[pct-l] advice for starting in Oregon...too much snow??

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Jennifer,

In mid-July you will likely encounter snowpack shortly north of Santiam Pass
as the trail climbs to about 6500 ft. in that area, but the good news is
there won’t be any 50-foot snowpack depths.  In ’99 – a similarly high snow
year – there was snowpack from south of Three Finger Jack, along Cathedral
Rocks, and continuing off-and-on till past Park Ridge.  Once you get north
of Park Ridge the snowpack will be mostly gone, plus the season will have
advanced before you get to more altitude on Mt. Hood.

There’s an option for part of that snowpack distance:  Beginning at Minto
Pass the old Oregon Skyline Trail – and original PCT – angled west at a
lower altitude past Marion Lake and Pamelia Lake to rejoin the modern PCT
near Milk Creek.

This year mid-July will be a bit early to follow thru-hiker’s tracks, so
there will be a few navigation challenges.  Often the trail route will be
apparent in spite of the snowpack, but over steep terrain be alert for
switchbacks.  Often they don’t show on maps, and as you walk an
approximately straight distance your mind automatically assumes the trail
will continue straight as well.  Under those conditions continuing straight
ahead will not only put you off the trail, but you will end up into
something much less desirable.

Enjoy your hike,

Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 9:40 PM, Jennifer Smith
<jennifersswindle at yahoo.com>wrote:

> I am a first time PCT hiker and was planning to start at Sisters on July 11
> and
> head north to Stehekin, but looking at current trail conditions has me
> worried.
> Avalanche at Milk Creek?? 50 feet of snow?? Is the snow totally
> unmanageable?
> Does it look like it will melt much by mid July? I only have 6 - 7 weeks to
> hike
> - if the PCT isn't going to be hikable, any suggestions as to where I
> should
> hike instead? I live in Spokane, WA.. Any suggestions or information
> is welcome!!
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