PCT Episode 4: Big Bear to Deep Creek by Coolio on the Trail

[@nml4546]

Great that you're posting videos close to real time. I hate it when the videos are a month behind. Thanks, I know it's a lot of work to hike and film and then edit and post. Much appreciated.

[@pauliedavis49]

Lovely video! But UGH the postholes!! We have a cabin in BB and appreciated the shots of it too. Thank you for the stunning footage... Hike on!

[@rickcoulon890]

Thanks and as hard as it was, it sure was worth it. This is my first time to the big bear area and it is absolutely stunning in the country. Also got to listen to an avalanche tonight from my campsite. It just keeps snowing there.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

Certainly a lot of post holing. I bet you were glad when it was over.

[@WilsonsEpicAdventures]

The mountain you will keep seeing until Wrightwood is Mt San Antonio, Baden Powell is to the right and obscured from most the views to the Acorn trail.

[@rickcoulon890]

Yep I found that out much later....when I used my PeakVisor App

[@WilsonsEpicAdventures]

@rickcoulon890 I thought it was Baden Powell until I hiked to Wrightwood and realized it was.a different mountain as well..

[@maureenobryan6141]

So glad you skipped up for a safer journey...even though you've had to post hole your way through! Glad you got to meet Jessica in BIg Bear! She's a sweetie and so helpful!

[@rickcoulon890]

Jessica is the best!!!!!

[@hikerJohn]

What malt shop? How did you get there? From where to where? OK, next video says Cedar Glen Malt Shop.

[@rickcoulon890]

Its is awesome!

[@BigSkippy95]

Great video. It's nice to see current trail conditions. Any concern about getting to the sierras too soon?

[@rickcoulon890]

Well, at least we’re marking the trail for others to follow. Lol.

[@hikerJohn]

@@rickcoulon890 Your doing great but so much for making trail for others LOL it snowed again (from video #6 and yet another bigger one is coming for Easter. But when you hit the Sierras to early you can go back and do the skips before you do the Sierras.

[@stevenvarner9806]

It looks like people starting now should get up to the Paradise Valley Cafe then take a 3 or 4 week SoCal vacation. 😄

[@rickcoulon890]

Totally

[@UncleGeorgeTV]

How many miles a day are you doing Looks like you're running point for the PCT through hikers this year

[@rickcoulon890]

Usually 20 plus a few day less due to poor trail conditions

[@UncleGeorgeTV]

@@rickcoulon890 I have been following the through hiker, and you to look to be nearly a week ahead of most of the early starters

[@rickcoulon890]

We got up to Tehachapi pretty quickly (had to skip approx. 125 miles now I have no where to go but home for the present time until the Sierra's clear...April 1st would have been a much better start date

[@UncleGeorgeTV]

@@rickcoulon890 Yeah a lot of late season storms in the South ..Going to make the Southern part of the Sierra's pretty rough

[@lenoredisman3192]

Why did skip 60miles?

[@rickcoulon890]

White Water and Mission Creek are impassable due to last years storms. The recent heavy snow storms are making for some very dangerous conditions

[@SkepticalRaptor]

Just a warning, but up here in the Sierras, you’re not going to have fun at all. Hopefully, it’s a bit better two months from now when you reach the Southern Kennedy Meadows.

[@rickcoulon890]

Amen, will jump off the trail for a couple months at Tehatacapi area. Sierras I am sure are impassable and highly dangerous now

[@michaelb1761]

@@rickcoulon890 Please be aware that more deadly than snow is the big spring melt that turns creeks into rivers. It's hard to say what the weather will bring, but with the snow pack this year, the melt will be significant and typically starts around mid-June. I've been convinced by several PCT hikers who have gone through before the melt and by an Inyo SAR member that if you are wearing crampons (or possibly mountaineering snowshoes, depending on conditions) and have mountaineering experience, travelling through the Sierra when there are still snow bridges and the creeks and rivers are still tame will be safer. I have yet to hear of a PCT hiker freezing to death or sliding to their death, but there have been several drownings over the past 10 years. Keep in mind that the conventional wisdom of starting at the end of May came from a person who hiked through in a drought year and after an early snow melt that was tapering off in late May/early June.

[@rickcoulon890]

@@michaelb1761 I am inclined to push off the Sierra's until at least mid June, I know this will set me back but I would rather be safe than drown in Spring melt off river volume. This applies also to the area around Big Bear where we experienced high flow in streams that were supposed to be seasonal at best.