[pct-l] Considering Thru-Hike

[eric at ericwichman.com]

Hi PCTers, I'm a new PCT enthusiast considering a thru-hike (Northbound).

My experience level is good, however most of it in lowland forests,  
swamps, marshes, and coastal areas in the southeast USA. I've not done  
a lot of hiking in the past 7 years or so since I moved to California,  
but have been on a few trips to Yosemite, Sequoia, and local hikes in  
and around the L.A. area (Mt. Baldy). I have about 10+ years of  
hiking, backpacking and camping/survival experience, but I've been  
working a desk job for the last 10 years, with only intermittent hikes.

I need to get back in shape, and start training ASAP, but I'm not sure  
there's enough time between now and the kickoff of the hiking season  
in April to get ready for a PCT thru-hike.

There are plenty of trails around the SoCal area I can hike and train  
on during the winter off season.

I'd like some advice from those who've completed a thru-hike of the  
PCT and those who've got experience in hiking the High Sierras and  
Cascades. If you live in the SoCal area, and would like to get  
together and help me get acclimated to the western higher altitude  
hiking, I'm open.

Thanks in advance! ;)

~Eric