I read a thread earlier about alternate routes on the PCT, I think it was in the thread about AT purists vs. PCTers. Which routes are not to be missed?
Im aware of the route around Glacier Peak due to the floods, but are there any alternates around any burn areas?
Munch
Moose Munch
There is a very good detour around glacier peak that I will be taking in july, check www.phlumf.com…:cheers
toastyjosh
The day before Crater Lake there is a nice side trail to a beautiful waterfall with camping nearby. The official route through there is dry, with one iffy spring. At Lassen NP the official trail was unmaintained and utterly forgettable, but there was an alternate route we didn’t take that passed some lakes and is supposed to be more scenic. Red’s Meadows - go to the Devils Postpile. In Oregon the official route avoids the lakes in the Sky Lakes Wilderness. We did that, but next time we’ll do the bypass. There were some alternates to resupply points in Oregon.
Ginny
As posted on another thread I recommend that you take the following alternative just before departing Northern Yosemite.
For a slightly off PCT section of trail that gives you some awesome scenary after days of bug infested forests look at the following route. At least check out the following on your maps: After hiking East through Grace Meadows, before you reach Dorothy Lake, take the trail North to Bond Pass. From Bond Pass follow the old jeep trail along the crest to where it meets up with the PCT again. The route passes High Emigrant Lake and passes over peak 10,825. This route is excelent! It gets you up out of the forest and has expansive views to the west and east. The PCT section you miss is similar to what you have already experienced from Tuolumne Meadows to this point. Getting up high was the pinacle of our trip!
Check out the map link of the deviated route. You also can follow the trail north on the map by clicking on the map.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=11&n=4228262&e=271325&s=50&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25
:cheers
Thinair
As an old timer, when we hiked the PCT in '81 not everything was completed, including the trail through the Tehachapis and Walker Pass, so we had to walk down the Kelso road to Weldon, and then from there climb up into the Sierras. The road walk was a road walk, followed by another few miles north out of Weldon, but from there the temporary PCT was forested and well watered, with a nice high pass (Siretta) and very enjoyable. It sounds from the journals I’ve read that the PCT from Kelso Rd. to Rockhouse Basin (where the old PCT rejoins the route) is hot, waterless, unpleasant, and goes through a couple of burns (I don’t know whether the old route has been burned). As the old route is shorter, has better water, and takes you right through a resupply point (Weldon) I would certainly consider it, if in fact it is still viable. The trail north of Weldon was a long established USFS trail, followed by FS roads by big Sierra meadows and trout fishing.
Pappy