just my 2 cents on this one… i hiked in '97 and am planning on thru-hiking nobo again this year. ‘97 was a heavy snow year UNTIL March when a massive tropical storm knocked the snow levels down to just above average. Rain more than anything else kills snow. Soooo… all this worry and planning might be a lil’ pre-mature. As for the northern sections, who knows? maybe it will get wetter up there by the time we march thru.
As Joe Sobinosky (former PCTA guy) used to say, “you will always be faced with some sort of challenge on the PCT - if its a dry year, water is an issue; wet year - snow or the river crossings…”
Its all part of the adventure! I look forward to meeting other '05 hikers on the Trail this year. Happy Trails!
freebird