the snowshoes are dusted off

[LAMike]

WOW...
I just read the link to your story.
Ellen... that is an amazing story and you are an amazing lady to weather all that time on your own!
You are also an excellent writer.
Mike

[Hikin_Jim]

Make sure you've got your 10 essentials. Be equipped to survive the night. Bring . . .

You read my mind..
I was just going to ask... (maybe a new thread?)...
what changes in your guyz'z packs occur for winter?
(Switching from beer to scotch?)
I'll read the article you linked, thanks.
So please share your contents...
Mike

Well, for starters:
Down jacket or fleece jacket depending.
Gore-Tex shell
Gore-Tex pants
Extra food
1 Liter Thermos or 0.5 Liter Thermos or both
Means to melt water in an emergency (pot, matches/lighter, esbit stove and cubes, and a fireproof pad to place the stove on)
Fleece pants in extreme cold
Fleece touque, sometimes a light weight one, sometimes a heavy, sometimes both (serious cold)
Gore-Tex hat (can by layered over fleece)
Fleece neck gaitor
Fleece face mask
Fleece balaclava
Fleece gloves (or knit wool if I'm going to use a stove -- don't want that synthetic to melt into our skin now do we?)
Gore-Tex overmitts
Liner gloves*
Two or three pairs of extra socks* that can be layered
Long john bottoms* (typically mid-weight but expedition weight if truly cold)
Zip Turtle-neck* (mid-wt or expedition wt depending)
A "T" shirt*
Fleece vest
Thermolite bivvy sack (a space blanket on steriods, much thicker and sturdier)
A full length Prolite 3 or 4 thermarest (yes, on a day hike; they're quite compact)
Perhaps a snow shovel depending on conditions and snow depth
Avalanche probe depending on conditions and snow depth
Perhaps an ice axe and crampons depending on conditions

OK, so I don't bring the whole list above all on one hike (unless I'm on one of my winter trips to Canada, in which case I might), but this should give you an idea of what I bring. The idea is to have lots of layers that you can layer and de-layer as needed. I have Gore-Tex for every square inch of my body from hat to jacket to pants to gaiters. (Note: some people prefer softshells to full on Gore-Tex). The one that may seem weird is the thermarest on a day hike, but think about it. If you're forced to bivvy a night on the snow (i.e. you didn't get to the summit hut or weren't near it), how are you going to fare on the snow as you overnight? Anyway, you pick and choose what you need, but hopefully this will give you some ideas.

*Not cotton. Wool or synthetic.

[Ellen]

Howdy Kathy

Looks like I'll be out with company on Sunday. Can't wait to try my new MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes. Those cursed Atlas' snowshoes just sold on Ebay but the high bidder hasn't paid yet (figures).

Howdy LA Mike

Thanks for your kind words. I enjoyed your comment about switching from beer to scotch.

Hiking Jim is an excellent writer, experienced outdoorsman, and wonderful humorist as well as a really nice guy. He created the title (and many section headings) for my tale.

Howdy All

Whoever gets up to San J first to play in white stuff, please post a trip report.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[KathyW]

I think it was the 9 am tram that Cy and I road up on, but by the time I got going this morning from Long Valley it was almost 10 am. I started out on trail that had been broken by people that started earlier, but I started post-holing on the packed trail right away; so the snowshoes went on and stayed on all day.

It was fairly easy traveling on the packed trail with the snowshoes on but about half way to Round Valley we ran into the rangers breaking trail. Yes, they do go out and break trail - I got to see it first hand. Anyway, me and 3 other guys traveling along the trail were automatically put on the trail breaking crew. You break trail for 35 steps and then you fall to the back of the line and the next person breaks trail for 35 steps. You just keep rotating - it's a slow process, but it sure makes it easier that way. When we were breaking trail we were sinking down pretty far - probably close to a foot in most places.

The rangers' group was only going as far as Round Valley, so me, the 3 guys, and another couple that came along took turns breaking trail to Wellman's Divide. Actually, we ended up at about 9900' instead of 9700'; so we were higher than Wellman's Divide and past the junction that goes on to San Jacinto.

We all had enough there and called it a day because there just wasn't enough time to break trail all the way to the summit and we were tired already.

One of the Rangers said he will be up early tomorrow to break trail from Wellman's Divide to the summit (he's staying in Long Valley overnight); so those heading up tomorrow might find the trail broken all the way to the summit via the Wellman's Divide Route.

When I got back to the Ranger Station, I ran into a couple of guys that left the trail between Long Valley and Round Valley and veered over to Tamarack and then up to Miller Saddle. One of them made the summit and the other stopped at Miller Saddle. They said that another group came up behind them following their track; so there is a route broken to the summit already - You'd just have to find where their tracks leave the trail to Round Valley and follow it.

The snow is deep and still fairly fluffy in most places. You need the snowshoes even on the beaten track - at least today you did.

[Ranboze]

Great report Kathy. Wish I was able to get out there today, but still far behind on holiday chores.

[KathyW]

Some pics I took yesterday:

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/gallery/6884507_4NQWN#440434778_GXLnu

Robin: Hopefully, we'll have lots of snow this winter and you'll be able to get out and do some tramshoeing after the busy holiday season is over. It's really beautiful up there in the winter.

Kathy

[Hikin_Jim]

Sounds like you ran into Patrick and Bryan from the San Gabriels board: http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/sutra10755.php

[stobbart]

Makes me wonder if ill make it all the way to the summit on the 30th. C2C would be beyond epic if we can make it. But from what I have been reading just making it up to Long Valley will be quite an accomplishment.

May be ill see some people up there...don't know how many of you plan to go up on the 30th though.

[KathyW]

Stobbart: Yes, making it to Long Valley might be a long tough day. Snow, possible icy conditions, difficult route finding, and a very sketchy section above 7000' - are things you'll deal with. Plus, you'll have heavy packs with the gear you'll need to deal with these conditions.

Have you and your team climbed much in the local mountains in the winter? If not, it might be a good idea to start with climbing San Jacinto from the tram, then move on to climbing Baldy via the bowl, and then San Gorgonio before trying C2C in the winter.

Kathy

[LAMike]

Hi,
I ended up hiking on Friday and Saturday. Friday was breaking in the snow shoes around the overlooks. There was about 3 ft. of snow, and without snowshoes I was up to crotch level. Even with snowshoes I was sinking about knee deep.
On saturday I was up on the first tram. I joined a conga line of 3~4 rangers and 4~5 vistors breaking trail up to round valley. One person would take the lead, and after they were pooped the leader would step aside and the "train" of people would pass him/her, making the former leader the last person. It was fun all they way there. Then the rangers stopped at the RV Ranger station, and the rest of the group continued up to wellman's.
It really wasn't all that cold, but there was lots of fresh powder.
Hoping to be back this coming weekend as well.
I'll look for you all on the trail!!
Mike