[pct-l] oregon pct in June

[Tom Bache]

I started from Ashland on June 26 last year.  I didn't expect snow, but got
a lot more than I wanted (and this year probably has much more snow).  The
trail was nearly clear of snow below 6500', but there was a lot of snow
above that elevation -- especially on north-facing slopes.  I only had
hiking poles, and some places (e.g., area near Devil's Peak) had me on the
edge of my danger tolerance.  But the worst effect of snow is that it cut my
daily mileage by about half due to the time required to navigate by compass
and search for the trail in clear areas.  I couldn't see any sign of the
trail when the ground was snow covered.  I found this to be very tedious, so
I bailed out at Crater Lake and returned a month later when the trail was
clear (of snow, not mosquitoes).  Bottom line -- June 11 seems really early
unless you are ok with low mileage and many hours playing trail
hide-and-seek in heavy forest.  But then I don't carry a GPS (old school
guy).  I would be concerned about GPS performance in that rough terrain and
heavy forest, but if Halfmile was able to log waypoints .....

Tom Bache
San Diego



Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 12:53:45 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Lynette and Anthony Tovar <mountaintovars at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] oregon pct in June
> To: halfmile at pctmap.net
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> 
> Thanks for the encouragement.? Believe it or not, one of my biggest comforts
> will be that I will be taking a gps, with your halfmile tracks!? I am ready
> for a solitary adventure, but it remains to be seen if I'm ready for 3-4 weeks
> of it.? I was planning on running shoes.? Do you recommend boots?? I was not
> planning on bringing an ice axe.? Did you take one?
> 
> --- On Mon, 5/24/10, Halfmile <list at lon.net> wrote:
> 
> From: Halfmile <list at lon.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] oregon pct in June
> To: "Lynette and Anthony Tovar" <mountaintovars at yahoo.com>
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Monday, May 24, 2010, 9:10 AM
> 
> Wiz,
> Last year I started hiking North from near Crater Lake (Hwy 138) on
> June 27. In Oregon I ran into a lot of snow. In places I saw no sign
> of the trail under all the snow for 5 or more miles. Seldom was the
> trail actually blocked or impassable although occasionally it was and
> I would have to make a short detour around some steep icy part and a
> few times finding a detour was difficult. In Oregon the trail is
> frequently in dense forest which makes navigating more challenging
> when you can't see the trail. I had seldom hiked on snow before last
> year, but eventually grew more comfortable hiking on it. Walking on
> snow is more physically difficult that walking on dry trail and I did
> grow tired of all the snow sometimes too. When I got to WA the snow
> was gone. I only saw three other hikers in the 284 miles South of the
> Eagle Creek Alternate, although I did see footprints a couple times
> and heard voices off in the distance once and I would see people at
> road crossings, campgrounds and resupply spots.
> 
> I don't know how your trip would compare to my June 27th trip, but
> it's probably feasible as long as you are comfortable navigating alone
> through snow covered forests with no sign of the trail for many miles.
> You will encounter Mosquitoes.
> 
> -Halfmile
> 
> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 8:12 AM, Lynette and Anthony Tovar
> <mountaintovars at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I am planning a solo hike of the Oregon section of the PCT (north to south)
>> with a starting date of June 11.
>> 
>> One Oregon PCT vet thinks the trail will be blocked with snow.
>> The PCT book by Schaffer and Selters says I will be mosquito infested.
>> 
>> Am I crazy?? Is the trip feasible?
>> 
>> Thanks in Advance,
>> ???? Wizard Mentor (Wiz)