[pct-l] Why Manning by mid-September

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

Early season deep, fluffy or wet snow storm potential at the end of the thru 
hike in the North Cascades does dictate when you start your hike because it 
is so exhausting to wallow through and the days are so much colder and 
shorter.

Even large, old-fashioned snow shoes and skis won't help much at that time 
up there, it is too steep and rugged. Too great a risk that needn't be taken 
if you plan to avoid it by starting early or staying on schedule (no 
excessive partying down south, as Andrea said) to reach Manning by 
mid-September.

Mtnned

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Len Glassner" <len5742 at gmail.com>
To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Why Manning by mid-September


On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 1:13 PM,  <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com> 
wrote:

> What research I did by talking with PNW Rangers and Park Administrators 
> indicated that if I didn't get to Canada by early September, the usual 
> early snow storms would bring my dreams of a PCT completion to an abrupt 
> end. Since then, hiker testimonies and trail journals show exactly that 
> happening to many.
>
> So, rather than hiking for 5 months only to be stopped short of the goal, 
> I decided to start "early,"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Snow is not an obstacle if realistically planned for.

Why did snow storm potential dictate your start date?  I would have
thought your skills could have handled such a situation.

As for the concept of 'dry trail' if you start in late April, maybe at
the higher elevations in SoCal, but there will be lots to walk on in
the Sierra.  The CDEC snow plots make it look like the snow was all
gone after mid/late June the last couple of years, but that certainly
wasn't the case.

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