View Full Version : The PCT in sections
I'm starting to form a plan to tackle the PCT in three sections. I originally wanted to do it all in one go, but over the last few months realized that I really don't care that its all on one go. Walking the entire PCT is the goal, everything else is for just braggin rights.
Splitting it up this way helps me fulfill my family obligations which would be a real issue if I tried to do the whole thing in one push. Also has the advantage of doing each section in the best weather, especially avoiding the snow in the Sierra.
My tentative plan:
1. Oregon and Washington: Dunsmuir CA first week of August 2019 hiking North to Canada finishing first/second week of October.
2. Desert section: Mexico Border late March of 2020 North to Kennedy Meadows end of April.
3. Sierra: Dunsmuir CA Mid August 2020 South to Kennedy Meadows by Mid October
Lots of other trailheads as options if something comes up.
Thoughts, options, modifications, concerns?
lonehiker
08-02-2018, 13:39
I am on a 5 year plan for completing the PCT and only have Washington left to complete it. But, I am under the impression that you want to be to Canada about 1 month earlier than what you have planned. Other, more authoritative voices, should chime in and I am interested in seeing the responses.
imscotty
08-02-2018, 22:33
Hello Nanatuck,
I am on about a ten year plan for the PCT, I am 4 years in and 1000 miles down.
I agree above that you are taking chances going through the Cascades that late in the season and that you might want to move it up a bit. Keep in mind I have not been there yet, I am still working on California.
Finishing up at the CAN border NOBO first/second wk of Oct is OK. Great time in lower BC and Vancouver CAN.
3. Sierra: Dunsmuir CA Mid August 2020 South to Kennedy Meadows by Mid October - Sweat fest, could run into fire closures. I suppose you mean lower KM?
Yes, lower Kennedy Meadows would be where I finish leg 2 and 3. Do you think it would be cooler doing leg 3 NOBO?
Thanks for the responses. I've read a bunch of trail journals and articles and it sounds like September is historically snow free in Washington. Once your into October the chances of a snow storm increase. I'm going to be watching weather reports this fall and see what the first two weeks weather look like. A little snow is ok, getting a couple of feet first week of October would make me consider other options.
The earliest I can start next year is Aug 6 or 7th so if the snow looks to be an issue in October, I could start at Ashland and finish at the end of September.
1) Most years, you can finish in Canada in that time frame just fine. But occasionally the snow gets too deep. Be prepared if winter comes early to bail out.
2) If SoCal has a big snow year then you may have to accept hiking around a few sections of trail to avoid snow in steep terrain. Your time frame listed seems a little shorter than the typical 6 weeks many, much younger, hikers do. Did you mean finishing May and not April?
3) You'll definitely avoid the bugs. NorCal in the late summer does tend towards forest fires and it seems the central part also in more recent years. Hiking the Sierra in Fall is great. However, any hiking past the 1st week on October, risks big winter storms; the likelyhood of them goes up the later it is in the month. I hiked the JMT portion again last fall, and other than some snow to start with in late September, had great weather till I finished on Oct. 6th, but a big storm did come in during the following week. The Aspen fall colors in the valleys were gorgeous.
2) If SoCal has a big snow year then you may have to accept hiking around a few sections of trail to avoid snow in steep terrain. Your time frame listed seems a little shorter than the typical 6 weeks many, much younger, hikers do. Did you mean finishing May and not April?
I been looking at starting the mid march (16th) and finishing end of April which would be six weeks. I'm using Postholers planners set to average walking style. I'd like to start later, but not sure how I'll fair in the start date lottery for thru hikers that limits starters to 30 a day. I might end up having to start at the beginning of March and if I run into snow, wait it out. I'm in no rush for this leg.
colorado_rob
08-07-2018, 08:15
I been looking at starting the mid march (16th) and finishing end of April which would be six weeks. I'm using Postholers planners set to average walking style. I'd like to start later, but not sure how I'll fair in the start date lottery for thru hikers that limits starters to 30 a day. I might end up having to start at the beginning of March and if I run into snow, wait it out. I'm in no rush for this leg. I don't want to start any nasty arguments, but it turns out you don't need a permit to hike the PCT from the Mexican border to Kennedy meadows. You can legally hike this section w/o a permit. BUT, this would very slightly restrict your legal camp choices in the first 50 miles of trail, basically you cannot "disperse camp" but that's it. Easy to comply with as there are plenty of established camp sites, perfectly legal to use w/o permits.
