California desert in july?

imported
#1

hello,

I live in Europe and i plan to hike the california section of the PCT next summer. The only window i got is 3 months, starting in july from campo, to walk the entire California section.
How hot is the desert in July?
Is it crazy to walk the desert in that season?
Is there still water sources?
I already experienced the heat of CanyonLands, Grand Canyon, joshua Tree and deat valley in summertime, but on few days only.

Starting from Oregon frontier to Campo could be a better idea?
Then, i would be in the desert in september.

advices are welcome

Thanks for your help

cyrille

cyrille

#2

I live in so cal, near the desert,in july the temp can be 100+ 24 hours a day. good news is that the high temp is only 20 over 100, at midnight its all the way down to 100.these temps are during a heat wave, in the low desert, such as Palm Springs. On the internet look up Palm Springs chamber of commerce, check the daily high and low temps.Good news,the PCT overlooks Palm springs and the valley,the trail is about 7000 feet higher and cooler. I think that if you hike north to south would be a LIFESAVER! September in so cal on the PCT is much cooler.Get your permits early for popular areas like Mt.Whitney and Yosemite. Good luck with your adventure. When u cross Interstate 10, ,look to the west and wave to me! If u need more local info e-mail me at"jeffincherryvalley@yahoo.com"

dahmer

#3

Thanks for your advices dahmer

cyrille

#4

about the permits
Do i need a permit for each place or can i just buy a Thru-Permit for the whole california section, including Mt Whitney and JMtrail?
Thanks again

cyrille

#5

You may like heat, I don’t know. I was born and raised in GA and understand heat. Or so I thought. I hiked the PCT last year, starting may 17th and it was so freaking hot, like someone was blowing a hair dryer on your skin all day. I do NOT recommend it. Stay north of Kennedy meadows and you’ll be ok in the high elevations. You cannot expect water in the desert in July. But who knows, it scould be your thing. Only one way to find out, eh?

Tha Wookie

#6

You can get a thru-permit from PCTA, if your trip is over a certain length (500 miles?). Check out their website for the application. (www.pcta.org) If you plan to do the side trip to Mt. Whitney you will also need a special permit for that. The PCT permit is free, but the Mt. Whitney stamp costs about $15.

Ginny

#7

Do the thru-permit includes the JMTrail?
The problem is i don’t know when i’ll be on the JMT yet.

Concerning the heat, i like heat, i live in Europe but i spend all my summers in the southwest of USA since 10 years, but i have never hiked more than a week in the summer heat.
I can imagine how the south section of the PCT can be challenging and exausting in July.
Anyway, if there is no way to get water every 2 days, i have to start from Kennedy Meadows, too bad…

Thanks everyone for your help

cyrille

#8

I hate to be a party pooper, but hiking alone could be dangerous, one man was killed in so cal by a mountain lion. He stopped to put the chain back on his bicycle’s sprocket when the 110 lb male mountain lion crushed his skull and dragged him off for dinner. Another 2 women bikers who stopped to check why a bike had no rider nearby. One woman was attacked, the other got the lion to release her friend after about 50 yards of dragging her away. Cyrille, please hike with others, saftey is with other hikers,good times and good people go together.If i were hiking in July I would start at the beginning of the high sierras. Maybe section G1,Walker Pass or g7, Kennedy Meadows. GOOD LUCK!

dahmer

#9

ANYONE WHO E-MAILS ME PLEASE PUT “PCT” ON SUBJECT LINE, I DO NOT OPEN UNKNOWN E-MAIL!

dahmer

#10

Umm … bad idea! It might not kill you, but there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll be miserable. Think about how much water you’ll need to carry to hike 25-30 miles in temperatures that top out over 100 degrees. Then think about how much all that water is going to weigh. Not too fun.

How wedded are you to the idea of hiking California? You would have a better time hiking Kennedy Meadows north to Washington or something like that than heading out from Mexico in July. Just a thought. The desert isn’t going anywhere – you can always come back and do it some other time at a more appropriate time of years.

br

PS – yes, “hiking alone could be dangerous,” but dahmer’s suggestion that if you’re alone you’re going to get killed is really overblown. Thousands of people hike by their lonesome every year without any mishap. Getting killed by a mountain lion is kind of like getting struck by lightning, with one exception: it’s even LESS likely.

fredalbaroad