Hi! A am looking to hike the PCT spring, 2010. I am planning on starting early, around April 1st and flipping as needed through the Sierras as I need to be back to work, I am a teacher, by Labor Day! Anyone out there looking to punish themselves early? I do plan on zeroing at the ADZPCT kick off! Heather
Heather Bearce
Sounds fun. You might not need to flip, y’know. If you’re willing to brave a little snow travel and can navigate it, the Sierra can be done in late May or early June many years. Maybe somebody on here can refer you to a good resource (journal or hiker who’s done it). You’d get fewer Sierra mosquitos if you just trooped through early…it’s what i’d do with your schedule.
Alas, no thru-hiking for me for this year. Have a blast!
markv
We were out there in '08 and '09. Sierras had snow to deal with both years on a “typical” thru-hiking schedule…much worse in '09 than in '08. It will depend on the weather and the snow melt. Good that you’re planning to be flexible. Best time to do the Sierras, I’ve heard, is August/September, after most snow has melted and no mosquitoes. Have a great hike! The PCT is INCREDIBLE! Maybe we’ll see you at Kickoff. tigger and Chuck Norris
tigger
How fast do you hike? If you are a 25 mile a day person you could probably get it done by early September with a mid April start. If you are stuck with the April 1st start, here is the snow information for January 26th…
The Southern Sierra is at 70% of the APRIL 1ST average. This is about 20% above average for January 26th. If the snowfall continues above average (a big if) then you will have almost solid snow in late May and early June. If it goes down to average, you are looking at the southern Sierra being doable around June 15th, with a lot of snow on the passes still.
Here is the kicker for this year. There is about 6-8 feet of snow on Mt. San Jacinto and 5-6 feet of snow around Big Bear and Mt. Baden-Powell. If you go in April, please take an ice axe and crampons. It gets dicey on the steeper slopes.
As things stand right now, I think your flopping might make the most sense. Be forewarned that those who flop in high snowfall years usually find quite a bit of snow in Northern California still. You might want to read Mountain Goats PCT journal of 2005, which was a high snowfall year! Hope this helps. Robocop
Robocop
In 2005 we came across Baden-Powell which was snowed in. We hit the Sierra’s on June 10 and had snow pass Mammoth. If you choose to go through the Sierra’s early in a high snow year an ice axe and crampons has to be used. The stream crossings are pretty cool as well.
Your miles may be influenced by snow and river crossings.
In a high snow year be aware that Red’s and Tuolumne Meadows (both roads and stores) can be closed. Check out SuperDave’s journal on Trail Journals.
Dave
I can’t really argue about what’s “passable” or “doable” or “snowed in”, since one person’s impassable is another’s ho-hum easy. To me personally, the above posts overstate the snow difficulty.
What i can say for sure is that after going through the High Sierra in early June once and in late August once, August/September is beautiful and easier. But early June is even MORE beautiful, and was only a little harder.
I’d really like to go back in late May of a high snow year, just to see if it’s as impassable as some say it is. I know people go through then every year. It’s just that some years are a little tough, and other years are truly epic difficulty.
markv