[pct-l] Newbie to PCT

[Shutterbug steiner]

About AD to KM --- I have personally experienced snow in the Tehachapi Mountains toward the end of March.  My guess is that the Piutes around Jawbone Pass and North of Onxz  near the Needles and the Chimney toward KM  would have patches of snow at higher elevations.  You would not need much mountaineering experience but more snow navigation skills.  On a dry warm year you could almost be snow free.  All depends on the year but be prepareded for very COLD nights in the desert sections.

SB

--- On Sun, 10/5/08, Pea Hicks <phix at optigan.com> wrote:
From: Pea Hicks <phix at optigan.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Newbie to PCT
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2008, 1:52 PM


Jim Foster 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?

i haven't hiked the AT, so i can't compare. but if you want to come out

for a 2-3 week section in *early* spring, you might want to hike from 
agua dulce to kennedy meadows. seems to me that this is the only 
contiguous 2-3 week segment that will be snow-free at that time of year. 
otherwise if you start around the time of the kickoff (end of april), 
you could do campo to big bear, or more or less any other socal section. 
you'll have some snow to deal with in the higher ranges, but most years 
it's manageable by most folks. in the spring, there's more or less no 
options for a contiguous 2-3 week hike anywhere north of kennedy 
meadows, unless you're up for some serious winter mountaineering / snow 
navigation.

oh, and i suppose i'll put in the inevitable plug for yogi's guide:

http://pcthandbook.com/


cheers-
girlscout
_______________________________________________
Pct-l mailing list
Pct-l at backcountry.net
http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l