[pct-l] WA Info - July

[Barry Teschlog]

I'll echo what Greg wrote on the start dates.  You probably want to push them back to avoid snow.  Also, the lowest probability of rain here in the PNW is later July into August.
   
  Creek Crossings:  None that are difficult from Snoqualmie to Stevens or Stehekin to the border.  For Stevens to Stehekin you get to choose:  either the old PCT (bridges still out, fords required - the Suiattle River will be the most challenging, although others can be as well) or the alternate routes (haven't done this route, so I can't say what it's like).
   
  Snoqualmie to Canada in 25 days should be no problem.  In 06, it took me 3 1/2 days from Snoqualmie to Stevens, 5 from Stevens to Stehekin, and 5 slower days (nero out, nero finish) from Stehekin to Manning.  Even if you slow down to a non-thru hiker pace (5, 7 or 8 and 6 days recommended, respectively, with zeros at Stevens / Skykomish and Stehekin) you're still well under the 25 days you indicate you have.
   
  Getting to any of the passes shouldn't be too much of a problem - post here asking when your start dates are a little closer.  There are LOTS of past thru hikers here in the Seattle area.  It's about an hour to Snoqualmie and an hour and a half to Stevens.  Rainy Pass is a good 3 hour drive away and would probably be the most difficult to mooch a ride to.  
   
  Instead of exiting at Rainy on a NOBO, I highly recommend continuting to Manning.  As Greg writes, that section is one of the GEMS of the PCT and was an amazing finish with fall colors in late September / early October of 06.  When I sectioned it in August of 04, it was beautiful green (although I did get rained on for the last couple of days and missed some of the scenery in the low clouds).
   
  If you do have to exit at Rainy Pass, Hwy 20 is well traveled that time of year, with large parking areas on both sides of the highway at the PCT trail head.  I was up there a couple of times last year - the parking lots were quite full with day / weekend hikers.  There are lots of rock climbers who head up that way (a classic North Cascades alpine test piece is just down the highway to the east - the Liberty Bell group) so you stand a fair chance of hitching back to Seattle.  
   
  Another way to end at Rainy (in a manner of speaking) would be to back track the PCT down hill the 20 miles to Stehekin.  Take the boat down to Chelan and from there, you should be able to piece together transportation to Seattle (Chelan to Wenatchee by bus, bus or puddle jumper from there to Seattle).
   
  TC
   
   
  Greg wrote:
  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


       
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