Hmmmm. I worked at Ostrander ski hut for 20 years; taught xc skiing; have taken the National Avalanche School course; and done snow surveys for 8 years. Some assorted thoughts:
yes, definitely abandon the sled idea. There's no way it'll work. I dragged a sled on Denali, but only on the Ruth glacier and up to 14,000 on the Kahiltna. When it gets steep, you can't use them. People will use them in the Sierra on roads, but never twice off-road.
I'm a little concerned with trying to re-learn skiing. Ski mountaineering is a hard-core skill for the trip you're proposing. I would recommend 3 - 5 years winter experience before attempting it on skis -- especially solo. If you're not at least an Intermediate ski mountaineer now, stick with snowshoes.
Unlikely you'll make more than 5 - 7 miles per day average on snowshoes (and probably not much better on skis either).
White gas stove. You might find open water here and there, but you might not... . A stove that has a good record for field maintenance (MSR multi-fuel or something). Whatever you use, you'll go through a LOT of gas melting snow for water. I don't think you can carry enough.
Get a good 4-season tent with a vestibule. You can find one a little over 4 lbs (check Black Diamond and North Face).
Resupply. Very few good choices: Have someone meet you at Reds Meadow. That's it. There's nothing until Kearsarge Pass.
Emergency beacon: I'm not a big SPOT fan, but for consumers, that's about all there is. They've got an app now where you can send a text (outbound) using a cell phone to the SPOT. There are few places you'll have cell coverage. Look at the GeoPro Messenger. Two way texting via Iridium satellite. It's designed for agencies to use, but can be adapted for a consumer. You should use either in tracking mode but not sure how long the batteries last. Not long enough, I don't think...
Not sure what to say about bear canisters. Bears occasionally poke around in April and May, but the odds are low.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but this is a difficult and very dangerous trip to be done solo in winter. The fact that you're asking basic questions indicates not quite having the skill set necessary for it. What's your avalanche training? You will be going through some serious avalanche terrain.
Although attractive as an adventure, these "go for it" trips rarely work out well. How about a really nice test drive: Yosemite Valley to Reds Meadow & out to Mammoth?? It's an outstanding trip; not as technically demanding; gets some travel in the spring so you might have tracks to follow; and, though there's definite avalanche hazard, it's not as bad as when you move south.
Look for a guided trip. Maybe the Sierra High Route or something.
Bartholemew did it solo in '28, but he pre-placed caches and had years of ski-mountaineering experience. Also, he'd planned to go with a partner, but the other guy had to drop out.
Oh PS: in 2007 (??) a guy doing part of the JMT on snowshoes was found in mid-June in Evolution Lake. Probably went in when the ice gave way. Something else to think about.
Last edited by George; 02/02/11 08:53 AM.
