[pct-l] Sierras in early to mid-October

[gschenk1 at roadrunner.com]

Early to mid-October is a crap shoot in the Sierra. Early winter storms are possible, especially later in the month. Days are shorter, nights are much colder.

I've hiked/backpacked in late September and early October in the Sierra and it can be magnificent. Just be ready for cold nights, and be ready to bail because of weather. Knowing how to read clouds can help.

I think you'd be OK, but it can snow in October. Ultralight would not be the way to go.

If it was me, I'd start at Tuolumne mid-September and head south to Kennedy Meadows. September is the best month in the Sierra.

Gary

---- Pierre <pep at pacifier.com> wrote: 
> I would love some local knowledge and wisdom of a proposed section hike by Photo and I from Castella to (south) Kennedy Meadows. Due to jobs, we aren't able to start until the 2nd week of September. That puts us in the Sierras early to mid-October. We're doing it in this direction to optimize our conditioning and building up to the Sierra elevations.
> We will likely run into closed resorts for resupplies. Will snow make this a non-starter?  Comments/Input? Would this be feasible North-bound starting at Kennedy Meadows Sept 9th? (We both did about 1000 miles of PCT in 2011,  20-25 miles/day).
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Jackrabbit
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