[pct-l] Southbound June 2013 Advice

[Jane Boer]

I am planning a mid-June 2013 Southbound PCT thru-hike and have no
experience in the Cascades.  However, I am from Alaska and spend every
Spring hiking in some snow and every Winter backcountry skiing in avalanche
country.  I have no problem postholing for a few miles and have conquered
some steep snow crossings with my running shoes and an ice axe.  However,
where I live I can scout out where I am going and ask around about
conditions and have years of experience guiding and hiking in these
mountains.

Having never hiked in the Cascades, I would love any input past Southbound
thru-hikers or early summer section hikers have about the area.  Will my
running shoes/gaiters and ice axe be enough?  Or is that a naive
assumption.  Will I be postholing for 15 miles a day and have to cry myself
to sleep every night utterly exhausted?  Is it sunny (I live in Southeast
Alaska, and it is never sunny and always rainy... But maybe in the Cascades
I will need sunscreen and sunglasses?)  Is it windy?  I assume so. But I
have never been there.  Are there some bigger stream crossings in mid to
late June?

When do mosquitoes start buzzing around (I know they are prevalent in
Oregon; what about Washington in June/July)?  I am thinking about having
paper maps, a compass, and an iphone with extra charging capacity for
navigation... am I a silly person about to get lost in the cascades?  I
navigate fairly well.  I have a partner to come with me who is an eagle
scout and has a GPS that we may use for that portion.  I am still
considering starting point options and noticed that the gabby cabby website
is down... anyone else notice this?


I fully understand that conditions can and do change from year to year and
that every year is it's own story in terms of snow depth, weather, stream
crossings, etc.  Obviously, I have been looking at precipitation and snow
reports for the necessary areas.  I have looked at data and pictures and as
I have done so, I have become increasingly convinced that I can handle the
Cascades with my trail shoes, gaiters, ice axe and some determination.
However, in my opinion, first hand knowledge and experience is more
important than anything, and I would love any information anyone can give
me.  I see people coming to Alaska prepared for the wrong type of
conditions or under-prepared all the time; and fully understand that a
little local input is paramount to the success of any expedition.  So hey!
If you have local knowledge or past experience, please save me some pain!
I'll take anything you have to offer and truly appreciate any perspective I
can get!