Link:
https://www.postholer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2966
I was set up to do exactly this this last late-March, then out of the blue, a full pct permit slot opened up and I snagged it.
And of course, you would need a permit further north on the trail, but it also turns out these are easy to get, as I snagged one for my wife (permit for Acton to Canada) online.
BTW, and for what it's worth, I'm essentially doing pretty much exactly your scheme, in 2018-2019, though the original plan was to try to do it in two big chunks. This year's big wildfire situation has dissuaded me from the original plan.
I'm essentially doing pretty much exactly your scheme, in 2018-2019, though the original plan was to try to do it in two big chunks. This year's big wildfire situation has dissuaded me from the original plan.
Thanks for the tip! That gives me lots of flexibility in planning that leg. Enjoy your hike.
My plan is still fluid, but solidifying. I have started a PCT journal. I'm concentrating on OR/WA planning and have moved up the start date to mid July 2019 so I can be sure to finish before the snows. for training, I'm planning another 3 days on the Kettle Moraine this fall, and a week next spring on the AT in Virginia with my brother, as well as weekly hikes. There is lots to do to prepare for retirement as well so a flurry of activity this fall.
I'm excited!
I think big sections is the best way to do it and still have that thru-hiking experience. When I did my own big sections, I did Dunsmuir to Canada starting July 3 and ending August 31. It was perfect, except for the hoards of mosquitoes the entire month I was in Oregon.
I have heard that you do need a PCT permit to start at the Mexican border but only if you plan to hike more than 500 miles. I did a section from the border to Cabazon without a permit. I was informed later I wasn't allowed to start at the border but should have started at Boulder Oaks. All this seems silly. How does anyone really know how far they'll go? In any case, when I got to San Jacinto State Park/Wilderness I stopped into Idyllwild to get a permit. It was a weird year where much of the approach to Idyllwild was closed, but in a normal year you could hitch from Paradise Cafe to Idyllwild and get a walk-in permit. You'd have a better sense of your timing then.
I hiked from the Mexican border through the Sierra in 2015, which was initially planned to be a thru hike. I started April 12 and did not find the desert and Southern California sections uncomfortable at all. I think that people are starting earlier and earlier due to the permit system but a mid April start is perfectly fine weather wise. In fact, I would probably start May 1 to avoid getting to Kennedy Meadows too soon. No matter what you do, however, hiking the So Cal section in the spring is going to be crowded and it'll be competitive to get permits. For that reason, perhaps consider doing that section in the fall instead when you'll have SoBo thru hikers for company. Like you, I find family commitments make it hard to be away for long periods of time. I aspire to thru hike the long trails at some point but it may not be for another decade. So doing sections in the interim is a good choice in this type of situation, keeping me in the game and active for now, as I hope to still be in shape to thru hike long trails a decade from now when I'm in my mid-50s.
Thanks for resurrecting this thread. Good timing!! I'm officially retired tomorrow. We drive to California in two weeks for a family wedding. I have a month out there to train and get my resupply packages together then hit the trail mid July.
Like sbhikes, I'm starting in Dunsmuir July 12th and hiking to Manning park, Canada by mid September.
I'm excited!! Can't wait!!
... I'm starting in Dunsmuir July 12th and hiking to Manning park, Canada by mid September.
I'm excited!! Can't wait!! Very cool. I think it's wise to reach the Canada Border before October.
Thanks for resurrecting this thread. Good timing!! I'm officially retired tomorrow. We drive to California in two weeks for a family wedding. I have a month out there to train and get my resupply packages together then hit the trail mid July.
Like sbhikes, I'm starting in Dunsmuir July 12th and hiking to Manning park, Canada by mid September.
I'm excited!! Can't wait!!
I was just daydreaming about my trip when I thought I'd come to whiteblaze and see if there were any replies to this thread. I'm so jealous of you! It's so weird, too, I had such a horrible time in those Oregon mosquitoes but I look back on those days as some of my fondest memories from the trail, some of my best memories of my whole life. Have a great time!
Thanks for the replies, I guess its time to hike. I get on the train Thursday and start hiking Friday morning.
Alrighty then...
I completed 930 miles of NorCal, Oregon and Washington this year but fell short of reaching the Canadian border due to an injury. I'm pretty well healed up now and I'm starting to plan my 2020 hike from Campo to Kennedy Meadows south this spring. I hope to go back and pick up the last 230 miles of Washington state in September of this year.
