[pct-l] Downhill sections nobo vs sobo

[AsABat]

Sobo is always easier as it's downhill - just look at any globe. 

If you are sectioning, just comparing elevations at each end tells you which way has more downhill. But some mapwork might reveal a steeper grade one way or the other. 

Dayhiking/slackpacking you could do most of the trail downhill by starting at passes and ending at lower trailheads. This has special appeal during hot days on exposed trail.  

The JMT ultimately has more downhill going nobo, as the start at Whitney Portal is higher than Yosemite Valley. However, many prefer sobo as you have more time to acclimatize (and you avoid the Whitney permit lottery). 

AsAbat
AsABat

-----Original Message-----
From: "greg mushial" <gmushial at gmdr.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:19:43 
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [pct-l] Downhill sections nobo vs sobo

This is triggered off the question about section C...  but, are there 
sections that it really does make a difference btwn nobo and sobo in terms 
of perception of downhilledness (I can understand the difference in terms of 
sun on your back, sun in your face)? I know when I yoyo'd the jmt (1st sobo, 
then nobo), it seemed like the nobo was more downhill, ie, the climbs on the 
south side of the passes where shorter, vertically and mileage, than the 
dropoffs on the north sides - but this could have had more to do with being 
in better shape on the nobo having already done the sobo...  but for the 
other sections, it seems that even if there were a 5k' difference btwn the 
ends, and the nominal section is 100 miles, that would only amount to a 50' 
per mile difference...  but having not "thru'd" yet...  I'll shutup and 
listen.
TheDuck

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