Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California. Jeffrey P. Schaffer
to be dodging lightning strikes.
To minimize any storm encounter, hike during an optimal time. For southern California lowlands this can be March or April, when frontal storms are less likely, temperatures are neither too cold nor too hot, there is still enough groundwater for springs to be reliable, and even some seasonal streams may still be flowing. Two-thirds of the PCT, and most of the sections described in this book, traverse relatively high lands, above 6000 feet. In the mid- and northern High Sierra, such high lands can remain largely snowbound through June and into early July. Much of the trail through Sequoia National Park, described in Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California, is above 11,000 feet and the snowpack can be serious until mid-July. Then, as snow melts quickly, another problem presents itself, namely swollen and rushing streams that you must ford. These can be just as life-threatening as icy passes. It’s best to avoid hiking in this area before mid-July in a year with average precipitation. August and September are good months with fair weather, but until Labor Day, they are also the most crowded times of the year on the PCT. In Lassen Volcanic National Park, and certainly lands north of it, September weather can be chancy.
Cloud formations above Tollhouse Lake, along the old (temporary) PCT.
Choosing an optimal hiking month is not an option with through-hikers bound for the Canadian border. They must start at the Mexican border by mid-April through early May, when there are still enough springs flowing and not too much snow in higher elevations. The hike through Antelope Valley (the western part of the Mojave Desert) can be grueling, usually too hot and always too dry. But a couple of weeks later they will be entering the High Sierra, which will be too snowy. Not until early July, when hopefully they’ve reached Interstate 80 at Donner Pass, will their problems be over—temporarily: snow storms await them in Washington in September.
If you plan to through-hike and can choose the year to do it, then pick one in which the south half of the Sierra and all lands south of it (Sections A-H in Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California) are having a relatively dry year. Though springs will dry up earlier in southern California, with a light Sierra snowpack you can start a month sooner, in early April rather than in early May. When central and southern California are having relatively low precipitation in fall, winter, and spring, Oregon and Washington usually are having relatively high precipitation, which means a thick, long-lasting snowpack. However, by the time you reach Oregon, perhaps in early July, the snow problems won’t be that bad and the snow will continue to melt as you advance northward to the really snowy country. Another bonus of hiking in such a year is that you can finish by early or mid-September, before the frontal storms start coming in thick and fast, besieging you with one snow dusting after another.
Perhaps the worst kind of year is one with heavy precipitation both in the central and southern Sierra Nevada and in southern California. On the plus side (which does not approach the heavy minus side), springs and seasonal streams will be flowing in southern California. On the minus side, snowpacks can slow you down in southern California’s mountains, and especially so in the Sierra. Hiking slower than average, you could run out of time, for Washington’s North Cascades can be snowbound and that section can be indecipherable when you reach it. If you don’t have access to information about the water situation in California, contact the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), mentioned early in this chapter. They keep track of trail conditions, including drinking-water availability, snow problems, and other issues pertinent to the PCT trekker.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is the rapid and progressive mental and physical collapse that accompanies chilling of the human body’s inner core. It is caused by exposure to cold, and is intensified by wetness, wind, and exhaustion. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to carry raingear. An unexpected storm could otherwise soak you to the bone. Hypothermia almost always occurs at temperatures well above freezing. Anyone who becomes fatigued in wet and windy conditions is a potential victim. If you experience a bout of uncontrollable shivering, you should seriously consider yourself a candidate for hypothermia and take appropriate measures.
The best defense against hypothermia is to avoid exposure. Stay dry. When clothing is wet, it can lose as much as 90 percent of its insulating value, draining heat from the body. Unlike cotton, down and some synthetics, wool and polypropylene retain most of their insulating value when wet. If you can afford them, buy waterproof-breathable garments, which are made by a number of manufacturers. Be aware of the wind. Even a slight breeze carries heat away from your body, and forces cold air under as well as through clothing. Wind intensifies cold by evaporating moisture from the skin’s surface. Use proper clothing. Put on raingear immediately, not after you are fairly soaked. Add a layer of clothing under your raingear before shivering occurs. A hat or ski cap, preferably made of wool or polypropylene, should be worn to protect and help retain body heat.
If your party fails to take these precautionary steps, a hiker with hypothermia may progress to more advanced symptoms, which include slurred speech, drowsiness, amnesia, frequent stumbling, a decrease in shivering, hallucinations and, finally, stupor, coma, and death. The victim may strongly deny he or she is in trouble. Believe the symptoms, not the patient.
It is far more dangerous to hike alone than in a group. You may not recognize the signs of hypothermia by yourself and, if you do, you may have a harder time restoring your body heat than if you have others to help you. In the mountains it is extremely important to keep your sleeping bag and a set of clothes dry. If they get wet, and threatening weather prevails, try to get out of the mountains as quickly as possible. But, don’t abandon your pack and make a dash for the trailhead, which can be tantamount to suicide. If weather worsens, stay put in a sheltered area and keep warm and dry. Unless you are a very seasoned mountaineer, you should not attempt to continue hiking in bad weather.
High Altitude Problems
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness may occur at elevations of about 8000 feet or more. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath on exertion. Sleep may be difficult for the first night and, if you are above 10,000 feet, perhaps even for one or more additional nights. Regular periods of heavy breathing separated by periods of no breathing at all may awaken the sleeper with a sense of suffocation. Hyperventilation may also occur, causing lightheadedness, dizziness, and tingling of the hands, feet, and mouth. Altitude sickness results from exposure to the oxygen-deficient atmosphere of high elevations. It is aggravated by fatigue and cold. Some people are more susceptible to it than others. As the body adjusts to the lower oxygen pressure, symptoms usually disappear. Resting and drinking extra liquids are recommended. If symptoms persist, descend to lower altitudes.
High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema
However rare, this is a serious and potentially fatal condition. Cases have been reported at altitudes of 8500 feet, but usually it occurs considerably higher. The basic problem, as with altitude sickness, is a reduction of oxygen, and early symptoms are often unrecognized or else confused with altitude sickness. However, in the case of pulmonary edema, reduced oxygen initiates blood diversion from the body shell to the core, causing congestion of the lungs, brain, and other vital organs. Besides exhibiting symptoms similar to those of altitude sickness, the victim is restless, coughs, and eventually brings up frothy, blood-tinged sputum. The only treatment is immediate descent to at least 2000 feet lower and, if available, administration of oxygen. You should secure medical help as soon as possible.
Blood in Urine
If you are at high elevations and exercising to the point of dehydration, you can, like serious long-distance runners, have reddish urine. You are not dying, but this is a good sign that you are overexerting yourself. Slow down.
Ultraviolet Radiation
Above 9000 feet, wear UV-absorbing or reflecting glasses and a hat to protect your eyes, for the dangerous ultraviolet radiation at these elevations is very intense. You can get quite a splitting headache if your eyes get too much radiation. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases your risk of skin cancer, so be liberal with sunscreen on all your exposed skin.