[pct-l] (no subject)

[Scott Williams]

Hey again Wayne,

Sounds like you have plenty of backpacking experience and that's the best
thing to have as a background.  To be comfortable for long periods in the
Wild is most important.  And I can't say enough in praise of our Long
Trails.  It's one of the least appreciated and most wonderful of America's
heritages.  So you've got a lot to enjoy in coming over with the idea of a
long walk.

In thinking about starting dates for our three greatest trails, the
Appalachian Trail has the largest window for starting and finishing.  Many
begin that trail as early as February if going Nobo and continue hiking it
till December if going Sobo.  The Continental Divide Trail on the other
hand has very narrow start and finish dates.   The Nobo window from Mexico
is pretty much April and early May and if Sobo, starting from Canada in
June or July.  The Pacific Crest Trail windows are approx. Nobo, from
Mexico in April and early May or Sobo, from Canada in June or July.  The
actual starts are always determined by any late snows in spring and trying
to finish before the early snows of winter close the passes.  The reason
for the small windows is that most of us don't consider it safe to hike the
desert sections in the summer and you can't cross the snows of the High
Sierra or San Juans too early either.  So it's always a bit of a balancing
act.

Good guides to get to start looking at either the PCT or the CDT are Yogi's
Guide to the PCT and Yogi's Guide to the CDT.  They both have town guides
which are invaluable and give a lot of different hiker's approaches to gear
and seasons and lots more.  There are many more things you can get, but
this one, at least the town guide part, most hikers carry with them on both
trails.  There are lots of other resources out there and maybe others will
add their favorites.

Good luck

Shroomer