Starting in May

imported
#1

Hello, I am tentatively planning to start my PCT hike on May 5th +or- 3 days. The reason is I graduate in late March, but my commencement ceremony is on June 18th. So my plan is to start on May 5th get to KM around June 14th. Then have my brother pick me up take me to LA so I can graduate, then have him drive me back to KM by the 20th. So my question is, do many people start in May, and will people still be leaving KM by the 20th? I know I don’t want to start on the kickoff to avoid a crowded trail, but I don’t want to be totally alone as well.
Any input is greatly appreciated,
rubik

rubik

#2

What school do you go to? I too am attending commencement on June 18 (at UCI). My wife and I will be heading north from Kennedy Meadows (with Sierra City as the destination) sometime that following week. I anticipate that we’ll be at the tail end of the thru-hiker pack. Last year I did a weekend trip over Taboose Pass the last weekend of June and saw a half dozen thru-hikers.

andy schmidt

#3

Small world . . . I go to UCI as well. I will be getting a Computer Engineering degree. My fear is that leaving KM that late (the 20th) I will be all alone. I did hike the JMT Southbound last year; I believe we started on June 23. We did pass a few PCT hikers but I don’t remember seeing any PCTers past VVR (the 30th).

rubik

#4

You’ll be fine. Most hikers start the weekend of the Kickoff (April 23 this year), but I honestly think that’s too early. Starting the first week of May seems logical.

You’ll find others starting in May, but you may hike alone a bit until you catch the back of the main crowd.

yogi

www.pcthandbook.com

yogi

#5

besides that, leaving from KM on or around june 20 is after “ray day” or june 15th and if the snow sticks around, you might be in a better position than hikers that left before you.

zero

#6

Early May start is better than a KOP start. Unless it is a low snow year (this one doesn’t look like it will be), you don’t want to get to KM too early. It takes about a month to get there, maybe a week or two longer. If you start at the KOP, you’ll be there in late May or early June. If you start a couple of weeks later, you’ll be there at a better time.

Glory, Birdie, Will (Pony Express) and I all happened to start on May 9 and we all finished. Tha Wookie and Island Mama started even later and finished, although with some dramatics at the end.

Suge

#7

This year you may find many more hikers still at kmdws then in past years. You still have folks leave after May 15 going all the way .!9 in 03 in fact. I like to say last out of campo 1st to canada. Not quite true but close as these tend to be the younger and in shape hikers plus no snow, rivers are down and they tend to take fewer zero days. BY all means still come visit the kickoff to see who the class of 05 is.

MEADOW ED

#8

Thanks everyone for your input! I do have a question about the Kickoff. The website says it is April 22-24. Because I will be starting in May and driving down for the kickoff, I was only planning on staying for one day. Which day should I stay?

rubik

#9

Hi Rubik,

My wife April and I are planning a May 7 start. In addition, we’ll be taking a few days off to attend a wedding. I’m hoping we reach Kennedy Meadows June 20+ since I don’t like hiking with a crowd, snow levels look a little high, and I think there will still be time to reach Canada.

But, we’ll see… :slight_smile:

Eric

#10

The bulk of the festivities take place on Saturday. But since you’re coming anyway, why not make it a weekend? Try to arrive Friday afternoon, and leave Sunday morning.

yogi

www.pcthandbook.com

yogi

#11

I’m graduating from the Univ. of Dayton and the ceremony is May 8th so I won’t get to Campo until sometime the next week, May 10th-14th. If I don’t catch you before KM then maybe I’ll be around when you get back from UCI. I think I read your journal on this site and I’m in a similar situation as you seeing as how I’m planning this trip before I go back to grad school. Only difference is I’m taking a full year off. Good luck plannning.

Chris

Chris

#12

Planning on a 09 May start date. I’ll see you all out there.

Dean Machine