Is May 14th too late to start a NOBO thru-hike of the PCT? Are the water sources pretty dry by then??
Also, are tarps OK for the desert portion of the trail? The idea of snakes and scorpions crawling all around worries me.
And finally, is it a good idea to have a bear canister for the entire trip? Or just for certain sections?
Thanks!
Lost
I’ll throw in my two cents.
I’m starting May 21st…the earliest I can leave. I plan on using my tarp the entire trail, but I also have a bug enclosure that surrounds about 3/4 of by body and weighs about 5 ounces that I will also carry, along with a very light bivy.
I know it will be hot, and I know it will be dry.
Late Start
I’m in a bit of a rush here to get out the door, but I wanted to add my perspective fresh from this years thru-hike.
May 14th - Not too late at all as long as your confident that you’re going to do big miles. I met (and was passed by) lots of people who started as late as May 18th (I started April 23rd) and they had no problem finishing. But then again, they were also the kind of people who consistently did upper-20 miles and had quick in-and-out town stops.
If I had to do it all over I’d carry just a tarp for the whole trip until Washington when I’d switch to a tent. The tarp alone is plenty fine for almost all of the desert, because if you’re like most, you’ll find that cowboy camping (sleeping under the stars) is much preferable to tarp/tenting for most of California. I will say though that getting a bug bivy sent to you in Kennedy Meadows should be a definite.
Bear Canister: didn’t know a single person this year who carried one the entire way- or really any longer than Sonora Pass/Echo Lake. They aren’t as bad to carry as they’re oftentimes made out to be, but its still 2lbs. which you don’t need for practically anywhere outside the Sierras.
Rocham
This was the dryest year ever for Cali and there was plenty of water considering all the cool people who leave the water caches just about everywhere that theres a dirt road. So the start date wouldn’t be bad. It’s only two weeks later then other people start. That alone is cool, since you won’t have to search for limited campsites when theres a ton of other through hikers around, plus the crowd of people will have cleared little spots out along the way so it will be easier to find a sight.
I used a tent every single night of the trail except the second when I was way to beat at 3 AM to set it up. I hate all thoughts of bugs on me, and the deserts got big ones. I hiked most of the first 700 miles at night so I got to see the stuff that crawls around and there huge hairy and scary. So if they already creep you out plan on a real tent. Also when your in the Sierra and it’s below freezing you smile to yourself how warm you are in your tent and think of all the cold people who might be having rain or snow blowing under their tarps. Tarps can’t really insulate like a tent can. Plus When its mosquitos, you can do everything in your tent except cook of course. Never have to worry about a bug net. When your laying in your tent and you see ants running all over it you’ll be snug knowing they’re not on you. When the buzzing of bees is all around and you see them bouncing into your tent there not biting you. Yeah biting not stinging. For some reason Oregon bees like to bite. When it’s snowing on you you’ll be comfy. When the ground is soaking from constant rain your tent floor will be dry. You can eat in it and not get bugged. Set it up in a minute if its free standing. We used a Eureka Zeus two person tent that weighed 4 lbs and loved it. It does not have a fly but does have a really nice vestibule for your pack and the sides flare out and have vents. Great tent. If you hike with a partner you can share gear to make up for the extra tiny bit of weight over a tarp. Don’t carry a bear can outside where it’s required by law. Get it mailed to you at the first Kennedy Meadows mile 702, and lose it at Sonora Pass. Mail it out of Bridgeport. Just always keep your food in your tent when you don’t carry that heavy bear can 2 lbs is the difference in weight from a tarp to a tent anyway. Bears aren’t nocturnal anyway so you don’t have to worry. They only become nocturnal when we train them to be, like in Yosemite and such. We saw a ton of bears on the trail, and they leave as soon as you see them. Like take off running up a cliff. They won’t bother you in your tent. My idea is that a bear wants to approach a tent full of people as much as a person wants to approach a tent full of bears. Theres always an exception but it won’t happen. My ranger friends who spend the whole summer camping alone in the Sierra in the same spot never have had a bear come into their camp, and say dont use the cans (except where required by law). So start whenever you feel like it, just use the tent and dont use the bear can the whole trail.
