SOBO on PCT and other questions

imported
#1

Hi Everyone,
I’m planning on hiking the PCT in '09, and I’m trying to figure a few things out. First off, my time window only opens in mid to late June, for which I’ve heard a south bound hike would be better. I’ve read a few things on the issue of direction, but I’m still curious about why exactly so few people hike south, and if my time window will actually work for it.

Second, the issue of food. The person I’m hiking with wants to buy most of the food along the way (because she thinks we’ll tire of the same food over and over again, and I agree), except I’m not sure about expense (I think we’ll end up paying more) and availability (I’ve heard that many small outposts don’t carry much backpacking food). Any suggestions, maybe send part of the food ahead and buy part on the trail - something like that?

Third, will we need ice axes? specifically for hiking south bound, are they necessary for the sierra nevadas? and if so, should we get some instruction concerning the use of them before hand?

Lastly, does anyone have any experience with a hammock tent on the PCT? Would it be feasible, or should I stick to a regular tent?

Thanks a lot!

Tom

Tom G.

#2

A SOBO hike starting in mid June would be better than a NOBO hike. Hiking in the southern California deserts in June would be miserable, and you would not be able to finish before early season snow would stop your hike in Washington. Whether a SOBO hike starting in mid June would be feasible will depend on the snowpack in Washington. If the snowpack is average or heavy, mid June would be too early to start SOBO.

A NOBO hike is usually easier because you are following Spring north. Some seasonal water sources in Southern California are still flowing. The weather is still bearable in the So Cal deserts. Most of the snow has melted off in the Sierra. Oregon and Washington are normally clear of snow by the time you get there.

On a SOBO hike, you need to complete the Sierra before early season snow hits. Even if you make it through the Sierra, there are still more mountains to hike through that could get snowed in. You would need to get through the Sierra before places like Tuolumne Meadows, Red’s Meadow, VVR and MTR shut down for the winter. You will also find many water sources dry in the early Fall in So Cal.

Food. There are three strategies: mail drops, buy as you go and a hybrid of the two. It looks like a hybrid strategy will work for you. If you are concerned about getting tired of the same old food, but resupply as you go, you may find yourself getting tired of the same old food that the mini-marts, etc. have for sale.

So send out mail drops for Washington. In Cascade Locks, shop for Oregon. In Ashland, shop for northern California. Find a place in northern California to shop for central California. In Agua Dulce, shop for southern California. If you get sick of the same food, you only have to eat it for a few weeks/days. Hopefully, the person you are hiking with will grow tired of different foods than you do, and you can swap.

Will you need ice axes? That will depend on the snowpack in Washington. You probably won’t need them in the Sierra. Yes, you should get some instruction.

In any places, especially in southern California, you won’t have trees to hang a hammock from.

I suggest getting Yogi’s PCT Handbook. Your questions are addressed in her book.

Scott Bryce

#3

We hiked sobo in 02 doing wash and or. We had already thru hiked the pct nobo and wanted a more quiet trail and that is definitely what we got ! if ya like company the a nobo is for you…:slight_smile: We saw a total of 3 sobo long distance hikers. i LOVED it… We started July 12 and saw lots of snow in the cascades. I was suprised actually. I didn’t have an ice ax and wished I did. it got a little hairy. We sent a box or 2 but mostly resupplied in towns. A mixture of both is about right. Scott is right about b uying in certain towns and shipping yourself food as you go. We did that for the nobo hike and it worked very well. You do get sick of certain foods and it is nice to have the option of change. Some of the stores though can be pretty sparce BUT you will be one of the first thru the wash so should have great selection. We did for the most part.

If I get another chance to hike it sobo is the way i would go.

yappy

#4

The fire season is pretty variable. The last few years its kicked in around mid-late October and gone through November. A SOBO hiker has to hustle and needs some luck with weather and fires.

Oh, also, in September it will have been about 6 months since the last rains. So, some water sources will be dry and caches may or may not be maintained. Be prepared for some longer stretches. People do hike the PCT SOBO, but it isn’t a really regular occurrence.

Suge

#5

Tom G – look at postholer dot com and see what the snow is for you when you start getting prepared to come south. You’ll get an idea on how much snow to expect and what kind of equipment you should bring to the trail.

Also, certain things are outrageously expensive if bought along the PCT. For example, Ibuprofin was more than 50 cents per tablet in Sierra City, CA and at White’s Pass, WA (hitchhiked into Packwood, WA to buy a jar of Iburprofin at a resonable cost) as well as other parts along the PCT.

Your best bet might be to strategically stock up on groceries at certain points along the PCT, then ship those groceries up/down trail via the USPS to less civilized places in order to save money. Even with the cost of postage, you’ll save money doing this. The downside is the hassle of having to box up groceries and send them out when you get to larger towns rather than just vegetating or having fun.

If you haven’t already done so, pick up Yogi’s PCT Handbook to get advice on where to do the stocking up on groceries to send up/down trail. A most indespensible guide for the PCT.

Datto

Datto

#6

Yogi’s PCT Handbook is here:

http://www.pcthandbook.com

Datto

Datto

#7

hey tom,

i did a sobo in 06, started on august 1 and finished on january 1, 07. i definitely would not recommend starting later than early july.

all of the above info is correct.

as far as food is concerned, i mailed myself food from seattle to all of the small towns/camps that i planned to stop in that don’t have much to offer (see yogi’s pct guide…it’s priceless for the info.) i also bought food in towns that had grocery stores available. i would do the same again.

if you start in late june/early july and you don’t linger, you should be able to get through the high sierra without snow. however, keep in mind that the san bernadinos and the san jacintos can get really big snow in nov. and dec. the weather will dictate need for snowshoes and ice axe. if i were to do it again i would start way earlier and send my snow gear to south lake tahoe, and then bump it to mammoth if i didn’t need it for the high sierra, then a bump to the saufleys in aqua dulce for the s.b. and the s.j.

realize that the roads to sonora pass, tuolomne, and reds, etc. usually close sometime around late october. try to be early enough to utilize vvr in the high sierra. it can be done without it, but you’ll have to carry A LOT of food…probably in the snow.

i wouldn’t bother with a hammock. take a ground cloth and your rain fly. you might need the tent part in the cascades during bug season. after that you’ll use the fast fly combo maybe a dozen times during the rest of the trek, and you’ll probably cowboy the rest of the time.

if you have any other questions, feel free to email me. otherwise, good luck.

crash

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