[pct-l] NOBO or SOBO July-August?

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

On Jun 24, 2010, at 7:48 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> I'm so confused! I've been trying to figure out how to spend July  
> and August
> hiking (either north or south) without having to deal with snow
>
> 1.       Start July 9th from Walker Pass/Onyx and hike north. ( I  
> have a
> ride and someone to start off with me which would be great.) This  
> would put
> me at Kennedy Meadows about July 13th and in Tuolumne Meadows about  
> July
> 30th. Any guesses on snow conditions then?
>
> 2.       Start July 2nd in Ashland and hike south. (I have a ride into
> Ashland that day-I live in San Fran). This would put me in Seiad  
> Valley
> about July 7th and Castella about July 13th. Snow?

I don't think you are going to get to spend July and August hiking  
without dealing with snow.

I think of your two choices, both will involve snow. This is what you  
get to choose from:

1. Pros:
- A significant long stretch at the beginning without snow (your  
first difficult snow probably around Forester Pass)
- Where there is snow there will be foot prints to follow
- Lots of other people around
Cons:
- That significant long stretch without snow is going to be  
significantly hot
- Possibility of some swollen snow-melt streams in the High Sierras

2. Pros:
- The bigger streams have bridges
- The snow will probably diminish over time during your visit until  
there is none
Cons:
- Probably will encounter snow right away and in some places it could  
be difficult to manage
- You'll see a lot less people and foot prints

Given the snow issue, I'd go with number 1. If there was no snow, I'd  
go with number 2 since I really liked that area more than the High  
Sierra. But I'm strange that way.


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