IMPORTANT UPDATE: Sundance, TinMan, and Magic Hobbit, who appear in this video, have now completed the Sierra- they made it to Sonora Pass (Kennedy Meadows North) and are currently headed to South Lake Tahoe. Congratulations!!! They join Abraham Espinoza, Shopper, Starfish, and a handful of others who have completed this amazing task! Well done, friends!
Wow, that was your best video yet! MUCH respect. With such a heavy snow year, crossing a week of mountains in the Sierras is not the PCT, it's the PCMT (Pacific Crest Mountaineering Traverse!) A 13,200 foot pass?! Are you kidding me? Wow. I'm impressed you could maintain 1MPH in snowy mountainous terrain- that's my personal rule of thumb for "good speed" when approaching a winter climb. To do it with full packs is seriously impressive.
That was exactly what I was hoping to see of the Sierras 2023. Great job and great scenery. Would still like to see some of the major river crossings. For those who have made it through, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!. For those who are skipping, CONGRATULATIONS also!!!!!
I love your attitude and how positive you are. Funny thing is those times are not that far off from hiking in the White Mountains of NH. Only super elites ever hit 30 mile days in the Whites. What would have killed me was your pack weight. I have not carried a pack that heavy in a long time. I am far too old for that now. What makes for a great ski year makes a though hike hard. Thanks recording, editing and sharing your beautiful experience. You guys are pretty bad ass. Take care
Loved your video so much! Good job on the snow bridges. On this planet, I have found that pushing yourself to your limits is life changing and the best experiences in life. You are true mountaineers and should be so proud of yourselves. The Sierra is my favorite place, and you lucked out with such a challenging snowpack, and so gorgeous! You will remember it all for a lifetime. Wish I had been there🏜Thanks for the wonderful footage💕
I've been following you since seeing your gear list and had a sense if anyone could give the Sierra a great "college try" it would be you! You're 3 member tramily went in with eyes wide open and rational decision making. Thank you for your beautiful video/images and frank talk of how physical and mental the challenge is!! So glad you are all safe. onward!
You have the best videos about which ever section you are on and don’t sugar coat it. It’s not social media bullshit! With detailed info everyone needs. Wish there were more like you! Respect!
I think it might be time to rent some back pack sleds. It's amazing to see the low tree tops. Keep powering through. Everyone is watching and rooting for you'all.
I like your collage style! Very entertaining. Have watched several channels coming through Forrester the last couple weeks but looks like your group was one of the earliest. Impressive on all points. There must be some bleak moments when you wonder what in the world were you thinking, taking on this heavy snow year... but at the same time, unique opportunities whisper in your ear... are you up for it? Why yes!
The barefoot river crossing, absolutely thrilling! When do we get a Q&A video with Just15? I would love to learn more about him, he seems to be a big part of the trip 🙂
Maybe a couple weeks earlier, when the snow was less slushy. The trouble also was that they had to carry the skis and avalanche gear for two days just to get to the snow (our packs were lighter so we could do that in one day). They also said that the PCT traverses weren’t the best on skis. But they had a lot of fun at times AND they SKIED the Sierra, which I think is pretty awesome!
@@quakingleaf Understood. Any suggestions on what you think would have been the best footwear? You showed snow shoes weren't the solution either. Skiing on slush can be downright dangerous when it grabs your skis...I suppose waiting for it to melt as you're doing is one solution.
Thanks! With only 4.5 months, I had to leave some parts unfinished. I'll be completing 2/3 of Oregon and a small bit of Washington in the summer of '24 with my daughter, DigDug. Then I'll be back to finish about 500 miles of the Sierra in 2025. Thanks for watching!
Yeah, a belay would be possible, but I doubt ice screws would have held, and we’d have to carry the equipment about 80 miles. A rope team wouldn’t work in this situation.
@@quakingleaf Awesome, thanks. I’ve been looking at their Wolverine pack. Are those the tall side pockets you have on your pack? Been going back and forth between ordering the tall side pockets or sticking with the standard.
hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence, arrogance. Nope, I don’t agree. I have a fear of heights and it took all I had to complete this. Pride? I broke down crying at the top. I look back at this with humility. Perhaps others had this- not me.
For a guide, you sure didn’t look very carefully. An ice axe was used the entire time, as well as proper boots and full crampons. Solid self-belays weee used the whole time. You may be confused because I also had a trekking in my left hand for balance with no strap used. You are correct that no ropes were used.
Are you really a guide? He clearly has an ice axe as can be seen in multiple shots. And no one ropes up for this. Plenty of people do Mt. Whitney via Mountaineer's Route without a rope too. Maybe you need to find another profession if such things scare you so much. Shame on you.
