[pct-l] Newbie to PCT

[Phil Baily]

I have walked about 70% of the Cal PCT and 55% or the OR PCT and maybe 5 
miles of the AT. I agree with the info below, and have some additional 
comments:

1. There are many stretches of the PCT where you will be a lot further from 
roads or re-supply than you were on the AT. Plan for that; if you do, it's 
easily  manageable.
2. You will be at higher altitutes and experience shortness of breath and 
maybe headaches, and could experience other low incidence more severe side 
effects. You will need to acclimate. If you walk from Tehachapi Pass 
nothward into the High Sierra, you will naturally have time to acclimate as 
you go higher. If you do sections in  the Sierra, make sure you have an easy 
first day with a night at high altitute before pressing onward. After the 
first or second experience, you should not need this for the rest of the 
season.
3. There are virtually no shelters along the trail to sleep in. (There are a 
handful of exceptions if you stop at the right location.) Be prepared to 
camp overnight in the rain.
4. It is my understanding that there are steeper slopes on the AT and more 
switchbacks on the PCT. Be patient and enjoy the scenery.
6. The clinate is drier and you will sweat less!

Hopefully, someone who has walked both, will provide additional comments 
with more depth.

Enjoy your hiking,

Pieces


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Cc: <jimhfoster at yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Newbie to PCT


>
> On Oct 5, 2008, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>> I am an experienced backpacker who thru-hiked the AT in 2007.
>> However, I am pretty clueless about the PCT.  I am planning to
>> start sectioning the PCT beginning in the spring of '09.  I'd
>> appreciate any insights on the following subjects:  (1) Where in CA
>> would you recommend that I do my initial two to three week
>> section?  (2) When should I start in the spring?  (3) What are some
>> differences between the AT and PCT that I should bear in mind while
>> preparing?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>
> I have not hiked the AT. I can't compare the two. Spring, April/May,
> is a great time to do the beginning of the PCT. The chaparral is
> nice, the flowers will be in bloom, it won't be too hot yet. I would
> say, go ahead and start at the beginning. You may also want to start
> with Section E, too, but it's not really that bad to do when most
> people do it, end of May/beginning of June. But it's your choice.
>
> Water will be something you will struggle with for the first 700
> miles. And again you will find yourself struggling for water in some
> places once past the Sierras. You will need to get used to going 20
> miles without a water source. It's not a big deal, really, and there
> is helpful information updated on the web each year called the water
> report.
>
> And if I can make one suggestion, many of us who never hiked the AT
> grew a little weary of the former AT hikers who seemed to start every
> sentence with "On the AT..." Don't spend all your time comparing the
> two.
>
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