Doing SoCal sections as headstart to a thru-hike

imported
#1

I’m way in the early-planning stages, (not very likely i’ll be able to thru until '08 at best) but i wanted to bounce this one off the forum anyway.

The way my work calendar has gone the past couple years, about the best i could hope for is to have 4 1/2 months to thru-hike, roughly from mid-May until the end of September. I know from my JMT pace that the very fastest i could probably do the PCT in is 5 months, and it’s more likely it would take me a little longer. So, currently living in southern Arizona, it hit me that maybe i could pull off a one-year thru-hike by knocking off the first 400 miles or so in 3-5 day sections during Feb., Mar., and April before doing my 4 1/2 months starting in May. The transportation logistics would be difficult each time i have to get back to my car for the sections, i’d have to pray i could manage the high Sierra starting by about June 10, and no doubt some would say this isn’t really a thru-hike (whatever). I guess i’d appreciate any comments on those issues, but especially comments on what kind of snow and other climate obstacles there would be in doing the SoCal sections so early. I’ve climbed Rainier, Hood, and a few other things, so i’m ok with the whole axe and crampon issues (i really feel comfortable on a slope up to about 50 degrees as long as it’s not nasty ice), but if i’m going to be slowed down to the point that the early sections will take twice as long as normal because of snow, then the plan doesn’t seem like it will work. I’d probably be able to do 5 or 6 section hikes, but if i can only wade through snow at 10 miles a day, that won’t get me near enough to where i need to be in mid-May. (Agua Dulce maybe?)

Thoughts?

p.s. shame on me for posting when i still haven’t transcribed my JMT journal. SHAME!

markv

#2

Mark:

You might not want to judge your estimated PCT pace from your JMT pace. The high Sierra is one of the most rugged sections of the entire PCT. Most PCT thru-hikers go much slower through that section b/c of the difficulty and amazing beauty (unless their pushing to get to food!).

The logistics of your “one year” thru-hike sound like a nightmare. There are plenty of desert sections that you could hike that early, but you still might face some nasty weather (see “Funnybone’s” journal from '06) The San jacinto area, parts of the San Bernadino’s and most of the San Gabriels would normally be burried under snow that early (unless its a draught year). It sounds like you have plenty of mounaineering experience. Your biggest challenge might be route finding in the trees.

If i were you, i would attempt a 4 1/2 month hike & just see how it goes. If you make it, great. If not, just come back next year and finish the remaining section. I have found that If i don’t worry about the finish of the hike, it makes the journey considerably more enjoyable. In fact, on all of my thru-hikes, i always mentally decide that it really doesn’t matter whether or not i make it to the end of the trail. Each day on the journey is more enjoyable when I don’t worry about finishing.

Without having to get to Canada by a certain deadline would probably make the hike much more enjoyable - it would take the pressure off. So you could simply see where you end up. You might find that your pace is much faster than expected & that you’re able to hike all the way to Canada in the 41/2 month time frame.

Happy Trails!

freebird

#3

Thanks for the experienced input. I wasn’t judging my pace solely based on the JMT, but that was the easiest reference to put in my post. My pace is decidedly average whenever i backpack, and it seems that the average time for a PCT thru is at least 5 1/2 months. Hard to imagine i could knock a whole month off that average time, or at least do so without being obsessively hurried.

I suppose i should be ok with the idea of having little chance of finishing, but i think that on the rough days of the trail and even during the planning stages, i need the realistic goal that i can complete the trail if i do my best and don’t get injured. I’ve started on Funnybone’s journal…

markv

#4

You’re definitely right about being obsessively hurried on a hike - doesn’t sound like fun at all.

How 'bout hiking the lengh of California as a goal. At around 1750 miles or so this might be a good distance for your time-frame. You would have plenty of time to really enjoy the views, smell the flowers, and enjoy the hot springs… Ashland, OR as a finishing spot is a great town with good transportation possibilities. If you get another few months off in the future, you could hike OR/WA.

freebird

#5

There are too many variables to you having a succesful thru-hike for you to worry about the 4 and half months. Just go and see how it happens. Tell the person who controls your life to read your journal and they will probally give that last month.(unless it involves a pregnant woman and then you should not be hiking anyways!)

It really depends on your definition of success and what a thru hike is. Madwoman and I did about 18 to 20 miles a day. Not exactly a blistering pace but we started early each day, had a long lunch break and stopped when we came to a good spot for the night. We were on pace to finish in 5 months but we only had 1 zero day. We just had a daily rythm…also there was only about 10 people on the trail that year (83) so we did not have so many social distractions. Just go, the worst thing that might happen is you might have to rehike it! OH, no! Ha, have fun

Evil Goat