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Got caught in a surprise whiteout above treeline on the CDT in Colorado last fall, and my debate is whether to hunker down in a sketchy rock overhang or push through to a known campsite another mile down.
I chose to push through, using my compass because the trail was gone, and made it, but I'm curious if anyone else has faced a similar call between immediate, rough shelter or pushing for a planned spot in bad conditions.
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lisa6711mo ago
Pushing through on compass alone is such a gut call. I had to do that once in a sudden Sierra sleet storm and my hands were shaking the whole time.
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avery_nelson1mo ago
Wait, is a compass actually reliable in a sleet storm? In my experience, heavy wet snow can mess with the needle pretty bad. I'd trust my gut over the dial in those conditions too.
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