joshsmallbone wrote:Hi, my wife and I have 4-6 weeks to hike a section of the PCT. We were thinking about the central california part starting around june 15th and starting near Kennedy Meadows but were curious what the snow conditions looked like this year for the Sierras? If they are bad I think we are best off finding another section of the PCT since we're not ice/snow mountaineers! Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Josh
Don't know if you have been following the news but CA is in the 4th year of drought conditions, and 2015 might replace 1977 as the record low snow year... Given that, it did snow "significantly" yesterday, but if it is similar to the April 8th/9th "big dump" (over 2' in some places) it will soon melt off (the earlier dump was 'gone' in about 10 days). Check out the "Postholer" page - the only station showing significant snow is far northern WA, and it is below normal also.
With this last late snow, you will most likely still have some snow at high elevations on the northern aspects of the passes - but many thrus will be ahead of you and you will be following in their footsteps, not breaking trail through deep snow... Many thrus this year are not taking any traction devices or ice axes because of the extremely low snowpack amounts. Keep your eyes open on all the forums & Facebook pages for reports from the trail - one report (just before this last storm) even said that finding water was an issue between Kennedy Meadows & Cottonwood Pass - creeks dry and only good water at some low-flowing springs...
I do not believe you will have any serious problems dealing with the snow this year, but if snow is present on the passes time your approach for late morning after any icy crust has softened. Have a great hike!!
Happy trails!!!