That guy on the PCT forum told me to skip the Sierra snow gear and I almost died

Some dude named 'trailwise42' swore the snow was gone by June 5th last year so I left my spikes at home. I hit Forester Pass and spent 4 hours postholing through waist-deep slush with nothing but hiking poles. Has anyone else had someone's confident advice nearly ruin their trip on a major route?

3 comments

3 Comments

tara64217d ago

Trailwise42 probably hiked in a drought year and forgot to mention it lol. Always pack the spikes and check recent trip reports from the same week, not last year.

wesleyb2017d ago

Heard the same thing from a ranger last week, conditions can change fast.

lewis.terry17d ago

Yeah no kidding, I've been burned by trusting old trip reports from the same month but a different year, it's wild how fast a ridge can go from dry to a total ice sheet. @wesleyb20 is spot on about asking rangers too, they see the daily changes and can tell you if that sketchy traverse is still holding snow. Honestly even if you look like a goober carrying spikes in August, it beats sliding down a slab with your daypack.

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