[pct-l] Pct-L Digest, Vol 69, Issue 19

[greg mushial]

> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 08:35:24 -0700
> From: "Doug Carlson" <doug-sue at centurylink.net>
> Subject: [pct-l] Mexico to Palm Springs
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <001f01ceb54d$dc722360$95566a20$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I have been section hiking the CDT for years.  I am just starting to look 
> at
> the PCT, ordered my first guide book this week.
>
> I would appreciate some suggestions on when to hike the section from 
> Mexico
> up to Palm Springs/Hwy 10.
>
> What is the earliest one can do this hike?  Or would it be better to hike 
> it
> in late fall/winter?  I have the time and prefer quality in the hike.
>
> And maybe this section isn't even worth doing?  I did enjoy liking up from
> the border in New Mexico and wonder how southern CA compares.
>
> -Trew
>

W/re Campo->I-10: the answer is two part: 1) is when the weather starts 
cooling down (but not so much as to start having snow problems); and 2) when 
the water appears.

By the end of October - and if you're south of Phoenix you should know 
this - the max temps you'll enounter will be down into the 80's. But the 
running water that most people count on (streams, springs etc), many won't 
be running again until after the winter rains, ie, spring time. But if you 
know ahead of time that you'll have long dry stretches, and are prepared for 
such - then autumn is a delightful time to walk the desert.

TheDuck.