Late may start = fewer people, right?

imported
#1

My quicker pace requires a late start, probably last week of May. 23rd, 24th or so. I’m starting at that time because I have to, but fewer hikers would be an added bonus. Am I right in expecting very few hikers on the trail at that time?

nuts

#2

There may be a few students starting late. Most PCT hikers don’t start that late because it is so very hot and there is likely to be no water along the trail in many places. Even starting in early May means many water sources dry up, the caches may be empty and you have to deal with hiking in 100 degree heat. If you enjoy heat - go for it.

Ginny

#3

Exactly how fast are planning on going?

Let’s say that June 15th (arbitrary) is the day to leave Kennedy Meadows. That’s 700 miles in about 20 days. Definitely possible, but that is fast.

I’m planning on leaving May 8th so I can attend a friends May 5th wedding. I will look for you in the rearview mirror.

Kirk

kab21

#4

Yeah thats what I would worry about, the heat! I started April 26th last year, spent a few days at the KO then marched north. Got to KM on June 12th. It was soooo bloody hot in some places. Like the 16 mile sandbox. I couldnt imagine doing some of that a couple weeks later. We lucked out with water sources last year. Because the snow was so high in many places, it also meant the water sources were high. But having fewer people from the start is what you would get starting later. I enjoyed those first couple weeks and the crowds though. Everyone was great, lots of parties in towns and lots of people whom I never saw again on the trail. Good times. Good luck! --Shaggy (Mexico-Tahoe 06)

shaggy

#5

30+ mile per day average for socal. I often end up hiking more miles than I intend to though, so I figured I’d play it safe here. Even if I average up to 35 for the first 700 miles, I still leave KM around the 15th. I’m not too concerned about the heat, I live in AZ and I enjoy night hiking.

Is KM pretty jam packed with hikers around the 15th? It seems like if everyone is shooting for generally the same date, you’d get quite a crowd there in mid June…

nuts

#6

KM will most likely have lots of people regardless of when in June you get there- but you can expect everyone to spread out more after that. Going your pace you can expect to pass quite a few people all throughout california, so even if you start alone that won’t be the case for good.
if the heat doesn’t bother you then the next concern would be water- I don’t know what the snowpack will be in socal this year. the last 2 years it’s been very high, and water has been fairly plentiful for most hikers. even if the snowpack is high again this year that late in the spring water will be an issue. Be prepared for consistent 30 mile water carries, and don’t rely on caches.
Have fun- whatever your style of hiking, the pct is a blast!

Remy

#7

I left May 9th and reached KM June 9 under a not especially fast pace. I then rolled KM to Tuolumne in about 2 weeks, again not particularly fast. From TM north to the border I averaged about 30 a day, finishing Aug 21. From the border to Big Bear I didn’t see too many hikers, but there was a nice crew around. From BBC north I began to hit the back of the pack. I caught the pack in Mojave and was in KM with a large grouping of people. From there north, the number of hikers was limited, nice through CA. For Oregon and Washington, I was usually by myself or with one other.

Don’t worry about the heat in SoCal. It really isn’t that bad. You’ll still have water sources. You’ll find that you start early and end late, and rolling 30s in SoCal is pretty easy if you start at 5 am and end at 9 pm.

Suge