[pct-l] PCT in Oregon?

[tanyadiede at yahoo.com (Tanya Diede)]

My husband and I are new to the thru-hike idea so please pardon any ignorance we might unknowingly express. We are avid short-trip backpackers (3 to 14 day trips) but are ready to take our backpacking experience to a whole new level. We want to complete the entire PCT, however, we are a bit constrained with time because we are both in the process of finishing masters degrees and transitioning into new jobs. So we will have to settle (for now) to do the trail in segments... it's hard enough having to explain to the new employer a need for a two month vacation, nevermind trying to request for anything more than that. 
 
Our goal is to complete the Oregon section in spring/summer 2006 and Washington in 2007, saving Cali for a later time. Our big question is: what is the earliest and most reasonable time in the spring/summer to hit the trail in either Seiad Valley (Cali) or Ashland (OR) based on weather, trail conditions, etc with the idea of us going north all the way thru to Portland area? I have heard some horror stories about too much snow, extreme low temps, etc in May and June, too many mosquitoes in June and July, and a lack of water in August. It's never going to be perfect, but we're looking for the path of least resistance! Out of these options, our preference is to take our chances with snow and cold temps, but we would like some experienced advice on this. We would be coming from Michigan where we do winter camping in the sub-zero temps so we're not afraid of snow or cold temps, but from my backpacking experiences in the Cali Sierras, mountain snow and cold temps can be a completely
 different ball game. Would it be crazy or even possible to begin/complete a thru-hike of the PCT in Oregon in May/June or would we be better off waiting until mid or even late summer?
 
Thanks in advance!!
Tanya and Jonathan

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