[pct-l] New to the PCT

[ROYROBIN@xxxxxxx (ROYROBIN@xxxxxxx)]

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Hi Paul!  What was your trail name on the AT?  We may have met; I finished
the AT at Katahdin on Sept. 6, '02.  Went by the name of TrailDad.

In addition to the PCT Guide Books, you should get the PCT Data Book.  It's
small enough to carry and has a lot of info on water sources.  The Guide
Books are too heavy to carry.  Cut them up into sections and mail each part
to yourself as you need it.  The town guide might also be useful but it
wasn't available when I did the PCT.

You sound like a fast hiker, so should be able to complete the trail by the
end of August barring mishap if you start in mid-April.  The real key is to
get to the Sierra around mid-June.  If the snowpack is less than normal you
can push that up a week or even two weeks.  There will be a lot of discussion
about Sierra snow levels on the list as the starting date gets closer.

Just my opinion, but I don't feel crampons are necessary for thruhikers in
the Sierra.  There are several places where you should have an ice axe and
know how to self-arrest.
_____

> Hi, Im new to this list and planning a 2004 thruhike of the PCT.  I
> thruhiked the AT in 2002 with a pack under 11 lbs, so Im not new to long
> distance backpacking, but I understand there are a few key differences
> between the trails.  I have just ordered the guide books and wondered if
> any other book might be useful.  I have one restriction in my plan - I must
> finish by late August since I plan to attend grad school.  I can start
> anytime (was thinking mid to late april).  Is this possible?  I have the
> Sierras are not passable without crampons etc. until mid June.  Is this
> true?  I appreciate any advice you have have to offer...and im sure ill
> have more questions in the future.
>