Burney Falls to Cascade Locks

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#1

My dream of doing Campo to Manning this year has ended. A too sweet job offer has presented itself and I cannot pass. I have convinced them to give me till at least early July before leaving for overseas.
I have my through permit and I must do at least 500 miles or I will regret it forever. My question is this, am I being unrealistic in thinking I can leave from Burney Falls mid April and make it through to Cascade Locks about 1.5 months later. I am not as concerned with big mile days as I am about enjoying the experience, planning on about 18-20 miles per day.
I am not a huge snow travel fan, but am not afraid of it either, would I be looking at days on end of snow travel by leaving on this timetable? Thanks in advance for any advice or insights provided!

Kris

#2

That’s one of the easiest stretches on the trail. Since you have your daily mileage, all you need now is to do the math.

Tha Wookie

#3

My question is this, am I being unrealistic in thinking I can leave from Burney Falls mid April and make it through to Cascade Locks about 1.5 months later. <<

In a word, YES! While the height of the terrain along that stretch doesn’t remain consistantly high, it does get up there consistantly. Don’t expect to get through Northern California until late May and only in a very low snow year.

The high country of Oregon doesn’t really open until July. Or later if there’s significant snow fall. Ocassionaly thru-hikers have difficulty in August in high snow years.

If you need to get out on the trail. I’d head south and do the southern 500 miles of the trail. You may hit occasional stretches of snow, but they will be generally managable and there are often alternate routes to bypass the snow.

Ron

#4

Start at campo in mid to late april. you will be joined by lots of others who gave up sweet jobs to be out there. I,m sure you can find a phone along the way to phone your former future employer that you will continue walking and someome else can have the job.

John