[pct-l] hike start dates

[scott garner]

Hey JJ,
 I'm starting May 20th and I'm not too worried about it. If I could I would probably start a week earlier, but due to work I can't. I will probably have to carry more water in the desert, but otherwise I think it will be okay. Flip Flop
 
> From: pshaw999 at cox.net
> To: jjhorns at gmail.com; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:55:47 -0700
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] hike start dates
> 
> We just had this discussion a couple of weeks ago. It depends on the pace
> you set yourself and how you handle rest stops. I suspect I am in the
> minority, but I think mid-May is the best time to start. You miss all the
> snow in Southern California and the Sierras will be much easier. You will
> slowly catch up the herd. For example, in 2009, an excellent year for a thru
> hike because the weather was mostly fantastic except for a freak snow storm
> the first week of June in the Sierras. That caused a major backup in Kennedy
> Meadows where the early bird hikers were hanging out for a week or more
> waiting for the melt. 
> 
> If you set a pace of 20 mpd which includes all of the time off, then you
> will reach Canada in 133 days. So you will still be there before the end of
> September. If you want to party at every town then it's unlikely you will be
> able to get through Washington before the snow arrives, although that does
> seem a lottery because the snow can arrive in September or not until
> November. That pace isn't hard to maintain, but it does take a lot of
> perseverance to keep it up all the way. You will probably fall back a little
> through the Sierras, but there are plenty of sections further north where 28
> mile days are quite doable, especially as by then you will be in great
> shape.
> 
> Peanut Eater
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Joshua Horns
> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 3:04 PM
> To: pct-l-request at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] hike start dates
> 
> Hey,
> My name is JJ and I'm planning on hiking the pct (I guess that kind
> of goes without saying seeing as Im posting to this discussion). I would
> like to do it next summer but the only way I could make it work would be to
> start in mid-May which seems a little late. If it is I'll have to wait
> another year or so and start earlier. 
> If anyone has any insight on whether or not this is too late a start
> date (south to north hike by the way) I'd love to hear from you
> JJ
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