[pct-l] Hiking in 2008: rain gear, pacerpoles and Roper's High Route, Food

[Greg Kesselring]

Hi David,

Welcome to the group.

I too have thought of doing part or all of the Sierra HR on a PCT thru 
hike.  When it comes time for me to do the thru, I will probably do it.  
At the risk of stating the obvious, here are some considerations that 
come to mind about the High Route:

1) It will take longer.  You can maintain a pace of 2 to 3 mph on a 
trail.  Off-trail it's difficult to do 2 mph, 1 or 1.5 is probably more 
likely.
2) The scenery will be even more spectacular along the HR than on the 
trail, so that will likely slow your pace even more!
3) You'll be camping in high exposed areas, so your camps will likely be 
colder than camps along the trail.
4) Because of that exposure, thunderstorms would present a more serious 
danger than hiking on the trail.  While not near as common in the Sierra 
as in the interior ranges of the American West, summer thunderstorms do 
happen in the Sierra.
5) You gotta know what you're doing with map and compass (and/or map and 
altimeter).  You need to be completely confident in your ability to 
navigate long distances off-trail in the high mountains.

I'll be very interested to hear about your trek should you decide to go 
this way.

Good luck!

Greg

David Huck wrote:
> ...
>
>
> Steve Roper's Sierra High Route:
> I hiked parts of this when I did the JMT with some friends last
> summer. It was by far the best part of the trip. Has anyone ever heard
> of PCT hikers doing parts of this as an alternate route? 
>   
...
> Thanks for any help rendered while I get back to rendering (fat),
>
> David
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