Resupply strategy:
I think I'm only going to have one package sent to Warner Springs PO and buy supplies on the trail the rest of the way.
Equipment changes:
Lighter stove, zip off pants, bigger brimmed hat. Ankle brace to reinforce the injured ankle.
I'm going to apply for a long distance permit in January, but I should be able to legally hike this section even if I don't get one. Looks like the only place a permit would be handy is for dispersed camping in Cleveland NF.
Anybody know how to get from San Diego Amtrak station to Campo?
ldsailor
11-25-2019, 12:58
Anybody know how to get from San Diego Amtrak station to Campo?
I've been doing a lot of research on the PCT since I'll be doing a LASH starting April 9th next year (got my permit already). There are a couple of ways to get to Campo from San Diego. You can Uber of course, but that will be expensive. You can take advantage of Scout's and Frodo's generosity and get a ride. Check out their website here (http://sandiegopct.com/). Last, you can take a MTS bus from El Cajon. They run weekdays only. You can check out the bus schedule here (http://sdmts.com).
I'm not sure what I'm doing yet. Frodo and Scout sound like a great deal, but they are always full at the beginning of hiker season, and I envision a zoo at their house, so maybe I won't try for a spot there. I'll probably fly in from Florida and spend a day looking around SD and then take a bus to Campo to begin my hike on April 9th. I'm not thrilled with the bus prospect because time-wise, it's a long ride and cuts way into the first day's hike. What I really want to do is get an Uber if I can find some other hikers to share the cost.
Hope this helps.
Scout & Frodo news.
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/135350-Planning-changes-for-the-Desert-section?highlight=Frodo&p=2258771#post2258771
Wayne
Yes, definitely do it in sections. I hiked SOBO in WA Section K in Aug-Sept and passed 300-400 thru hikers. The majority were jaded and negative at that point (many just had their head down and didn't want to talk to anyone). A few, often the older hikers, were friendly; I asked one if he would do it again and he just said "probably not". Others said that they had got what they wanted out of it but 'there was just no way that they were stopping', one said it was sort of like being in jail, trapped, unable to leave even though you don't want to be there.
The happiest 'thru hikers' that I met said that they took a lot of long breaks (weeks if not months).... which makes them in reality ... wait for it..... section hikers.
There are those who do it right, but IMO most thru hikes are social, emotional, and ethical disasters. The thrill is gone about half way thru. Then after you finish you find out that nobody really cares about your "bragging rights". Be honest with yourself, dudes, don't live a lie. Get off the trail until you ethically deserve to be there again...
Thanks for the MTD schedule link Slapshot. That will come in very handy. took me 5 minutes to find a route and schedule.
Wayne, I read that thread. News about Scout and Frodo is a shame, but understandable. If I can get there via public transport rather than impose on them I will. Its kind of part of the adventure for me to figure out how to get on and off the trail via public means. I started in NorCal via Amtrak. I had done the research to get home from Canada via public transport as well, but didn't make it that far.
RocDoc, about 6 to 8 weeks on the trail is my limit. I found the same sentiment once I reached Washington last year. All lot of thru-hkers were in a hurry to finish. Doing 30+ miles a day and no longer enjoying it. Shame too as Washington has some of the most spectacular backpacking imaginable.
colorado_rob
11-25-2019, 17:57
A few thoughts since I'm giving the PCT a go next year...
First, Scout and Frodo's place, at full capacity, is still a very pleasant experience, and if I were starting after they open next spring, I'd stay there in a heartbeat. alas, I'm starting on March 11th, and they open on the 19th.
Looks like getting a bus to Campo, however, should be easy and cheap. My flight gets to SD at 7am, and I should be on the trail by 1:30pm, something like that, I don't have the exact schedule with me, but it's printed, ready to go.
What's nice about this is that I have time in El Cajon (where you transfer buses) to buy fuel and any last minute items, as there is a Dick's and Big 5 sporting good store within a mile of the bus station. I don't trust the little "green store" in Campo to have fuel, I've heard people getting burned counting on this (see FB PCT 2020 group).
When I started the trail in 2018, I got the standard 7:30am start, making it to Lake Morena my first day, 21 miles, no problem. But the next few days the timing was such that I walked past excellent camping spots around mid-day, so what I'm saying is that I think a mid-day start at Campo is just fine; this will get me in phase with the good camping spots. There is a seasonal water source at mile 7-8 or so, that will be a fine place for first night on the trail, vs. the "zoo" at Lake Morena. I'll walk through the LM CG the next day, take a nice break and fill water.
