[pct-l] PCT advice

[Susan Virnig]

Hi, David,

You may not remember that I have profusely thanked you for eTrails and I
shamelessly promote it while I’m section hiking.

Having started with the Wilderness Press guidebooks back in 1977 when I did
my first 100 mile solo in northern WA, I totally LOVE the fact that eTrails
is so much more informative and educational than any of the other apps.

Bravo for you for creating it.  You have my deepest appreciation.

And — thanks for this very encouraging email about those 300 miles.
Intriguing advice about getting to Kennedy Meadows in fall or spring.
Maybe I could break this down into 3 hikes — April or so Highway 74 to Agua
Dulce; August for the high Sierra; and perhaps October?? for Tehachapi to
Kennedy Meadows…  Or depending upon how I feel in Agua Dulce, perhaps
adding the Tehachapi stretch on in mid-May??

Like you, I don’t use Facebook, so this list-serve is so helpful to me.
Good luck with your Ashland to the Columbia hike!

Happy Trails,
Susan/Sunshine


On February 6, 2021 at 10:25:09 AM, David Harris (harris at g.hmc.edu) wrote:

Susan,

I love the stretch from Highway 74 to Agua Dulce. As long as you wait for
the snow to melt out, there are few difficulties. The Desert Divide is a
special place, and it’s magical when you get into the San Jacinto
wilderness and hear the chickadees among the lodgepole pines. Some people
have reported discomfort bypassing the rock slide by Apache. There were
some aggressive bees in Snow Creek when I came through.

It’s hot between Snow Creek and Whitewater when the snow is gone from San
Jacinto. If you are trying to maximize comfort you could hike that stretch
this winter when it’s in perfect condition, though then you need a car
shuttle.

If you have the opportunity, consider hiking Tehachapi to Kennedy Meadows
in the fall or spring. It can be beautiful and comfortable. I didn’t use
water caches and had to carry 7 quarts to go 25 mile legs at times, but
otherwise it wasn’t particularly difficult.

The section from Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass is glorious, the best on
the whole PCT. Go in late July through September when there’s no snow and
no dangerous stream crossings, and the only problems will be crowds and a
few areas of mosquitos.

If you have an iPhone, I think my free eTrails map is better than Guthook,
with a lot more about natural and human history.

You’ve almost got this made. Exciting!

I’m hoping to hike Ashland to the Columbia this summer to finish my section
hike of the PCT.

Good to see a bit of traffic on this list. I don’t use Facebook and am cut
off from the PCT community as a result.

David