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[pct-l] Back too soon

Fellow hikers,

        Just got back from Idyllwild yesterday, after having initially
left the
border on May 7th and thru-hiking the 180-odd miles to Saddle Junction.
To anyone who hasn't left yet, WAIT! The snow around San Jacinto ain't
going anywhere for at least two weeks, and that's if it's sunny and warm
every day. To recount my experience might lend a little more creedence:

It was this past Tuesday, and I had camped out on the ridge just before
Antsell Rock. Up until that point, I had only crossed a couple patches
of snow once, on the north side of Apache Peak. That morning, I very
carefully stepped through some more ice patches, but the trail was
always visible on the other side, and numerous footprints led the way. I
didn't really know what to expect once I rounded the corner of Red
Taqhuitz, but from what I had seen up to then, I didn't think it could
have been any worse. Boy, was I wrong. I took the last switchback up and
around the ridge descending from Red T., and suddenly the land around me
transformed into a perfectly nice day in the dead of Winter. Trail...
forget it. It was buried under several feet of snow, and footprints took
off in all directions. Luckily, I was able to figure out where I needed
to get to pick up the Devil's Slide trail down into town by checking my
map, so I basically just took off cross-country. Believe me, walking in
that late-Spring kind of snow that slips out on you with every step is
no fun at all. My pace slowed to worse than one mph, and I fell many
times. Eventually, after wandering around in the general area of Saddle
Junction for some time, I stumbled upon the correct trail about a
hundred feet lower than the junction itself. With a gasp of relief, I
started heading down, trying to ignore SJ's tormenting laugh over my
shoulder. 
        In town, I met up with fellow thru-hikers Peter and Andrea from
Austin,
Mike from San Diego, and Jason from Seattle. Peter and Andrea had bombed
off the trail at Cedar Springs and had hitched from there, while Mike
and Jason had stumbled in a day before me in the near dark, all the
while thinking of the potentially waning popularity of the PCT should
their bodies be found somewhere on the south side of SJ. Earlier that
day, Andrea and a friend had driven up the Black Mountain road to check
out the trail on the north side, and see if Fuller Ridge provided any
optimism. They returned with the downcast observation that the trail was
totally buried on that side for as far as they could see, no footprints
were to be found and the San Gorgonios on the other side of the pass
were beautifully, and agonizingly, white. We unanimously agreed that
things were going to have to be postponed for awhile. I decided that it
was time to check out and let nature take its course. The rest of them
are hanging out in Idyllwild for a few days, but I suspect that they
will have to begin well north of SJ, possibly even in the pass itself. 
        After enduring the torrential rains of last week in the vicinity
of
Warner Springs, and the near freezing temperatures in the San Felipes, I
think I can take a hint. This is obviously the wrong year to be hiking
the PCT. I know, people were saying that months ago, but I can tell you
first-hand that unless you have a hell of a sense of patience and
persistence, just let it be. This is usually a once-in-a-lifetime
experience, and it should be done under conditions that allow you to
remember the inspiring vistas and moonlit evenings rather than the
soaking wet tent, pack, and feet and being able to see only fifty feet
in front of you because you're hiking in a cloud. 
        This post is becoming a little excessive and there's plenty more
for me
to say, but I'll let you all mull over this for a bit. I want to post
separately the various techniques and equipment that I picked up (and
left behind) along the way, and also my general feelings about the PCT,
but I wanted to get this out now so that you could get an idea of what
the deal is. If you have any questions, either post them or email me at:
Arkay7@aol.com

Keep on keepin' on,
Ryel
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