[pct-l] Thru Hiker Report

[chelin at teleport.com (Sharon & Chuck Chelin)]

Good afternoon, all,

Today I did a training hike on the PCT from Timberline to Ramona Falls and back.  About half way up the big hill between Paradise Park and the Sandy River crossing I met Molly and Hans, two thru-hikers.  They claim to be the very last of the straight-through Nobo bunch.  Obviously they are way late, but they seemed to be in fine shape with positive attitudes about finishing this year.  They seemed to think that since they managed to brave the Sierra snowpack they could also handle any early-season snow in the Cascades.  I think I would be a bit more concerned.  Late-season snowpack is usually firm enough to walk on, at least most of the time, while early season snow is usually fluffy so they will have to walk through it up to their knees, or maybe up to their vaccinations.

Good luck to them, I hope the weather holds for 3-4 more weeks.  Today there was an inch of fresh snow on Mt. Hood down to about 5000 ft. and by mid afternoon it had only retreated to approximately 6500 ft.

Steel-Eye