Unexpected Snowstorm in the High Sierras: My Shoulder Season Lesson

[Brian W]

I’d start with why you’re going in the first place. I generally hike and backpack to relax and get away from the office. I don’t go to suffer or to challenge myself physically. But I know others that do.

Second, I’d learn to trust my instincts and years of being outside over technology. Think about all the people that trusted Google Maps to navigate them that ended up on rough roads. Lots on YouTube about this recent happening. Lots of poor judgement. Sometimes the tech is wrong. Gotta make a judgement call based on current experience.

Finally, good that you both turned around and let your friends know what was happening.

Good report. Be safe out there. And it could have been worse. You can have fallen into a toilet for your phone. :)

[HkNewman]

Love hiking western mountain ranges with forest strands to potentially shelter in, but knowing when the powerful cold fronts can hit your particular mountain range of choice is pretty essential.

I’ve been hiking the summertime Cascades for several years now and north of Santium Pass (Bend to Eugene OR line), I know mountain weather can get socked in (freezing rain at altitude, etc.) despite being mostly nice. Getting deeper into Washington St however, mid-September can see a snow dump.

Same thing when I was in the Southwest (“4 corners”).  Had a trip in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains one early Nov (“Veteran’s Day”) that became colder than anticipated due to a cold front that barreled in from the north days earlier than anticipated. “Luckily” the trail that day was covered in new-ish blowdowns (relatively disused trail so no one had current info on it), so the cold actually helped cool us off navigating the surprise obstacle course.

That trip in particular taught me cold fronts can move a lot quicker and when the conditions are cooling anyways.

I like Eric’s set up with a warmer sleeping bag that can be added to for true shoulder season conditions if potentially looking at single digit temperatures.   Looking at Polartec alpha direct socks and maybe mitts for UL warmth sleeping.  In fact Alpha direct/Octa layering system in general seems like a good choice (= good for hiking insulation but also won’t take up too much room inside a sleeping bag).

[Author]

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