[pct-l] Departure dates

[pctreader at gmail.com (PCT Reader)]

PCT-L -

I'm a medical student graduating this year who's planning to do a solo hike
of as much of the trail (northbound) as I can before June 12th. I've been
doing what appears to be the standard planning : reading the books, checking
the snowfall, planning resupply, etc, but I keep coming up against the fact
that the mountains have snow, and the snow won't melt on my schedule.

I'm free of hospital responsibilities starting April 1st. The goal would be
to make it as far as Tuolomne Meadows, and to start internship in late June
with fresh memories of the thin air and a high hematocrit.

This breaks down to two questions (to start):

1) With the caveat that snow is still falling and life is uncertain, is June
1st a reasonable date to start off from Kennedy Meadows if I'm willing to
slog through *some* snow?
2) Let's just say that the answer to #1 is a resounding No : is there
anything south of Kennedy  Meadows with snow bad enough to make starting
April 8th a bad idea? I know this is earlier than people through hikers
usually start : is the Sierra the barrier, or is there stuff further south
that is also worrisome?

Thanks : look forward to seeing what folks think.

Yours,

Wil Van Cleve