Guino
I also experienced hiker how started after my 4/26 date and they finished before me. Yes, they did consistent days in the high 20’s or longer and few zero days and were in and out of towns. I had a cousin who started on 5/26 and finished. He did do lots of night hiking in the desert because of the heat.
After I discovered that every snake, scorpion and spider in a six county area wasn’t going to crawl in my tent I cow boy camped every time I could. The biggest reason I tented was because of bugs or rain. Other then that it was CB and I loved it and would never do it anyother way now. I had never CB prior to that.
DG
I started on May 24th and there was water at almost all the caches. I did run out a few times but it was because I was drinking a lot in some areas.
I didn’t carry a tarp or tent until I got to Kennedy Meadows. I picked up my Tarp Tent their for the Sierras. I believe I set my TT up maybe 15-20 times the whole time I was out there. 94 days 2,000 miles:( had to bail out got sick and hurt my knee. I learned a lot and will be back next year to hopefully break the woman’s record 
Dirt Diva
Dirt Diva
O the beauty of the internet, I can be more combative than is my nature and actually wonder out loud as to how many of the supposed 2000 miles were carried out by vehicle vs. legs.
Bearer of Truth
(All kind of vehicules are prohibited on the PCT. And usualy on the trail, you hike because you like it, it’s a passion and WHO care about the milage you do. We have nothing to prouve, but when we have done 2000 miles, it happened that we are proud of ourselves, like I do. So, congradulations to all 2000 milers).
Hi lost! If I would start the trail on May 14th, I would try to get done before october for sure. For me, my poncho tarp worked fine on the desert (until Or/Wa) and after a day of hiking, I am always tired, so I fall asleep before I worry about anything. And the most dangerous animal on the trail is the little mouse that come to eat your food during the night. I used the bear canister only in the High Sierra, that’s it. I am one of those who sleep always confortably with my food beside me. BUT, the way I GO work for me,BUT it doesn’t mean that is the WAY TO GO.
Stomp’er
Ordinarily I’d never rip anyones hike, and could care less if someone skips sections or doesn’t finish. Its just that Dirt Diva here routinely bragged to everyone how she “averages 35 miles a day,” (usually revealed in the first few sentences) and how shes an ultramarathon runner who doesn’t think a climb is really a climb unless it gains at least 5000ft. But when a person who spouts this to anyone that’ll listen, and then skips entire portions of the trail, and catches rides from “fans” anytime she can…well, I just have to call someone on that.
BoT
What about Rocket Girl? Though Rocket Girl did not claim the record for a speed hike wouldn’t any true record breaker have to beat this record as well?
A fan of Rocket Girl
Well, 2000 miles in 94 days on the PCT isn’t exactly cooking. People have finished the whole 2650 in less time. I finished in 105 days, and was the third person done in 2003.
The stories of Rocket Girl are heard all over the trail, but the nature of “record” and “official”, mean, unfortunately, that you have to have some sort of structure to your hike, with observers, timers, etc. As far as I know, Rocket Girl did her own thing, hiking a lot at night and not making a big fuss over it. Again, unfortunately, to set an “official” record you have to make a big fuss.
Suge
Lost:
I too will be starting in Mid to late May, depending on school. I actually just got a tarp so I can familiarize myself with tarp camping. The weight of the tarp seems to make it ideal (unless you want to shell out the money for a tarptent, or have the time and skill to make one).
Another thought, read Tha’Wookies journal on here, he started about the same time when he thru hiked. I know that I plan on doing early mornings and late nights with sleep in the middle of the day.
Make sure that you’re bag can hold the extra weight of water for the longer dry sections.
I think thats all that I have for the moment, best of luck to ya, maybe I’ll see ya on the trail.
Taildragger
I cowboy camped all the way to KM. I set up my homemade tarptent only a couple of times to create a windbreak for my stove and so I didn’t have to eat sand with my dinner. In the desert I hear there can be some cold rainstorms. If I could do it again I would use a homemade tarp poncho that I would use for a groundsheet while cowboy camping. Or I would bring nothing but a thin piece of plastic/tyvek for a groundsheet. My pack was much heavier in the desert than anywhere else for some reason. I carried way too much water all the time and more clothes than when I was in OR/WA. Everyone’s comfort zone is different so do what feels right/safe and reduce from there. Just try not to spend too much money on things that might be shipped home later.
Spigot