Bottom line: no great advantage to the standard early start at Campo, based on my 2018 experience.
Not quite sure what you're saying about Scout and Frodo news being a shame... other that this (2020) will be their last year, must be what you're talking about.
Last year, I booked S&F at the very last minute (and they had 1 slot open), and my flight arrived at an off time, so feeling slightly guilty, I wound up taking a bus from the SD airport to within a half a mile of their house and walked the rest of the way.
Good luck you folks! I'm starting pretty early, so probably won't run nto any of you, but if you do meet an old grey haired dude named "rocket" later on, that would be me.
Your correct that S&F closing down is what I was referring to.
I've been trying to figure out how get to the trail in one day, but I can't seem to find a way to get there until after dark. Sunset is around 7 pm in March after setting clocks ahead on March 8th. Right now my plan is to get as far as El Cajon on Monday the 16th and then take the bus to Campo on Tuesday the 17th around 10:00 am. It looks like there are a couple of cheap hotels near the El Cajon transit station.
colorado_rob
11-26-2019, 11:27
Your correct that S&F closing down is what I was referring to.
I've been trying to figure out how get to the trail in one day, but I can't seem to find a way to get there until after dark. Sunset is around 7 pm in March after setting clocks ahead on March 8th. Right now my plan is to get as far as El Cajon on Monday the 16th and then take the bus to Campo on Tuesday the 17th around 10:00 am. It looks like there are a couple of cheap hotels near the El Cajon transit station.Sounds like a plan. My original flight got into SD later, and I was going to do the same thing, then I found an earlier flight on SW (no change fee).
There is allegedly a place to camp in, er, Campo, behind the store, or some place like that, if you want to save the El Cajon hotel expense.
Never mind.
Must be the meds.
Wayne
Woo Hoo! My Permit for the second section has been issued. I'll be starting at Campo March 17th and hiking as far as Kennedy Meadows by the end of April. 702 miles.
imscotty
01-28-2020, 21:13
Nanatuk,
PCT section hiker here. I flew from Boston to San Diego, took the bus and got to Campo all in one day. It can be done. It was late afternoon when I got there, and I wanted a sunrise start at the monument, so I camped behind the museum in Campo. It was actually a very nice spot. Some trees, a picnic table. Border patrol did come through there once or twice, but they were not interested in me.
If I remember right the museum had a water hose, but celebratory drinks are also available at the little store nearby. I got up early and hiked in the dark the few miles to the southern terminus to enjoy the sunrise.
As others have said there is no need to push to Lake Morena on Day one. I did, but I did not feel there was any advantage to it.
As others have said there is no need to push to Lake Morena on Day one. I did, but I did not feel there was any advantage to it.
Thanks, Yeah seems a bit much for the first day. If my transportation works out and I don't miss any connections, I'll do the same as you did and camp behind the Museum. If not I'll get to Campo on my step-off day. Either way I think the farthest I plan to hike on day one is Hauser Creek. No point in pushing it. 4 weeks to go!!
Got as far as Warner springs before I decided to wait out the hysteria. I guess its good I got thru the SC agencies that require permits. I can go back and tackle any or all of the miles to KM without having to get a new permit.
Well I never got back to SoCal this year, but I did finish the PCT in Washington State from the border to Snoqualmie Pass. I've updated trailjournal.com for those interested.
Strange year, I touched the southern monument, touched the northern monument and hiked about 400 miles but Still less than half of the trail complete. I am starting to plan a return to SoCal next year to finish 650 miles from Warner Springs to Cottonwood Pass.
wornoutboots
10-20-2020, 09:13
It sounds like a typical PCT thru-attempt, I did the same on 2016, touched the N terminus on 7/1, ran into a fire in Ashland, OR. hitched around it, hiked down to Tehachapi to knock out the Sierra's, hitched back up to Echo Lake, got caught in heavy snow near Donner Pass (2 friends had to be rescued by SAR), rented a car back down the Tehachapi & hiked to the southern terminus. Things have to lined up to hike the PCT e to e
Emerson Bigills
11-15-2020, 15:13
Anyone planning to thru hike or do a long section on the PCT in '21? I know the indecision on the PCTA issuing long distance permits is hanging out there, but there is always the option of handling the required permits on an individual basis.
gollwoods
11-15-2020, 15:31
Anyone planning to thru hike or do a long section on the PCT in '21? I know the indecision on the PCTA issuing long distance permits is hanging out there, but there is always the option of handling the required permits on an individual basis.section hiking you would do your permits through recreation.gov anyway. if I'm doing any thing next year it's only 60 miles.
Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk
If your not hiking through any NP, you may be able to get permits as you travel. Just research your route and find out who the administrative agency is. I hiked half of Washington last year and I only had to get a backcountry permit once and it was available at a trail head. I did go into one NP. Northern Cascades NP, but no permit required You just cant camp inside the park. I camped at the northern edge and walked 20+ miles through the park to the other side.
I'm planning another long section next spring in SoCal. I'll apply for a PCT permit if they are issuing them. If they are not, I'll hike the sections where I can legally hike with a trailhead permit or were no permit is required. From my research so far I believe most of my planned route does not require a permit. (Some parks are only open for day use right now but hopefully that will change by spring.)
Emerson Bigills
11-16-2020, 00:23
Thinking about finishing 375 miles of the desert and touching the Sierra into Cottonwood Pass. I would need a permit likely for the Golden Trout Wilderness from Kennedy Mdws to Cottonwood Pass. I then have from Sierra City north to the border. It looks like the central Oregon permit might get implemented this year, I hope they put it off again, as the quotas are not very plentiful. Then the Northern Cascades looks pretty easy to get. If the PCTA issues long distance permits, I would probably try to snag one for the Sierra City to Manning Park stretch.
Not certain if I am going, but the itch keeps getting stronger. I did about 700 miles this year, but started too fast and messed up my feet. I also didn't take the mental aspect as seriously as I should have. I know better on each of these.
Thinking about finishing 375 miles of the desert and touching the Sierra into Cottonwood Pass. I would need a permit likely for the Golden Trout Wilderness from Kennedy Mdws to Cottonwood Pass.
I haven't confirmed it yet, but I've been told you can get a wilderness permit at the trailhead leaving northbound from Kennedy Meadows. My 2021 plan is to exit at Cottonwood as well.
colorado_rob
11-16-2020, 12:38
Anyone planning to thru hike or do a long section on the PCT in '21? I know the indecision on the PCTA issuing long distance permits is hanging out there, but there is always the option of handling the required permits on an individual basis.I was and still might if the generic "golden ticket" PCTA permit thing sorts out I'd like to repeat KM northbound to as far as time permits, perhaps up to CA/OR border. But who knows.
But to keep it simpler, I'm kinda leaning towards just hitting the CDT instead doing the MX/NM border to the CO trail/CDT junction in southern CO. I forget the total miles involved, something like 800, a worthy hike and probably every bit as cool as most of the PCT. One still needs a generic New Mexico "recreational access permit" for the CDT in NM, but I worry they might not issue those this next spring.
It goes w/o saying this all depends on Covid restrictions.
ldsailor
11-16-2020, 12:54
I tried to hike the PCT in 2020 and even had a permit, but then they closed sections and the PCTA gave hiking a bad rap. I was hoping to do it in 2021, but it looks like the same is going to happen and this time no permits. One thing being kicked around in the Facebook groups is the amount of trail closures due to fires, so there is that, too.
It all seems like more trouble than it's worth. I did the much shorter Colorado Trail this year, and in 2021 I'm heading to the Arizona Trail instead.
kevperro
01-29-2021, 18:35
Yes, definitely do it in sections. I hiked SOBO in WA Section K in Aug-Sept and passed 300-400 thru hikers. The majority were jaded and negative at that point (many just had their head down and didn't want to talk to anyone). A few, often the older hikers, were friendly; I asked one if he would do it again and he just said "probably not". Others said that they had got what they wanted out of it but 'there was just no way that they were stopping', one said it was sort of like being in jail, trapped, unable to leave even though you don't want to be there.
The happiest 'thru hikers' that I met said that they took a lot of long breaks (weeks if not months).... which makes them in reality ... wait for it..... section hikers.
There are those who do it right, but IMO most thru hikes are social, emotional, and ethical disasters. The thrill is gone about half way thru. Then after you finish you find out that nobody really cares about your "bragging rights". Be honest with yourself, dudes, don't live a lie. Get off the trail until you ethically deserve to be there again...
