[pct-l] Taking Alternates and Zeros

[Mike Belanger]

What can you recommend as far as alternates to the official PCT? Ex. San Jacinto Peak, Whitney and the official JMT, Mount Lassen, Crate Lake Rim, Eagle Creek Trail, Half Dome, others? How much farther/shorter are these trips and are there any special nuances I need to know about them, i.e. carry one more day of food, there's no water for X miles, special permits required and where to get them, ravenous mosquitos, Bigfoot sightings, etc.? I'm a NorCal local so I always have the opportunity to revisit missed sites, but if I can cross a few off the list with no major effort I would love to do so this year.
Knowing that I can't realistically hit all the locations I want to while to hike the PCT, can ya'll give me your recommendations and suggestions for which breweries are worth the visit, the hot springs that are a must (free or private), and hostels that are a nice retreat from the wilderness experience while still low budget? The following are my lists I have going so far.
Breweries:o AleSmith, San Diego, CAo Ballast Point, San Diego, CAo Stone, San Diego, CAo Fifty Fifty, Truckee, CAo Tahoe Mountain, Tahoe City, CAo Sierra Nevada, Chico, CAo Caldera Brewery or Tap House, Ashland, ORo Swing Tree, Ashland, ORo Standing Stone, Ashland, ORo Deschutes, Bend, ORo Three Creeks, Sisters, ORo Thunder Island, Cascade Locks, ORo Anything worthwhile in Washington/Vancouver?		Hostels (I have not a clue and haven't given it much thought until now)?	Hot Springs:o Warner Springs (near Warner Springs, CA)o Deep Creek Hot Springs (San Bernadino National Forest near Big Bear City, CA)o Mono Hot Springs (near Mono Hot Springs, CA)o Remington & Miracle Springs (near Lake Isabella, CA)o Jackson Hot Springs/Wellsprings (near Ashland, OR)o Breitienbush Hot Springs (Willamette National Forest, OR)o Bagby Hot Springs (Mount Hood National Forest, Estacada, OR)o Terwilliger/Cougar Hot Springs (Willamete National Forest, OR)o McCredie Hot Springs (near Oakridge, OR)o Belknap Hot Springs (near McKenzie Bridge, Oregon)o Bigelow/Deer Creek Hot Springs (east of Eugene McKenzie River)o Umpqua Hot Springs (location unknown)o Sulphur Creek Hot Springs (Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA)o Kenney Hot Springs (Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA)o Golymyer Hot Springs (near North Bend in Cascades, WA)o Carson Hot Springs (near Columbia River)
In-N-Out's:o Chula Vista, CA (East of San Diego on Hwy 125)o Cabazon, CA (North of Mt San Jacinto off Hwy 10)o Santa Clarita, CA (SW of Agua Dulce off Hwy 14)o Sparks/Reno, NV or more likely Auburn, CA (my hometown)o Chico, CA (planned zero, but likely going to Madison Bear Garden instead)o Medford, OR (North of Ashland off I-5)o Are there any suitable substitutes in northern Oregon and Washington?