[pct-l] PCT thru timing for 2012

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Hey, Diane, good points and well said!

We suggested that a start date of April 1st after a heavy snow winter could 
afford safer passage through the sierra's creeks. Snow-hiking over two feet 
of snow is the same if there were 20 (consolidated, spring snow). By the 
time thrus get north of Yosemite's creeks, the thaw should just be starting, 
the long creek canyons beginning to swell, and they've passed the danger 
zone; Tahoe and north doesn't have such canyons and creeks to cross like 
Yosemite and south.

Good point about the chaparral in SoCal, but when I went through there 
mid-March, it was all snow-covered, took a safer route up to Tahquitz 
(avoided the steep, Desert Divide), slid across the saddle, and dropped down 
to I-10. No route-finding issues.

Great advice about too many zeros causing thrus to run out of time. Is the 
hike about a wilderness journey or a series of parties? There needs to be a 
balance between these two in order to make it to Canada before the snow 
flies.



"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT thru timing for 2012


> While I do not agree with postholer's delivery, I do agree that a
> March start date can be too early. The trouble with the San Jacinto
> area is that it's not like the Sierras at all. The chaparral makes it
> impossible to go cross-country in many places. You don't have the
> luxury of just saying to heck with the trail, the easiest way is that-
> a-way. There are steep drop-offs and in my opinion, the trail is
> poorly routed in many places. Yet there aren't clear alternatives.
> People get lost and die up there almost every year. Same goes for
> Baden-Powell. As locals we know it as the mountain where boy scouts
> go to die. Additionally, most hikers aren't really fit yet when they
> get to San Jacinto, and for many, the trail legs are only barely
> setting in around Wrightwood. For many they are breaking down around
> Wrightwood with shin-splints and other problems caused by weeks of
> blisters or whatever. I really think that for a successful and
> enjoyable thru-hike, it's better to start a little later in a high
> snow year and simply keep a steady, moderate pace with fewer zero
> days. Most people take way too much time off to party in So Cal.
> Also, most hikers have this unrealistic idea about Oregon, that they
> can make up for any slow-downs with big miles in Oregon. The fact is
> that after Sierra City, if you can't make big miles then, you can't
> make them in Oregon. It's not any easier in Oregon except maybe for
> two days up near Mt. Hood.
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