by Ed » Tue Feb 28, 2017 4:36 pm
Craig,
If by first time C2C, you mean first time Skyline, I would call it off. Good hiking experience is not enough. With fresh snow, you are going to have route finding problems, unless you are lucky and a party preceded you who knew what they were doing. Then there is the slower speed and greater fatigue caused by soft snow. And then there are the traction issues, which can be complicated by soft snow over a hard base, and several days of the freeze/thaw cycle. People who are Skyline regulars and winter veterans have problems with these conditions. Have you read the recent and very trenchant comments by 2600fromatari and Ellen on the Skyline Conditions thread? They are people who have a great deal of experience on Skyline in the winter. I have some, and you aren't going to find me up there anytime soon.