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That day on the John Muir Trail when the weather turned in 20 minutes
We were hiking near Evolution Lake, about 8 miles from our planned camp, when a blue sky went totally black. Hail started coming down hard, and we had to scramble off the exposed ridge fast. It was the only time I've ever pitched my tent in a full gale just to get out of the storm. Has anyone else had a route plan completely wrecked by a sudden Sierra storm like that?
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janarivera2mo ago
Honestly, I see that kind of weather shift as part of the plan, not a wreck. The Sierra can change fast, and expecting to stick to a set mileage every day is asking for trouble. My route always has bail out spots and extra food for exactly this reason. Getting off the ridge and setting up camp was the right call, not a failure. It sounds like you handled it well, but maybe the goal should be to expect the unexpected out there.
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faith_thomas2mo ago
Totally get what you're saying. I once planned a whole day around hitting a specific lake, then spent three hours hiding from hail under a rock with my snack bag. My "plan" was just a list of suggestions the mountains politely ignored.
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