[pct-l] Start Date

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Dave,

Starting at Tuolumne Meadows could be a good option but as an experienced
walker with four months, you probably could start at the south end of the
Sierras and continue to Manning.

The best pre-hike travel that I know would be by air to Reno, NV, then by
taking the regional bus south along the east slope of the Sierras to begin
hiking from any major access point as far south as Lone Pine.  From Lone
Pine one can hitch up to Horseshoe Meadow, and then take the short approach
hike to the PCT at Trail Pass.  At that point begins the best part of the
Sierras.

http://easternsierratransitauthority.com/wb/pages/bus-routes/crest-north-lone-pine-reno.php

Starting further south – such as from Kennedy Meadows – is a rather
difficult travel problem, and the additional fifty miles of trail probably
aren’t worth the aggravation of getting to Kennedy Meadows.

The first of June is a bit early to start into the south Sierras,
particularly in an average -- or more -- snow year, but starting at Tuolumne
would be worse.  The first of June from Tuolumne would involve fewer high
Sierra miles, but there would be much more snow and many fewer early-hiker
tracks to help with navigation.

When starting from any of the Sierra trailheads be mindful that the
elevation will be around 10,000 elevation -- or very soon to ascent to that
elevation.  That can really kick the butt of a walker accustomed to training
at average lower elevations.  The first week should not have an aggressive
mileage expectation.

Enjoy your planning,

Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 9:41 AM, Dave Potter <davepotter at webmail1.co.uk>wrote:

> Hi
>
> I am a resident of the UK. I have four months free from June 1st 2010 and
> am planning to hike the PCT from Tuolumne to Manning. I am an experienced
> long distance hiker (walker as we would say over here in the UK!) and have
> done plenty of homework on the PCT.
>
> Would any of the experienced PCT hikers out there care to advise on;
>
>  a.. a suitable start date from Tuolumne from 1st June onwards, and
>  b.. anything specifically I should take into account as a consequence of
> starting at this point rather than from Campo?
>  c.. whether there are better sections of the trail and places to start and
> end which could be accomplished within the four months I have, bearing in
> mind I need to have reasonably accessible starting and finishing points?
> Many thanks
> Dave
>
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