[pct-l] PCT hike window

[Greg Kesselring]

Hi Sarah,

Are you open to doing some kind of flip-flop?  For example, hike So Cal 
up to the beginning of the Sierra section.  Skip that section and 
continue your hike from northern CA on into OR and then WA to the 
border.  And then come back and do the Sierra section at the end.  That 
plan would have you doing northern WA and the Sierra at the end of your 
hike, like in late July and August, when the snow would be melted out in 
both places even if we end up having a very heavy snow year.

Greg

Sarah Faulkner wrote:
> Hey there,
>
> My name is Sarah and I am a hopeful 2008 northbound thru hiker.   I  
> will be hiking with my friend, Laura.  We are both pretty fit and  
> active.   This is to give some background for my question.  We have  
> been planning to thruhike since last summer, but with the snow  
> conditions tallied up to now, I am starting to wonder if it will be  
> possible.
>
> I start a new job September 1, 2008.  My impression for now is that  
> the start date is not flexible.  However, our departure date is very  
> flexible.
>
> All of my questions relate to my (our) ability to get to the Canada  
> border by september 1.  I realize that ideally there would be no time  
> pressure, and we would take days off when we reached a great stopping  
> point, and we wouldn't be hurried, but the situation is really that  
> if I cannot reach the border by September 1 -- then I will not be  
> able to hike.
>
> I would be extremely grateful for you experienced folks' expertise on  
> the following questions:
>
> 1.  For the postholer site that gives you an approximate sierra entry  
> window, where exactly does this assume the sierra entry is?  I would  
> assume KM, but looking at the TOPO map, it looks like there are  
> reasonably elevated portions before there.  (I am trying to work  
> backwards from that date/location to decide the earliest feasible  
> date we can leave, and thus the earliest we could potentially finish).
>
> 2.  What would happen if we entered the Sierra before that date?   
> Would it be possible/safe to get through with the right gear?  We are  
> planning on taking an orienteering course in snow conditions in  
> Vermont sometime soon.  ( I realize that the answer to this question  
> depends to some degree on the amount of snow.)
>
> Has anyone left "early" and could they give us advice?  Is it  
> realistic at all to try?
>
> I may just suck it up and hike until I have to be back, but it sure  
> would be disappointing to get within a week or two of the border and  
> then have to leave.  I could also just wait until April to decide,  
> but I hate to put off buying all my gear until the last second.
>
> Thanks so much!
>
> Sarah
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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