Does anyone know of a shuttle service from Seattle to the PCT in WA and back to Seattle from the Canadian boarder?
I’m thinking about starting about 21 -30 days south of Canada, and hiking northbound to Canada, probably in July.
I would prefer to find a shuttle rather than hitch both ways.
Thanks,
Bonnie
Bonnie
Getting from the border back to Seattle is easy. From Manning Park Lodge, the Greyhound comes by and will take you to Vancouver (about 3 hours). Either stay the night in Vancouver (I’d leave the bus station area and head toward downtown, spending some time in Chinatown along the way) or get on another Greyhound bus to Seattle (about 4-5 hours). Make sure you have a passport.
To get to the PCT, well, it depends on where you want to start the PCT. For example, getting to Snoqualmie Pass (about 250 miles, and all quality) is pretty easy: Put out an email to the PCT-L. There are lots of former thruhikers, section hikers, and arm chair hikers that live in the area and will give you a ride. If I’m around, I will, but I’ll probably be hiking. Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass is less than an hour, so it is pretty easy.
Starting at White Pass doesn’t get you a whole lot more. It adds 100 miles of mostly pretty boring terrain, though with a few highlights around the Rainier area. Also, much clear cutting. People that live in the Tacoma-Olympia area could easily drive you there, though.
If you want to start at Cascade Locks, it would be better to fly or bus into Portland and get a ride from there. There are a bunch of hikers there that monitor the PCT-L and they’ll give you a ride. It is only about an hour, if that, to Cascade Locks.
You can sign up for the PCT-L at http://www.backcountry.net
Suge
I agree with Suge that the hiking from White Pass north is pretty boring, for a while until Snoqualmie Pass. I remember clear-cut after clear-cut (good for huckleberries, bad for hiking enjoyment). Just before White Pass is the Goat Rocks Wilderness which was my favorite section besides the Sierras. Many miles of high ridgeline hiking with views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Ranier. Snoquamie Pass on north is some excellent hiking all the way to the border. If you are in good shape at the time of your hike you could definately hike from Cascade Locks northbound. 20 days of hiking 25 mile days will get you to the border and you’ll have time to check out Vancouver or Seattle. If you are catching a flight out of either of the two cities you can stay at a hostel in Vancouver for under $20 a night. Seattle has similiar hostels at a higher rate. I managed to take busses from V-couver to Seattle all for under 8 dollars. It was a logistical nightmare to do it that cheap but some locals I met in V-couver told me it could be done. I had plenty of time too.
P.S. If you don’t know already, there is a section of trail closed/unmaintained north of Skykomish near Glacier Peak. There is alot of threads on this forum that discuss the re-routes and alternates around and thru that section. Have a great hike!
Spigot
LA is due for a 5 day rain fall starting tomorrow. This will mean the higher elevations on the trail will get snow. Not so sure how much rain/snow will fall in section B but here in section C and D we will get a lot. Outside of maby possible mud slides this is good news as we had a record drought here in 07, we have already doubled the rain this year and more to come. If it stays cold a lot of this will pile up as snow and may still be around this spring.
Meadow
meadow ed