Questing Veterans Update: June 28, 2011: New Plans?

Questing Veterans Update, June 28 2011

Jean's latest report confirms on foot what our seasonal observations the snowpack data has been showing in abstract:  The Sierra is fully packed with snow that is finally rapidly depleating.

This presents a double-edged danger: The danger of traveling across deep wet snow that has many hidden dangers below its surface, and is fully exhausting to travel across. And then there are the dangers of crossing the surging streams and rivers that are at or above flood levels with ice-cold supercharged Spring Thaw flows.

This is some real dangerous shit.

So far we can directly attribute three deaths to the heavy Spring snowpack and its thunderously powerful frigid flow of runoff waters during the Summer season in the Sierra Nevada. See Tracking the Spring Thaw of 2011.

Thanks to Jean for providing the report below. There are pictures that will be coming soon...

Jean Stricklee's Report from the Trail leading Questing Veterans

Well folks,  

We made it to Lone Pine, CA. The horses are up at Cottonwood Lakes while we Resupply today. Reports from fellow adventurists are not good.  

I spoke with two men about my age at the Laundrymat wearing just thier rain gear and they have been breaking up the trail and doing the parts out of order. They are just recently South Bound from the direction we want to go and it doesn't sound good.  

We just made it through some of the more travelled sections of the year and it was iffy in places. Lot's of trees down. Lot's of loose rock. The snow ahead has already been the death of one very much experienced rider. RIP.  

So today we are just getting gear we needed or decided would make life easier (a ladle for one). End of week we will head down here again with a plan for the future of the PCT portion and get food.  

Fortunately the end of the big trail does connect to the PCT so maybe at tgat time will be a better year.  

We may decide to ride the coast back, or just visit all the little towns around here and some of the state parks. We will discuss strategies with the Pack Station at Cottonwood Lakes who was kind enough to give us 4 bales of hay for free. Thanks guys!  

For the first time in just over a week I am stuffed instead of feeling hunger stuck to my spine. I am clean and wearing clean clothes-machine wash clean. My shirt finally got rid of the charcole that was stuck to it and I smell like a normal person. Crazy right?  

Sleeping in a bed in the Lone Pine local Hostle was incredible. I forgot how nice sheets are. What is really crazy is the heat! What a crazy adjustment is that? Well more to come later.  

No signal at Cottonwood Lakes.  

Trail Boss

Jean Strickler

(912) 492-3986

http://questingveterans.us

Help Jean out any way you can!