[pct-l] Questions re southern CA segment in spring 2014

[Diane Soini]

On Sep 21, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> From: Timothy DenHerder-Thomas <timothydht at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Questions re southern CA segment in spring 2014

>
> 1. I've heard there were several big fires in So Cal this year,  
> maybe some
> affecting the PCT additionally to the Mountain Fire in the San  
> Jacintos. Is
> the segment from Cajon Pass to Kennedy Meadows (Sections D, E, F, and
> southern part of G) relatively unaffected by the fires/ unlikely to be
> closed for fire in spring 2014?
I don't know enough to say for sure, but there was a fire in Section  
E last spring. I don't know if it closed the PCT. Maybe others know  
more. There was also a fire near Big Bear but from what I recall it  
was not on the PCT.

>
> 3.  if we're
> hiking roughly April 28th through May 15th, are we likely to find  
> less snow
> hiking the Cajon Pass to Kennedy Meadows section south to north or  
> north to
> south? I live in Minnesota, so I'm not familiar with area weather.
Most PCT thru-hikers begin their hikes around that window of time so  
the Campo -> wherever section is usually doable as far as snow. The  
fire closure may be an issue next season.

The Wilderness Press guidebooks usually anticipate these types of  
questions. According to the authors, Section E is best done in April.  
Section F is best done early-to-mid spring and early-to-mid fall.  
Section G's beginning section is best in mid spring or mid fall. E  
has the Tehachapis. F ends at Walker Pass and G has Kennedy Meadows  
in the first half.

So you'd be good to go on either of your two choices.

>
> 4. From what I've gathered, poodle dog bush becomes abundant after  
> fire in
> SoCal. Does this happen immediately after fire, or like a year  
> later, 3
> years later, or what?

It depends on the devastation and the elevation. Poodle-dog bush  
generally likes around 4000-5000 elevation. If an area was totally  
devastated by fire (nothing alive remains) it will take more than a  
year for poodle-dog bush to appear. It is easy to recognize and if  
the trail isn't totally overgrown with it, easy enough to avoid. I  
hiked in section D a couple years ago. The trail was choked with it  
and it was a little hard to totally avoid, but I did not get a rash  
and there were trail crews working on it at the time. The nice thing  
about the PCT is they really do work hard at reopening and keeping  
the trail maintained (renew your memberships!)