[pct-l] Snow, Water, KO and Start Dates

[Jonathon Howry]

I like this idea a lot! For more reasons than what was listed here! I'm
gonna check my plans and see if I'm able to adjust by 2 weeks at this time.
Coming from FL its a lot to plan...! Thanks for this info and suggestion!
On Mar 20, 2013 11:52 AM, "Barry Teschlog" <tokencivilian at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Well, it looks like the KO is bursting at the seams this year, with zero
> room for walk in's.
>
>
> It also appears based on the snow plots at:
>
> http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/snowapp/swcchart.action
>
> that this year is shaping up to be similar to the very low Sierra snow
> year of 2007.
>
>
> Also recall that in 2007, it snowed early up here in Washington - mid
> September, and it was enough to push many of the remaining hikers off the
> trail.
>
> Also consider that So Cal has had low rain so far this year, which will
> result in the seasonal or lesser water sources drying up or turning gross
> earlier than average.
>
>
> With that combination of factors, were I hiking this year, I'd strongly
> consider pulling my start date forward from the common wisdom late April
> time frame.  I'd want to take advantage of the on average cooler weather
> and what seasonal water there will be in So Cal earlier in the hiking
> season.  With what appears to be a low snow year, early KM dates aren't
> likely to be an issue (and if late season conditions changed this, a few on
> trail zero's would slow me down enough to compensate).  With the KO being
> full, if I weren't already signed up, I'd skip it and use those days to
> keep moving north (down load the water report on line, not that it would
> matter much since if you're leaving early, YOU'd be the one providing the
> info - Yogi's more historical info in regard to the reliable water sources
> would be invaluable, IMO).
>
>
> In the high snow year of '06 I started April 25 and left KM to head into
> the Sierra on the morning of June 14.  With that prior experience, I'd be
> targeting a KM departure date for this year of between June 1 and the 5th
> based on current snow indications so would start around the 10th to 15th or
> so.  That would also put a person on track to make it to Canada earlier in
> the fall, thereby being less likely to be hit by any early snow in
> Washington.
>
>
> YMMV, HYOH, IMHO, opinions and back sides  - everybody has 'em, 2 cents,
> free advice being worth what you paid, etc, etc, etc.
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