I need to get off the trail several times to keep involved with real life. So my plan is to start early - mid March, and get 400 - 500 miles before ADZPCTKO.
Any concerns about weather / water / trail conditions this early? Everything I read about assumes a start date of mid April - 1st of May,
Joe B.
Joe B.
Check into snow conditions on Mt San Jacinto and Mt Baden-Powell. You may need winter mountaineering experience and gear.
Garlic
Hey Joe, i was in a similar situation 4 years ago. I thought i’d try to get in a few hundred miles early in order to be able to cut out for a couple of necessary things and still finish. It worked really well to hike the first 150 miles early. Those first 150 miles you can do most anytime. After that you hit Mt. San Jacinto, and unless there is some sort of extraordinarily unusual low snow year you’ll pretty much be stuck unless you have expert orienteering experience and full winter gear. So far this year, you actually could do it! It’s been a low snow year. But probably, even this week, the snows will come and it will be tough to go past Mile 150 or so. It’s not just snow, but it’s also steep slopes and finding your way without visible trail.
I’d recommend knocking off the first 150 as soon as you can, checking with mtsanjacinto.info for ground conditions, and then continuing on full force when it’s reasonable. Likely this will be late April, but you might get lucky and be able to continue early April or who knows maybe super duper lucky and earlier. :cheers
mark
Hi Joe, would it be possible to do the first 150 like mark said and other lower sections? As long a you get it all done it’s a thru hike. And yes I know that some think it has to be done all at once, no stops no, jumping around. But it’s not like all of us have 4 to 6 months to just drop off the face of the world!
I am working with similar issues for my long hikes over the next several years. 2013 Wonderland trail, 2014 JMT, 2015 PNT, and Finally the PCT in 2016. Well at least that the plan. 
Anyway, good luck with the weather, I though it was going to be a light snow year until this week. PNW got about a 12" at the low lands and many feet in the highlands!!
Wolfman
Hey Joe, You can do what ever feels good and weather permitting. hahaha I am leaving or was leaving march 17th…but might have to push back till the 1st. I am sure we will cross paths along the trail. I too have to jump on and off so an early start is something I have to do. Good Luck.
DIP
DadInPain
Hi Joe
I began my thru-hike on March 2, 2011. I had little or no snow during the first 4 to 5 weeks. There were others who began after me in March and they had up to a foot of snow in the Smokies.
On April 1, 2011, on Roan Mt… I had 3’ to 4” of snow, 20-degree weather with winds gusting to 50 miles per hour.
My point is the weather is the one think I found that cannot be estimated nor predicted. Especially with the current weather patterns we are having.
Choose a date that best fits your schedule and/or your fancy.
Remember, it’s an adventure not a vacation.
Above all focus on having fun and be surprised by the challenges the trail will offer you.
“…a human is ultimately the sum of his experiences.”
Onegreywolf
Wrong trail, Onegreywolf… If you had started the PCT on March 2nd, you wouldn’t have been a very happy camper.
markv
Thanks everyone.
I’m sticking to the start date the best I can.
The first 150 will be a warm up. Since this is my first hike of this nature, the best I can hope for is to be 80% prepared. The other 80% I’ll just have to learn as I walk. After the first 150 would be a good time to take a short break and rethink my gear, logistics, etc.
A flip is not out of the question. Moving is moving.
Joe B,
Joe B.
Thank you mark for pointing me to the correct trail, and Joe B. I am sorry for the error. I’m still not over my AT hike.
onegreywolf