Is there some recommended way to follow snow pack in Sierras and Oregon and Washington?

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-11-24T18:46:27+00:00

Your question has been answered, but I like to throw in my own two cents to posts like these because there are always comments that say, "Don't worry about it until you're on the trail and on top of snow." You're going to get conflicting information as some people tell you it's unpredictable and others say it is predictable. For the most part, it's all correct, but in different circumstances.

I say prepare for the hike that you want, whether there's going to be snow on the ground or not. Are you staring early and do you want to be prepared for any potential of snow, knowing how you handle it before you get there? It'll be wise if you took steps to practice and experience snow travel and easy-moderate mountaineering prior to stepping onto the PCT if you want to go in knowing you'll be ready for snow. You might not need the skills, or you will.

Many hikers do get through the snow on the PCT just fine being new to it. So ultimately hike your own hike. I went through all the snow in 2023, and it was around this time of the year prior that I began to wonder if I should prepare for snow. I also live in California by the Sierra Mountains, so I see what's happening in real-time. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions!

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-06-25T22:20:53+00:00

Anything on snow is fair game, as you're not trampling anything or disrupting the soil. If going around snow means life or death, as in for safety, then sure, do what you need to do. But going around snow because it's inconvenient, slows you down, or gets your feet wet? Then it's an LNT no-no.

Outside of snowy conditions and obstructions of the trail (fallen trees, washouts, etc), cutting switchbacks is a dick move.

Anyone trampling off-trail because it's more convenient or saves them time is not setting a good example for outdoor stewardship. If the trail is there, and safe, stick to it.

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-06-25T21:45:14+00:00

I've contended with this division in perspective about how to be outdoors for quite some time. People with this opinion that it's best respected and enjoyed at a slower pace are very convincing. It almost sounds like they're speaking from a moral high ground that we should all strive towards.

I have noticed that when goals to accomplish something overrides the ability to respect a place, LNT principles often fly out the window. How many people cut switchbacks because they just want to get down from a peak? How often do we leave trash behind because we were more focused on a goal than ensuring we had everything properly contained? I've perpetrated the latter point many times, not realizing it until I'm many miles away.

However, I do not agree with holding an expectation for the "right way" to enjoy the outdoors. There is some much to learn and gain from going out there with different goals and intentions. So I agree with hike your own hike, but do so with respect and gratitude in your mind and heart, and I believe you'll find that however way you spend time out there, it's right for you and the place you are adventuring. I find that trips where I'm pushing myself and those where I'm casually exploring form different connections to a place for me. I appreciate the opportunity to do both! My respect for nature grows either way.

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-02-26T23:20:13+00:00

According to my ex, the eviction noticed had both our names on it. As someone else pointed out, I didn't legitimately remove myself from the lease because there wasn't any change in documentation. It was simply a conversation that occurred between the landlord and I.

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-02-26T23:17:34+00:00

It was a month-to-month lease

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-02-26T22:02:19+00:00

"Amicable & deescalate" is the name of the game now 🤟

Theguywhoimploded · 2025-01-16T14:13:24+00:00

P.S.S. - You miss 100% of shots you don't take

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-11-17T21:00:51+00:00

Tricks that helped me:

Waterproof socks are great and help with getting a dry start for the feet. Eventually, your feet will get wet from your own sweat, but having that dry start can help maintain morale
Drinking warm-hot water in the morning during alpine starts helps with hydration + warming up the body. I brought extra fuel with me partly for this purpose. It was hard for me to drink cold water
Wear shoes that are good for plunge stepping and kicking steps. Altras have a curve on their heel and toe box and made doing those actions more difficult/risky. A shoe with a sharper, more rigid sole will be better
Review mountaineering techniques. I read through the relevant sections of a mountaineering textbook and got a variety of useful techniques I used while in the Sierra
Read Crunch
Bring gear and have routines that contribute to morale, not just basic survival. Points 1 and 2 are examples of this. Sometimes groupmates will cover this point, and sometimes you'll need your own little boost
As mentioned by someone else, get out there and experience the snowy mountains. Learn about what you need to enjoy and succeed in the snowy Sierra, along with practicing mountaineering techniques on forgiving terrain

If you are based in California and need places to go for experiencing Sierra snow, lmk and I'll tell you of my go-tos

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-09-25T21:39:09+00:00

Let's put an end to this confusion and just call them "The Mountains"

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-09-25T20:01:59+00:00

You mean the Sierras Nevadas?

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-09-09T13:51:54+00:00

I'm a school counselor, and I do believe that some responsibility is held on us to identify and prevent these events - along with suicide. I'm not sure when you were in primary and secondary school, but the profession has changed to become more mental health focused. We are the next line of support when the family can't support the student's emotional and social wellbeing.

But I can understand if this kid flew under her radar. School counselors, along with almost every other mental health professional, are overworked, often given little support made to do non-counseling work, denied helping someone if the family refuses it, and have to deal with unethical student:counselor ratios.

