[pct-l] Starting a thru-hike in January from San Diego?

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Wow. Ok, this is what we'd say to that one:

If this is the only time you have to work with,
- stay out of the unconsolidated, powder snow wherever it may be (avalanche 
and fatigue issues)
- spend your time at low elevations in SoCal until the snow consolidates, 
about mid-March
- hike the remaining lowest sections first, say up to Kennedy Meadows
- go back and tackle the SoCal mountains which may be most consolidated at 
that time
- head into the Sierra as late as you can. We have entered as early as 
mid-April from KM
- forget going southbound, obviously.

Otherwise, we would not recommend your schedule for avalanche and personal 
injury reasons and you might need to consider just doing sections as you 
can.



"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: "Mike O" <molmstead2 at yahoo.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 11:41 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Starting a thru-hike in January from San Diego?


> Hi everyone. I've known about the PCT for a while and I've hiked it once 
> or twice but it never dawned on me to do a thru-hike. I've always wanted 
> to do a thru-hike on the Appalachian trail but that is on the other side 
> of the country. Anywho, this idea was switched on in my head like a 
> lightbulb and as such, I'm trying to find out how feasible it is. I'm a 
> 23, almost 24 year old college student. I'll be graduating in the fall of 
> 2012 and I want to attempt my thru-hike then, as that's really the only 
> opportunity I would have. This means that my hike would start at the 
> beginning of January, after the holidays. Is this suicide or is it 
> possible? I'm in decent shape, I know I can get in a lot better shape and 
> I would have a year and a half to prepare for this. I have hiking and 
> camping experience, not much in the winter though. That's my biggest 
> worry, going through the Sierras and Cascades during the winter and early 
> spring. Is this suicide or is it
> possible?
>
> Thanks
> -Mike
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