[pct-l] What's a Crowd

[Neil Lacey]

I'm planning on hiking the PCT next year .. a lifelong dream (I'm 63) 
but I'm concerned about the crowds.  I'm not anti-social, but I'm no 
longer into partying ;-)

Ran into an AT thru hiker last summer while section hiking in VT who was 
saying that early on heading NB there were a lot of party types but they 
dropped off after a while.  There were a lot of thru hikers on the trail 
compared to years ago when it was an event to meet one out on the 
trail.  But not much partying 1600 miles in.

Another friend who did the PCT in 2016 recommended going SB to avoid the 
crowds, said she was competing for campsites through the desert.

But I like the idea of doing the desert early in the season, so I'm 
thinking of starting early, maybe mid-March, to beat the crowds and then 
maybe take a break depending on the snow pack.

Just thinking & planning at this point if anyone has any advice would 
appreciate it

Thx
Neil

On 5/8/2018 2:03 PM, timpnye wrote:
> Not if you're hitching into Lake Isabella. Or, if you're looking for a room there.
> This is the new normal.
> On the positive side, it seemed as if half the hikers that came through Mt. Laguna's Burnt Rancheria were international. I think that changes the dynamic to less of a party atmosphere, but that remains to be shown over time.
> -------- Original message --------From: Gary Schenk <gary at hbfun.org> Date: 5/8/18  8:22 AM  (GMT-08:00) To: PCT List <pct-l at backcountry.net> Subject: [pct-l] What's a Crowd
> Sunday, on the way to bag a couple of peaks, we stopped at Walker Pass
> campground to have a quick breakfast.
>
> Tents everywhere! Must have been a minimum of 30 people camped out there.
> That can't possible be fun, can it?
>
> Gary
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