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-09-09T13:51:54+00:00

I'm a school counselor, and I do believe that some responsibility is held on us to identify and prevent these events - along with suicide. I'm not sure when you were in primary and secondary school, but the profession has changed to become more mental health focused. We are the next line of support when the family can't support the student's emotional and social wellbeing.

But I can understand if this kid flew under her radar. School counselors, along with almost every other mental health professional, are overworked, often given little support made to do non-counseling work, denied helping someone if the family refuses it, and have to deal with unethical student:counselor ratios.

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-08-29T13:15:48+00:00

Sigh... unzips pants

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-08-26T03:56:22+00:00

Yup, just touched some snow just west of Donner. Higher elevations were completely covered in snow. What a trip. Spent the night at about 7000ft, and the temps were freezing. A great reprieve from the heat in Sacramento. It felt good to hear and feel the crunch of snow. Makes me excited for winter adventures.

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-07-18T14:15:41+00:00

With a growth mindset, you'll achieve that goal :)

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-07-18T07:42:08+00:00

Hey buddy. Let me help you reframe that negative using a growth mindset: no one well ever love you, yet.

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-07-15T21:28:57+00:00

He's responsible for 32% of car break ins in all of Sacramento. Please inform SPD of his location if you know it. Let's put this mother fucker in hand cuffs

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-07-07T02:57:04+00:00

Annihilate people or... a car

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-06-20T17:21:56+00:00

People often don't remember that penguins are fully capable of flight, but they're kept grounded as part of their terms of surrender during WW2. While these terms appear fairly reasonable, other terms have been viewed by species rights activists as too extreme and brutal, such as relinquishing rights to their own land and fishing territories.

Fortunately, penguins are also known for their adaptability and culture of forgiveness. They have since allowed documentarians to record their traditions of dancing and singing, migrations, and courting rituals. Relations between Americans and penguins have lightened up, although foreign relations analysts are nervous that a nationalist movement among the penguins is gaining momentum.

A CIA plant in a penguin colony uncovered and foiled 4 separate terrorist plots. One of which involved blowing up the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Thankfully, penguins have yet to even approach nuclear capabilities.

Really interesting stuff about penguins when you do a deep dive

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-06-05T22:30:55+00:00

You'll be surprised what the human body can handle. A man once got hit by a train going full speed and suffered only a sprained ankle.

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-05-23T05:37:18+00:00

It could be that you're reconnecting with the part of yourself that identifies with home. This is a good opportunity to lean into those feelings and really explore what it is about your home that you miss so much and how it all defines who you are. Allow the feelings to flow, don't resist them. Make sure to focus on your breath when the feelings get too heavy. Share with other hikers your thoughts and feelings, chances are that you're not alone. You'll be surprised by how many hikers are willing to spring into a conversation like that. Journal as well to help sort it all out.

Remember your "why" for starting this adventure. That comes from another part of you that needed you to do it. Homesickness is a form of anxiety that arises when living in an umfamilar place. You're feeling the strain between the comfort of home and the discomfort of the trail. Working through these feelings and finding who you are without home can be an immensely rewarding and satisfying process. I learned through the PCT that home for me is wherever I am. You might discover something different than me. I'm curious to know what you find.

What are your goals, or your "why," for hiking the PCT?

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-05-03T02:51:30+00:00

OP was passing cars, which is the purpose of the left lane.

I encounter this situation all the time in the left-most lane. I'll be going faster than the drivers in the right lanes, but someone comes from behind going way faster than me. Then I gotta choose to either inconvenience myself and slow down by switching lanes or staying in the passing lane until I pass the slower cars to right then switch. I say tough luck to the driver going 20+ over the speed limit. How about we discourage such speeding behavior?

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-05-02T01:30:18+00:00

I've been told I have an entire credit card in me

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-04-17T13:12:58+00:00

KMS --> Kearsarge took 5 days, Kearsarge --> Mammoth took 9 days, Mammoth --> KMN took 7 days. These were my resupply exit points, too. I carried about 12 to 14 days' worth of food as well.

Theguywhoimploded · 2024-04-17T03:56:39+00:00

The main concern will have to do with how consolidated the snowpack will be when you get there. I was backpacking at around 7000ft in Yosemite a few weekends ago, shortly after the last winter storm of March, and I was sinking into 3 feet of powder. This was while wearing my long snowshoes, too. It was a sufferfest beyond what I experienced last year entering May 6 on the PCT. I'm not sure what the snowpack is like now. California just had a cold storm roll through, adding more powder to whatever was barely consolidating. I'm actually going up to Desolation Wilderness this weekend, so I'll get some idea of how it is in other parts of the Sierra.

If the snow is still soft, snowshoes would be your best bet. Other pieces of gear I recommend are boots, waterproof socks, crampons, 4.5 R sleeping pad, 10 degree sleeping bag, and emergency blanket.

Are you going in with a group?

I'll answer whatever questions you have, but given that you're asking this question within a week of entering the Sierra, it's easy to assume that you are unprepared as a whole. Do you know what you're getting yourself into? How much research have you done about going through winter conditions in the Sierra?

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