[pct-l] Thru-hiking in 3 months?

[Magda]

Hi, I'm a long-time list-lurker but first-time poster, and a class of 
2009 hopeful.

I'm also trying to figure out how to plan a thru-hike around my summer 
break from college. The school I go to is on a quarter schedule and 
doesn't get out until mid-June. I had originally been thinking that I 
might just not take any classes during spring term at all, which would 
give me more time to plan and to work up the cash, and also more 
flexibility as to when I can start my hike (so that I could start and 
hike with everyone else). But lately I've been thinking about trying to 
go for it without skipping any school, which means that I wouldn't have 
much more than three months to complete the trail, so I'd definitely 
have to power through it. I realize that it's going to mean a lot of 
training before I get out there, much, much longer days, no zeros, and 
mostly hiking solo, but it's either that or just taking it easy and 
hiking the Oregon section this year, and I really don't want to compromise.

It doesn't seem like very many thru-hikers finish in under four months 
(except the honorable record-holders, of course), but I'm wondering if 
there are any other hopefuls out there trying to work around a similar 
schedule or looking to thru-hike at a faster pace, or if there's anybody 
who's already done a 3-month thru-hike who has any good advice to share.

Also, if I want to start as late as mid-June, is a northbound hike still 
feasible? I know that it's been done before, but I'm mostly concerned 
about the heat and water availability in the desert sections in the 
middle of summer... If it's going to be drastically less bearable than a 
southbound hike, it may not be worth it.

Thanks in advance,
Magda