[pct-l] Hello All -- First Timer

[Greg Kesselring]

Hi Jon,

I have not thru hiked the PCT, but have done lots of hiking in 
Washington State and have done some sections of the PCT here.  One thing 
I can tell you is that in a typical snow year, the trail is not hikeable 
until early July and in some years even early July would be pushing the 
season.  If you're willing to deal with solid snow at elevations above 
5000 feet, you could conceivably start in mid-to-late June.  Another 
problem with a June start is that most years, our June weather sucks, 
and decent hiking weather doesn't arrive until after the July 4th 
weekend.  I have sat out snow storms in the high country of the North 
Cascades on July 4th weekends.

Going from North to South would put you on the section of the PCT in WA 
that stay higher longer, near and above timberline, than any other 
section.  If you started before early-to-mid July, you'd be on solid 
snow pretty much all the way to Stehekin.  And then you'd have large 
sections of snow as the PCT roller-coasters its way south to Snoqualmie 
Pass.  That's a long way to go on snow.

I've given this idea some thought because the South to North hike has 
its own problems, not the least of which is trying to make it thru 
Washington State before the weather closes in for the winter, which in 
some years happens in mid-to-late September, some years not till late 
October.  This year the curtain has already come down for the season and 
began doing so a couple weeks ago.

The best time to hike the PCT in WA is mid-August to mid-September.  If 
you're willing to put up with bugs, then any time after mid-July also 
work.  But these dates just don't work for an end-to-end thru-hike in 
one season.

One other thought:  You might wait to make the decision about whether to 
go North to South or vice versa until April.  By then we would know how 
deep the winter snow pack is, how it compares to normal, and 
approximately when the high country would open up.

Good luck!

Greg Kesselring

===================================================

Jon Akerman wrote:
> Hi ya'll,
>
> I am planning for a full PCT thru-hike for 2008. When first conjuring
> up this notion, and taking heed to this life-altering calling, I saw
> myself hiking from the North to the South; and, upon research I've
> found that a large majority travel North from Campo. So, I'd like to
> hear any stories, and advice, from those who have travelled South.
> And, I'm open to hearing why some travel North, and especially those
> who wanted to travel South, but ultimately travelled North.
>
>
> Open to anything & any ideas,
>
>
> Jon
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
>