You'll be entering high elevation mountains in the spring. So yes, you'll need foul weather gear. Even in "the desert." Gary -----Original Message----- From: Jim Faris <grandpafaris at yahoo.com> To: Pct-L <Pct-L at backcountry.net> Sent: Tue, Mar 1, 2016 8:19 am Subject: [pct-l] rain pants Rain pants needed for the pct ?? El Nino year