Hiking PCT - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

Me and a couple buddies are planning a 5-7 day Hike on/around the PCT the third week of July. Can anyone recommend a great section to hike???

jersey joe

#2

Hi JJ,

I’d recommend the “John Muir Trail”. Takes roundabout 10
days. Maybe you can hike it in 7 days. 200 Miles.
The JMT is one of the greatest sections on the PCT. And in
July you’ll meet all the thru-hikers going north in this
section. But on the PCT Kick-Off-Party this year they said,
that they expect a lot of snow in the High Sierra. So make
sure you check out the snow situation before you head out.

Hike on!

-Germanator-

Germanator

#3

Jersey-
First off, the PCT is 2700 hindred miles long. Are you willing to actually try any of it? Or can you narrow it down a bit in terms of you personal preferences. I’ve hiked the Oregon and San Jacinto sections and they are both quite nice.For this particular summer only I would respectfully disagree with Germanator about going into the Sierras this July. After the heaviest snowfall in anybody’s living memory, July is going to be extreamly difficult this year in the Sierra high country. The snow levels will be difficult enough from the point of view of making headway and route finding. But some of the creek crossings will be at their absolute deadliest.

Razor

#4

Germanator - The section we were looking at is actually mostly on the John Muir Trail from South Lake to Florence Lake. We only have 5-6 days and this stretch is around 46 miles, which I feel is doable.

Razor - I realize the PCT is 2700 miles long. I am open to going almost anywhere but was looking more at Cali. I am very concerned about the weather/snowfall though. In the third week of July is there expected to still be a lot of snow in this region - will hiking be possible without climbing gear? Will the rivers be uncrossable?

jersey joe

#5

Go over Kearsarge or Shepherd or Cottonwood Passes to the Upper Kern. A great seven day loop over Shepherd is Anvil Camp, Wright Lakes, Milestone Basin, Lake South America, Bighorn Plateau then back out Shepherd.

booger

#6

Hike the PCT northbound from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, a distance of around 75 miles. Or, skip the PCT and hike the Wonderland trail around Mount Rainier, for a distance of around 95 miles.

Suge

#7

Jersey Joe-
My wife and I hiked the Oregon Section starting July first last summer. We were told by locals and people on this forum that snow levels in July would be fine. After a winter of above average snowfall we realized after we were 80 miles north of Ashland that we were really a month too early. At first the snow on the trail was a plesant change for a couple from Florida. When we had to traverse our first northern exsposed face however things suddenly became much more problamatic. Snow still remained from the winter as deep as 10 feet. Steep run outs in to talus and boulder fields below. It was quite dangerous for the inexperienced. If I had been alone the snow levels encountered would have been an added bit of adventure to the experience. My wife, on her first long distance hike was a bit taxed by the whole thing. In the Sky Lakes Wilderness and the Diamond Peaks Winderness the snow was so prevalent that finding the trail became quite a challenge. In fact for a few days there was no trail. A marker here, a cut log there, or 2-3 feet of exsposed trail were all that we had to go on.
The Sierras, being several thousand feet higher (though somewhat further south) and having just experienced in some places the HIGHEST SNOWFALL EVER RECORDED sound to me like something that only people who thrive on mountain snow travel would enjoy. Post holing ain’t no fun after yuor first hour.Out west the snow stays much later because of the elevations.
This in fact could be a great July for Oregon or Washington because of the extreamly light winter precip that they had.
Whereever you do wind up- have a great time. The PCT is a dream.

Razor

#8

booger - I’ll check out the Shepherd area.

Suge - thanks for the suggestions but a 75 or 95 mile loop is further than we are looking at right now. Trying to keep the distance under 50miles. But doing a loop would definitly solve our transportation logistics problem.

Razor - Your concern about there being lots of snow on the route I proposed around Florence lake has heightened my uneasiness about attempting this section. A little snow hiking is ok, even fun, but to the point of dangerous snow passes requiring mountaineering equipment is where I draw the line. Does anyone know where I can get updated info on the conditions of this section of the JMT?

Also, If anyone else can suggest a 25-50 mile section, loop would be nice, but not necessary, that would be great.

jersey joe

#9

Jersey Joe-
For your distance and time requirements a fine loop that comes to mind would be to fly into Portland Oregon and catch the regional transport to Cascade Locks west of town on the Columbia River. Hiking (ascending) southbound on the PCT for one or two days you could then get off the PCT and head West down into the Eagle Creek Drainege. That would be about 40-50 miles and I just can’t tell you how special the Eagle creek trail is. The scenery and geography is just jaw dropping. I promise that you would love that trip!

Razor

#10

Jersey Joe, your 1st choice is an excellent one in terms of seeing some great country. I assume you are going over Bishop Pass, thru Duzy Basin, down into LeConte Canyon, up over Muir Pass, down Evolution Valley to Florence Lake. I have a hard time imagining that even an ice axe would be required the 3rd week of July. By 10 or 11am the remaining snow should be such that you can kick steps in it. You do need hiking poles. The hardest part of that route is arranging the trans Sierra transportation. I would keep your schedule flexible, and call the Forest Service office in Bishop as the date gets closer to see what trail conditions are. You will have a ford at Evolution Creek. An easier but less spectacular route would be North Lake over Piute Pass down to Florence Lake. A nice loop in and out crosses the JMT is from Agnew Meadows (in the Mammoth - Reds Meadow - Devils Postpile area) into Lake Ediza and back. There are variations on this. From Mammoth Lakes you could go over Duck Pass down to the JMT, south to Purple Lake and in to the group of lakes just east of Purple Lake.

Ralph Alcorn

#11

Ralph,
The hike I was considering is the one you described, including Bishop Pass and Evolution Valley. You seem a lot more optimistic than many I have heard from regading snow conditions, but I’m happy you feel this way. The transportation is going to be an issue getting from florence lake to south lake. I’m looking into this, any ideas anyone has regarding transportation would be welcome. Razor, I’ll take a look at Eagle Creek Trail also.
Thanks!!!

jersey joe

#12

A variation on this route that would eliminate the trans Sierra shuttle would be to go up Piute Canyon after you come down Evolution Valley. This trail junction is shortly before the Florence Lake Junction and leads to Piute Pass, and after Piute Pass, North Lake. That leaves you with a hitch from North Lake to South Lake.

Ralph