[pct-l] Looking for group or partners to hike a section of the PCT second week of June

[JPayne at standardsteel.com (James Payne)]

How about starting at Kennedy Meadows (or Cottonwood Pass above
Horseshoe Meadow up out of Lone Pine) and go North with the main surge
of thruhikers to Tuolumne Meadows (or maybe even to Sonora Pass, if you
can spare 3 weeks)?

Most of the thruhikers plan to go 'solo' but fall into compatible
groups of same speed, attitude and outlook, etc. (but the groups won't
necessarily stay together for the full 2,658 mile trip).  Many will hike
at least part of the day alone, but the group will 'lunch' and camp
together many times over very long distances.

If you do this, some hints...  1. Spend a full day or two at altitude
to get acclimated (especially important if you live at a low elevation)
- Kennedy Mdws. is approx. 6,000' and Horseshoe Mdw. is approx. 10,000'
and you will be going over 13,000' at Forester Pass in a few days.  2a.
Don't expect the thruhikers to wait for you to catch/keep up (after all,
they are trying to get to Canada before the snow flies again, and they
have already hiked 700 miles and are in great shape and well settled
into their thruhiker routine) and 2b. Be in very good physical condition
before starting (or you won't be able to keep up!).  2c. HYOH (hike your
own hike)...  go YOUR pace...  if you can't comfortably keep up, don't
strain to do so - enjoy YOUR trip!  3. Check the last two or three years
journals to get an idea of dates and progress through the Sierra for
numerous thruhikers...  you will get a sense of what you might be able
to do, also.  You will be going through a spectacular, scenic high
mountain area on the PCT (North Cascades in WA is another not to miss).

Even if you can't 'keep up', you will then get the opportunity to meet
a greater number of thruhikers and perhaps learn that much more...  and
gain a greater knowledge and respect of thruhiking by getting a broader
perspective from more people...  then you, too, will dream and yearn to
do the entire trail in one season...  and another thruhiker will be
'born'...

Happy trails!