[pct-l] oregon pct in June

[ambery-80243 at mypacks.net]

The other area you may have to worry about in June is near Mt Jefferson.  The Cathedral Rocks area usually has snow well past the 4th of July, and the Russell Creek ford could be a treacherous one as well.  The north side of Park Ridge is another spot that usually has snow into August.  

I agree that in some spots downfall will be the thing that slows you down.  Most of the trail crews don't get out until late June.  


-----Original Message-----
>From: Nathan Miller <erccmacfitheal at yahoo.com>
>Sent: May 24, 2010 8:22 PM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] oregon pct in June
>
>> 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?
>
>No, you're not crazy.  I hiked from Siskiyou Summit to Seiad Valley late last June.  While this was a good two weeks after your proposed hike date, I think your experiences along this stretch will be similar to mine.
>I had very little trouble with snow.  There were a few small patches in shady woods.  There was, however, one spot on the north shoulder of Observation Peak where a cornice blocked about a hundred meters of tread.  I had to kick-step 3 meters up to the top, on which I simply walked over to the trail's resumption.  A slip would have left me caught by some saplings.
>I had way more trouble with blowdowns than I did with snow.
>Insect issues were nearly nonexistent.  One thing I found helpful further south was sponging down before going to bed...insects seemed less attracted to me after I wiped off some of my sweat and trail grime.  I've also heard reports of natural insect repellent from eating copious amounts of garlic (also functions as a person-repellent, too), but I don't know for sure if it works for that.  (Garlic does, however, have excellent antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties and so can help you fight colds both on and off the trail.)
>I did encounter one section hiker, one deer, one cougar, one bear, one rattlesnake and one grouse.
>North of Siskiyou Summit might be another story, although I doubt you'd have any problems until the climb up to the shoulder of Mt. McLoughlin.
>Do beware of the Sandy River crossing at the base of Mt. Hood.  It can be treacherous.  There's a sign posted near the Mt. Hood Wilderness boundary informing hikers about a young lady who drowned crossing said river and then proceeds to offer practical stream-crossing advice (which will be old news to those who've already faced stream crossings in the High Sierra).  When I crossed it, there was a small make-shift bridge made of three lodgepole saplings lashed together in three places.
>
>-Nate the Trail Zombie
>
>
>
>      
>
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