I have been looking for.

[sparky]

Even then its still a risk. I have had a storm come up out of no where the first night when the forecast was warm and sunny. That was a cold night. Luckily I was in the front country still and we limped out as soon as we could

[AlmostThere]

Your friend better know what he is doing with navigation and snow. It's not just "a bit risky"

Those people who are "always" lucky become SAR subjects if they push their luck too much. It's totally the way it goes -- you can make the same mistake a thousand times over, until you can't. Same story with everything from food storage to wearing jeans to piss poor navigation skills and doing it anyway....

[Paloma]

How cold does it get at night in the backcountry? I'm thinking 20 degrees? I have a hard time getting out of the sleeping bag in those temps!

[AlmostThere]

20 degrees is fairly warm in winter. I've been out in early November and had it be 20 degrees at dinner time -- although it is gorgeous to wake to ice on the lake, icicles in the creek, and dirtsicles in the trail.