Enjoying the SNP all to myself

Having spent much of my life trekking and climbing various regions of North America, I have found the Sierra Nevada Mountains to be among my favorite destinations. The winter months are ideal as the mountains take on the look of a pristine winter wonderland that I’m fascinated with. Access roads are closed, crowds have retreated for the season and snowshoes or cross country skies are the transportation of choice.

Some call this extreme with all the focus on the obvious perils one could expect in such an environment. With the correct gear, careful planning and some old fashion common sense; you can limit your risk and elevate you enjoyment making for an excellent backcountry adventure.

The down side to this type of trekking is the amount of gear one must have to survive only a few days in below freezing weather. Packing 50lbs of gear across snow covered mountains has its own challenges… physical, mental and technical. I’m talking a few days in the backcountry not an expedition. Regardless, you need to be both physically, mentally and technically fit.

Morning after the big snow storm

The rewards for such efforts are grand. You see the mountains firsthand in a way that most people see only in postcards. Keep in mind that winter storms can roll in quick dropping several feet of snow covering you and you’re trail along with any tracks leading in.

If you’re not packing the right gear you’re in for a rough time. Being experienced in cold weather survival, mountaineering as well as having the skills to navigate without the aid of trail markers or GPS is essential.  A positive mental attitude is always required. When in a jam, people tend to panic and make poor decisions that can cost dearly. There’s no one out here to save your ass.

Take the time to learn and practice the skills needed to venture into the backcountry. Know your personal limitations. There will always be someone that hikes further and higher than you, it’s irrelevant.

The mountains have a way of luring you in deeper and deeper. Maybe it’s hopes of more awe-inspiring vistas or maybe it’s an instinctive desire to explore the unknown. Regardless, venturing beyond your personal limits not only puts your safety or very possibly your life at risk, but the safety of the potential rescuers.

Packed up and ready to hit the trail.

If its rescue you need, don’t expect it anytime soon. Even if you did the correct thing and filed a detailed plan of your trek along with your wilderness permit, rescuers would have a hell of a time trying to locate anyone this time of year in time to bring you out safe and unharmed. The mountains are not forgiving to those that show no respect.

Selecting the best camping & hiking gear can be an expense that some cut corners on. Don’t do it. Be wise with your selection of gear. You don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest but you do need quality and you need to be both mentally prepared in how to use it as well as experienced.

Practice – Practice – Practice. If this means setting up camp in your backyard and freaking out the neighbors, do it. Take less adventurous overnight trips to test your outdoor gear. You need to know how everything works, how it assembles and disassembles in the pitch of dark.

Once in the backcountry and you find yourself in a jam – it’s all you. Wind howling, temperatures dropping, fingers numb from the cold and the night sky overhead. Keep calm and think straight. Once you have your situation under control, relax and enjoy the adventure. That’s why you’re out there, right?