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Striking fear in the heart of hikers – creek crossings
There is little that hikers find more fearsome than the prospect of deep creek and river crossings. Sometimes this is with good reason. There have been several tragic deaths crossing some of the more dangerous crossings. So it’s understandable that hikers ask “what will the creek crossings be like this year?”. There are no surprises…
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Altitude Sickness
As folks prepare for their summer hikes, there are always many questions and concerns about altitude acclimatization and altitude sickness. The importance of this topic was recently brought into tragically sharp focus with the death of a hiker on Forester Pass attributed to severe altitude sickness. Much more commonly, altitude sickness is unpleasant to experience…
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Cold temperatures coming next week (May 8 – 11)
PCT/JMT hikers in the Sierra this weekend, bundle up and carry more food, both as “furnace food” (to keep you warm, internally) and for storm-zeros inside your tent. Be prepared for changeable conditions that may include snow and severe cold (down near 10 degrees for a daily low at 11,000 feet).
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Significant Sierra Nevada Challenges – 7,000 JMT hikers reporting 2014-21
Almost 7,000 JMT hikers responded to the annual John Muir Trail Hiker Survey over eight years – 2014 through 2021. The chart summarizes their subjective evaluation of 41 common or potentially dangerous challenges.
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Sierra Spring / Early Summer Hiking Resources / Conditions Estimate
I see conditions (and their relevant safety gear and skill requirements) as being about 2-3 weeks behind 2021 conditions and trend fairly closely with those of 2020. In any case, keep an eye out for PCT thru hikers’ reports soon, as the early starters will be itching to get into the Sierras and continue their…
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Don’t be too eager to start your JMT in May or June of this year!
For eager-to-start JMT thru-hikers thinking there won’t be any snow on the trail and the weather will be perfect now or in May: Don’t enter the Sierra just yet!
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Do we really need another hiking blog?
Only if it is distinct from all the others — in ways that appeal to those of us who avoid hiking blogs.
