[pct-l] WA info - july

[Greg Kesselring]

The high country (near timberline and above) will likely be under snow 
this year till late July.  That's typical for WA, and the snowpack this 
year is close to normal.

If you could wait till July 10 or so to start (and push your end date 
out about 10 days as well), I think you'd have a better shot enjoying 
the high country with less snow.  And, if you can wait till then to 
start, I'd recommend going sobo.  Even though the part of the trail 
that's between Rainy Pass and the border is quite high, that part of the 
range is so wide that the Crest is more like the eastern slopes of the 
range--snow doesn't pile up as deep and there's more sunshine and warmer 
temps there than on the Crest further south.  So that area typically 
melts out a week or two before the Crest in the vicinity of Glacier Peak 
and southward to Snoqualmie Pass.

IMHO the section of trail between Rainy Pass and the border is one of 
the most beautiful sections.  It should be spectacular just coming out 
of snow-melt.

If we get a warm spring, it might be possible to start at the border 
around July 4 or so, but any earlier than that I think you'd be dealing 
with a lot of snow in the high country.

Greg


Bonnie Peterson wrote:
>   I want to go from either Stevens Pass (how to get there from Seattle?) 
> or Snoqualmie Pass to CA between approx 7/1-25.
>
> Would we be slogging thru snow the whole time and how are creek 
> conditions/bridges?
>
> Also do you know how to get to Stevens Pass from Seattle? I don't think 
> we'll have enough time to start at Snoqualmie. If we did start at Snoq 
> (it looks gorgeous), is there a way to get back to Seattle from Rainy 
> Pass Hwy 20? Thanks!! -Bon
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
>