[pct-l] SOBO start date

Thu Dec 10 17:33:36 CST 2009

It really, really goes year by year.  In June the whether is actually pretty
nice.  You're not likely to run into any storms (though it's not unheard
of), and the sun is shining most of the time.  The problem is usually that-
in June - there is still a lot of snow left on the ground from the winter.
The good thing is, I've heard rumor that this winter is going to be a light
one.  If that turns out to be the case, then you are in luck and won't have
to hike over much snow at all.

I have heard of people 'flip-flopping'.. that is, hiking North first and
then at some point jumping ahead to Canada and hiking back South the rest of
the way.  It's not uncommon.  Most people who hike southbound have some
reason for doing so.  Some just want to be different, but most do it due to
time constraints.  For example, college students who can only afford to take
one term off will leave the first week after Spring Term lets out (usually
late June), hike the entire summer, take the Fall Term off to continue
hiking.  Since they are starting so late (ie:June/July) hiking Northbound is
out of the question (because they'd never get to Canada before the winter
set in).

I ran into Scott Williamson one the trail in the summer of 2008.  He's hiked
the trail in both directions about a million times.  He said he thinks going
southbound is harder.  It's the only direction I've ever hiked on the PCT,
so I have no basis for comparison.

Going Northbound has tons of benefits (that's why most people hike that
way).  You can hike with other people if you want, then if you want to be
alone you can just hike ahead or fall behind.  Navigation is a lot easier,
you go through the dessert when there is still water (and when the trail
angels are still caching water for hikers).  Also, if you go northbound your
window to thru-hike is about 6.5 months.  Southbound, your window is more
like 4 months (mabey 4.5 months).

Hope it helps!

On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 6:25 PM, Jim Bravo <jimbravo at wildblue.net> wrote:

>  Bushwhack:
>
> Thanks! The info you provided was just what I needed. I am still in the
> process of collecting information and sizing up which end to start at and
> when. I like adventure (although in the middle of it I'm not too sure some
> times!), and the idea of being almost on my own appeals to me. Honestly, 500
> miles of snow does not. I'll just have to keep looking at options and see
> what kind of snowpack there is. I also have to take 2 weeks off-trail during
> the summer, so it is also part of the timing equation. If I may ask another
> question: What was the Washington weather like in June?
>
> JB
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
> *To:* Jim Bravo <jimbravo at wildblue.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 09, 2009 1:03 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [pct-l] SOBO start date
>
> As a sobo you'll want to be much more flexible with your start date - right
> up till the day you go.  If you are going to pick a date and stick with it
> no matter what then make damn sure you bring a GPS (because a good lot of
> the trail will be covered in snow, and map-and-compass navigation in those
> conditions is just miserable - even if you know what your doing), and an ice
> axe (or at least a trekking pole).  But to get to your point:
> Sobos rarely leave Canada before June 15th.  The date you'll leave will
> depend on how bad the winter was, and how hot spring was.  In 2008 I started
> my Sobo hike on July 7 - kind of towards the late end - and there was still
> a ton of snow - but we had just had the third worst winter on record.  This
> winter seems to pretty mellow so far, so you'll likely be able to leave a
> bit earlier than I did.
>
> Here is an article I found about Sobo-ing :
>
> http://www.francistapon.com/Travels/Pacific-Crest-Trail/Why-go-southbound-on-the-PCT
> it was written by Francis Tapon.  I do disagree with him on at least one
> point:  he says that when Sobos get to the desert section in october, there
> is usually plenty of water because it rains in the fall.  I had quite a
> different experience.  When I got to the desert all the water was dried up
> from the summer heat, and it hadn't rained.  It was bone dry.  Not good.  So
> pray for rain!
>
> Anyway, if your looking for a start date, I'd recommend picking June 15th,
> and then being flexible about it while carefully watching the snow
> conditions in Washington.  Once you get to Oregon, the snow pack is
> negligible (I hiked over snow every single day in Washington.  The first day
> I didn't step foot on snow was my first day in Oregon).
>
> But I'm serious about the GPS.  Nobos may say you don't need one, but they
> are hiking a totally different hike than you are.
>
> 1) the trail is better marked for Nobos than Sobos... especially in areas
> that have been re-routed!
> 2) you won't have any tracks to follow... there really isn't a 'Sobo
> herd'... you're basically on your own.
> 3) you will likely deal with a LOT more snow than Nobos will.  Sometimes
> the trail disappears under the snow and doesn't reappear until a half a mile
> later.  And even then you may be following a dear trail that *looks* like
> the PCT... after 45 mins of walking you'll realize it was the wrong
> trail....
> oh, and many, many times, when the trail forks, it will fork *under the
> snow*, with the *wrong* branch-trail remaining visible while the PCT remains
> under the snow.... guess which trail you'll end up following for about an
> hour before you realize you've been hiking the wrong trail?  Guess how many
> times this will happen in a day?  in a week?  In all of Washington?  Yeah.
>
> I made it without a GPS, but I had to do a 30 mile bushwhack bail-out of
> Glacier Peak Wilderness, a 10 mile bushwhack-bailout to a logging road, and
> I ended up hiking 450 miles with a group of guys that *did* have a GPS (and
> yes, we used it several times to find the trail).
>
> I know you were just asking about start dates, and I gave you the whole GPS
> sales pitch, but as a former Sobo myself, I'm totally rooting for you and
> want you to have a fun and successful trip.
>
> -Austin (aka Bushwhack)
>
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 6:16 PM, Jim Bravo <jimbravo at wildblue.net> wrote:
>
>> In a "normal" snow year, what would be the optimum start date for a SOBO
>> thru hike? I realize that part of the equation will be a person's
>> ability/comfort level with traversing snow in the northern Cascades.
>>
>> JB
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>
>