[pct-l] Advice needed for yo-yo hike

[Barry Teschlog]

Daniel / Doublecross wrote:

Due to outside life issues I'm considering a yo-yo this year instead of a straight thru-hike. 
The plan would be to start at Warner Springs with a few others, hike South to the Kick Off, get back to WS, hike to Kennedy Meadows, then get up to Manning Park to start Southbound. Following is an abridged, estimated timeline using Craig's PCT planner:
Manning Park 5/30; Snoqualmie 6/12; Bend 6/30; Crater Lake 7/8;
Etna 7/18; Truckee 8/8; Bridgeport 8/15; KM 8/31.
Theoretically I would be missing the worst of the bloodsuckers in WA (while getting more rain?), missing the snow in the Sierras (but enduring peak backpacker season) and simplifying gear swap-out between So-Cal, the rest of the trail and later bear canister areas.
Specific questions: are trail angels and trail services operating that early in WA and that late in Central CA? Are there any serious difficulties using NoBo oriented data for a SoBo hike? Any info/comments at all would be helpful.
-Doublecross 
Response:

Slight correction in terms - what is described is a flip flop, not a yo-yo.

As Mango pointed out, you'll likely be wallowing in snow here in Washington.  Despite the on going drought in California, the month of February has gone a long way toward making for a semi-normal snow pack in Washington.  The snotel sensors at Stevens Pass (Hwy 2), Olallie Meadows (~3 miles south of Snoqualmie Pass / I-90) and Stampede Pass (~18 trail miles south of I-90) as of yesterday were reading between 85% to 111% of average for this time of year.  

Look for yourself at:
http://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Washington/washington.html

North to south, the sensors to check that approximately follow the trail are:  Harts Pass, Rainy Pass, Lyman Lake, Stevens Pass, Olallie Meadow, Stampede Pass, Sawmill Ridge, Morse Lake, White Pass, and Potato Hill.

These last few years of doing trail crew in the Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass area indicate that IF this year melts out like previous, you'll have lots of snow around Stevens and Snoqualmie on June 12.  Expect to be in significant snow from the border to at least Chinook Pass (Hwy 410), with more up in the Goat Rocks.

As to the questions posed:  With a bit of practice, the Wilderness Press guide books can be read "backwards" for a SoBo hiker.  Other data sources can be read in a similar manner.  Andrea would have to answer if she's available at Stevens Pass in early June.

All in all, I'd suggest you reconsider the plan - going straight NoBo this year is highly likely to be pretty much a no worse than average cruise through the Sierra even with a late May KM date.

YMMV.  HYOH.  2 cents, free advice being worth what you paid, etc.