[pct-l] Vacationing with a thru-hiker?

[kgdavis970 at earthlink.net (Ken Davis)]

In a message dated 1/14/2005, 6:07;06 AM Lonetrail requested information on a WA hike...

I am trying to find about 100+ miles to do in March. You got anything in WA. I will be in Seattle next week to visit my daughter.  It look like I may do some of the AT from Springier Mt north thru the Great Smokes if I can find any thing here. I live in S., CA and did about everything there.

March and April are the the wettest months in Washington.  I'm usually hunkered down waiting for Spring to really hit in May.  To dodge most of the precip you'll want to keep to the east side of the Cascades.  The best area I can think of during this time for a long hike is the Lake Chelan area.  I've not mapped out a 100+ mile hike in that area, but it wouldn't be difficult to do.  One nice hike I did there was starting at Lk Chelan State Park and winding my way NW along the Chelan Mountains until you hit Entiat River which you would follow up to Crown Point Falls.  There and back is not near 100 miles, but it's a healthy hike.  There are some really spectacular views of the lake that make it worth while.  

If you plan a route in this area, it will be cold and you'll likely have plenty of snow to contend with anywhere above 2500 ft, so you'll want to gear up accordingly.  You might want to check out some trails along the East side of the lake as well.  I can't vouch for much on that side of the lake, but the elevation isn't quite as high, so you might avoid some snow there.

Ken Davis