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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Burrr! Thank you for posting! Hope they make it in one piece.
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crankster
Trad climber
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Sorry...I hope they get snowed on! (and proceed safely).
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 9, 2015 - 09:28pm PT
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I'd guess a lot of the usual re-supplys and the occasional creature comforts are closed for Winter.
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MisterE
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Possible now, maybe? But that last 100 miles through the North Cascades (IN Winter) seems unlikely without crazy support...
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Just a short section from New Years this year.
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John M
climber
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ossible now, maybe? But that last 100 miles through the North Cascades (IN Winter) seems unlikely without crazy support...
They are going South Eric. They are through the cascades.
Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter are walking the PCT this winter. As you read this they are nearing Lake Tahoe, making their way towards Mexico.
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David Wilson
climber
CA
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Jan 10, 2015 - 06:47am PT
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That is a hard core endeavor for sure. I'm surprised they decided to use snowshoes at all. Seems like it would be far superior to use a lightweight back country ski if you expect any snow of significance.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jan 10, 2015 - 07:26am PT
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Crossing the creek at Evolution Valley is going to suck.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Jan 15, 2015 - 09:50pm PT
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Cold Toes
In recent years, it's become commonplace for thruhikers to skip the section of the trail that goes through my local mountains- they are the first 'real' mountains as one heads north, and can commonly have early season snow patches that are hardpacked, esp. first thing in the morning. Fuller Ridge, in particular, used to engender tales of fear & respect in thruhikers of yore. Nowadays...with most of them wearing Ray Jardine ultralight shoes...many just skip the section entirely.
They just don't make thru-hikers like they used to.
Though these guys have encountered pretty light snow conditions thusfar heading south, the Sierra could still kick their arse, just like the last few pitches on the Dawn Wall.
'It ain't over till it's over!'
Caldwell...or Jorgenson...or Berra
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Jan 15, 2015 - 10:41pm PT
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Snowshoes Thompson made this hike in 3 days, what's the holdup?
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
extraordinaire
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 16, 2015 - 12:09am PT
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dave729
Trad climber
Western America
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Jan 16, 2015 - 10:51am PT
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They say the biggest mistake in any powerful addiction is starting or takkin the 1st hit!
To late for our hero's. Carson Pass! I think you can see the Mexican boarder from there right? You guys got it in the bag.
I have some unforgettable snow camping memories of shivering equal to
grand mal seizures and willing the sun to come up faster.
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dave729
Trad climber
Western America
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Jan 20, 2015 - 05:17pm PT
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My observation is real fun can be tricky.
But not always. And the view does matter.
Staring at the same view for 19days, even if its from the Dawn wall?
Ok why not! Of course a killer work load does spice up the same view
and make it appetizing. Alternately winter PCT attempts
also have a killer work load and for sure changing views.
TR
They made it to Highway 108/Sonora Pass, CA Sunday Jan 18 2015.
http://www.justinlichter.com/blog/
"We made it to Highway 108 today for our resupply. 1018 miles to go now. Almost under a thousand! The skiing has been variable with conditions changing by the minute. It looks like we have a good weather window to continue into the High Sierras. Onward into Yosemite tomorrow!"
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Tahoe climber
climber
Davis these days
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Jan 22, 2015 - 10:06am PT
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Much respect for these guys doing this trail in winter - but I don't think it's the first time.
It's my understanding that Ray Jardine and his wife did it a while back.
He outlines what it was like in one of his books about Ultralight Backpacking (sorry can't remember exact title.)
Apparently, he and his wife did the PCT going north, had so much fun they just turned around and went south!
Cheers,
TC
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Rosamond
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Jan 22, 2015 - 11:24am PT
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The Muir Trail was first skiied back in the 1930s. Why is this trip noteworthy?
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Jan 22, 2015 - 11:33am PT
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Well, it's ~2500 miles, not 212, for starters.
Had the winter conditions been 'fuller', it would be more significant....but it's still a pretty unique accomplishment (though not on a Dawn Wall scale). Like climbing, new variations on the various long trails are pushing new standards of long distance hiking. Even if it has been done in the winter, it hasn't happened hardly at all- this is still a noteworthy achievement.
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Pappy
Ice climber
Warren, VT
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Jan 22, 2015 - 11:50am PT
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Gotta agree with Apogee that the thru-hiking experience ain't what it used to be. I did the PCT in '81--no water caches, no trail names, a fair amount of temporary route, although a lot of No. Cal had just been finished in the previous year or so. No trail angels, formally, though I was at Etna Summmit, (the trail had just been completed through there, previously followed a temp route through Sawyers Bar, and you were really out at the ass end of nowhere. No one hitched into Etna then, it was go from Castella to Seiad Valley.) End of the day and a pick up roars up the road, slams on the brakes at the top of the pass when he sees me, and the driver leans out the window with a cold Bud (thru hikers can't be choosers)'Here.' All he said, and roared on down the road. That was real trail magic.
That same year a guy from NH started at Campo on Feb. 1 with x-country skis. I remember reading a journal 10-15 years ago by a SoBo who started late and actually hired Doug Robinson to accompany him through the Sierras in Nov., sounded like Robinson found that a lot different and more unpleasant than climbing. Then there was Flyin' Brian who 10-12 years ago did the AT, PCT, and CDT in the same calender year, actually 1/1-10/31.
Not trying to take anything away from these guys, but certainly a lot has been done in winter before, and I would be shocked if the whole thing had not been done before in winter, at least in sections.
Just pathetic that people don't do Fuller Ridge much anymore. We went over the summit of San Jacinto and then got hammered with an Easter storm on Fuller, got lost as everything was buried in feet of snow, broke into the directors cabin in a YMCA camp on the N. side cause it was that or hypothermia. (I guess it's no longer there, and the statute of limitations is done anyway). Got thoroughly lost--in the guide you were still pointed to a cross country route to Cabazon--hit the top of a spur ridge and saw trail that should not exist switchbacking, and I mean switchbacking, down into SG Pass. I think we may have been the first to actually descend the infamous N. Face switchbacks to Snow Creek.
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pcg
climber
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Jan 22, 2015 - 11:58am PT
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To put things in perspective...
They are going north to south. They started in Canada in the fall, which can be an awesome time to hike on the PCT in the North Cascades, this year especially. Fortunately for them winter weather didn't really arrive in the PNW this year until Thanksgiving, and then it left again and hasn't returned. By the time winter had officially arrived they were already in California and the Cascades were behind them.
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Tahoe climber
climber
Davis these days
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Jan 22, 2015 - 07:33pm PT
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Solid post, Pappy! I had fun just reading it!
I've done about 500 miles or so of the PCT at one time or another, and always wanted to get back "sometime"
Great place to be, whenever you're there!
TC
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dave729
Trad climber
Western America
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Jan 22, 2015 - 09:02pm PT
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No word from them yet after 4 days on the zig-zaggy Sonora Pass to
Tuolumne Mdws section.
I'm trying to visualize Benson Lake's riviera in January with icebergs.
The conditions report yesterday from the Rangers at Tuolumne say
they have electricity but no public phone working. But they also
say they do have email service.
Does that mean cell phone service is up or down?
http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/Update-for-January-21-2015.htm
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