[pct-l] Snow and Trail report for Quincy to Belden.

[Lumber Jack]

To the PCT Class of 2008, Georgi in Old Station and AsABat;

I just took a day hike from Belden to Quincy 6/7/08. Actually to the 
lower road past Bucks Summit.

Snow report: 6/7/08
The snow is patchy at 6000' - 7000'. I recommend waiting for another 
week for the Quincy(Bucks Summit) to Belden (6/16/08). If you can hold 
off for just one more week, you can let the majority of the snow melt, 
and go thru with minimal snow. If you go this week, plan on some trail 
finding. I was able to do it in a day without a pack, but am familar 
where the trail is. Snow patches sufficiently long enough to cause me to 
get off trail several times, but was able to re-aquire trail. Problem 
points are 2 miles before Spanish peak to 1 mile past Mt Pleasant (if 
your going North Bound). Much of the snow is only 2' deep, but enough to 
obscure the trail. Some snow drifts are 5', at the highest elevations 
near Mt Pleasant.

As for the higher sections which would be Sierra city to La Porta Road, 
I suggest waiting two weeks (6/23/08) from this point, to let the snow 
melt. These areas are higher and the snow pack will be deeper. Granted 
the snow will be patch in many of these areas, but unless you like trail 
finding I strongly suggest waiting a couple of weeks for the Sierra Section.

Belden to Hwy 36. This area goes above 7000 in a few sections. Waiting 1 
  week (6/16/08)  is probably in your best interest, unless you like 
trail finding.

Hwy 36 through Lassen Park to Old station:
This is a higher section of trail than I just day hiked and they got a 
lot of snow this year in Lassen. I strongly suggest that hikers wait 2 
weeks for snow to melt. (i.e. 6/23/08), or a little later.


Trail conditions for Bucks Summit to Belden:
See snow notes about. Trail is in fairly good shape, with several blow 
downs. Nothing that a long distance hiker would hardly slow down for.
almost no mosquitoes.

I took several photo's and movie clips, but haven't had time to post 
photo's or make a video yet. If sufficient people email me, I can make a 
video of the day hike. Which would probably be posted on Google video 
and be about 3 minutes long, if you liked the other ones.

Lumberjack, PCT thru hike 2005.