[pct-l] About how many thru hikers per year

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Donna,

I would definitely agree with you.  On July 4th I was at Sonora Pass (Highway 108) and there were no more than 12-15 hikers north of me that were attempting a contiguous thru-hike.  This year, it appears by the same date that there are close to 100-150 hikers well north of Sonora Pass and points north.

The talk of rock-hopping creeks/streams in the Sierra this year is mind-boggling considering what was encountered last year and in 2005.  This is what makes the trail so unique however.  The trail is a different animal every single year.  Some folks seem to wonder why anyone would want to complete multiple thru-hikes of the same trail.  Well, the reasons are simple when you look at conditions between 2006 and 2007.

Elevator - PCT2006

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Donna "L-Rod" Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com> 

> Because of all the snow in the Sierras (and in the PNW) last year, the bulk of 
> the hiker pack was still in California in July. There was a massive crowd in 
> Independence for last year's 4th of July, with the main pack just a few weeks 
> north of there. 
> 
> This year is quite different, to say the least. 
> 
> L-Rod 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> >From: Steve Fosdick 
> >Sent: Jul 5, 2007 10:52 AM 
> >To: pct-l 
> >Subject: Re: [pct-l] About how many thru hikers per year 
> > 
> >Well, now I'm really surprised. Maybe hiking south would be a better option for 
> me! I'd get the chance to meet all the thru hikers going north that way! 
> > 
> > When I did my short hike last summer (55 miles going north in Oregon in late 
> July) I passed two sectional hikers going south, but no thru hikers going North. 
> It might have been too early for the thru hikes, though, and since they would 
> have been going in my same direction, they could have been all around me and I 
> just didn't see them. 
> > 
> > Hikin_Steve 
> > 
> >Pea Hicks wrote: 
> > 
> > 
> >Steve Fosdick wrote: 
> > 
> >> I'm still waiting for an answer to my original question: About how 
> >> many thru hikers are there on the PCT each year? What percentage hike 
> >> North? 
> > 
> >approx 300-350 begin a thru-hike every year, overwhelmingly northbound. 
> >in fact, i'm only aware of two sobo thrubies this year. 
> > 
> > 
> >gs 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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