Lots of truth here. I've done long sections of the AT & PCT and since I never had a commitment to do "the entire thing" I never felt the oppression that many feel by being trapped by their goal.
I'm inching up on retirement and I'll still have commitments with kids and stuff that even if I wanted to spend 6-months out on the trail, would be a challenge to manage. Two or three months on the trail are a blast though and when I'm done I feel pretty good about getting off the trail and back into life.
If I have my health (better shape now than I have been in 30+ years) I expect to spend a couple months out every year hiking somewhere on this planet. I doubt I'll ever do an entire long-trail in one whack because that just isn't on my bucket list.
OK third year, third leg, third trailname. I'm starting March 13th at the Mexican border and now hiking to Cottonwood pass at mile 750 and hiking out to Lone Pine.
colorado_rob
02-25-2021, 22:58
Enjoy! That's a Beautiful 750 miles. (I've decided on hitting the CDT this March instead of the PCT again, no particular reason, just want to hike)
Enjoy! That's a Beautiful 750 miles. (I've decided on hitting the CDT this March instead of the PCT again, no particular reason, just want to hike)
Enjoy your hike. Nice Pic, you got a sunny day.
OK third year, third leg, third trailname. I'm starting March 13th at the Mexican border and now hiking to Cottonwood pass at mile 750 and hiking out to Lone Pine.
Spectacular part of the trail. I did this in 2015 but went up to Muir Trail Ranch/Florence lake before aborting what was supposed to be a thru hike (long story).
I started on April 13 -- you're a month ahead, so snow might be more of a factor for you than it was during my trip. I entered the Sierra at Kennedy Meadows in late May- I believe it was May 22, a low snow year, but we got a couple of late season storms that covered the trail on some of the passes.
I wish I could do that trip again.
Got off trail at Kennedy meadows due to incoming snow storm. I'll pick up those 40 miles next year. I've completed 1850 trail miles so far, 800 more to go next year. My journal is up to date if your interested in reading about it.
Well, my 2022 permit has been approved for the last section to complete the PCT. 800 miles from Castle Crags to Kennedy Meadows South starting in August. If the weather is good I'll take the side trip up Mt Whitney.
GolfHiker
03-11-2022, 16:08
Nanatuk. Good luck to you this year on completing your journey. When do you plan to begin the 2022 hike?
When do you plan to begin the 2022 hike? I have a permit for early August. Should finish at the end of September.
I'm off on the final section. Year 4 of my 3 year plan. I get on a train tomorrow and hit the trail Thursday morning. This section is 810 miles from I-5 near Dunsmuir hiking south to Kennedy Meadows south.
I'm off on the final section. Year 4 of my 3 year plan. I get on a train tomorrow and hit the trail Thursday morning. This section is 810 miles from I-5 near Dunsmuir hiking south to Kennedy Meadows south.
Good luck and Godspeed......
I'm off on the final section. Year 4 of my 3 year plan. I get on a train tomorrow and hit the trail Thursday morning. This section is 810 miles from I-5 near Dunsmuir hiking south to Kennedy Meadows south.
And of course it's no fault of yours the big "C" , put us all back a year or so.......
I'm off on the final section. Year 4 of my 3 year plan. I get on a train tomorrow and hit the trail Thursday morning. This section is 810 miles from I-5 near Dunsmuir hiking south to Kennedy Meadows south.
Awesome ... you'll be finishing in the Sierra Nevada at the best time of year when few are on the trail but the weather is still (for the most part) great.
Hello! I just finished up with the 317 miles between Cascade Locks and Stevens Pass and thought I’d mention something that came up OVER and OVER and OVER concerning timing in Washington. PCT Days took place Aug 19 & 20 in Cascade Locks, and everyone from a bartender in CL, everyone in the trail towns nobo, hikers who kept in contact with other hikers ahead, and comments in Far Out were talking about the absolute enormous amount of people in CL for this and that everyone headed out within a day or two of each other and it was a MASSIVE bubble. The comments in Far Out were about how many people they could jam in cowboy camping at all the tiny camp spots.
Any upcoming plans for Washington might want to take PCT Days into consideration.
(FYI, I started on Aug 31 and the section was incredible and gorgeous, the trail towns, especially Trout Lake, were so kind, and the thru and section hikers I met were really great.)
This will be year 6 in my 3 year plan. To catch everyone up:
Year 1 - Mid July to just after Labor day, I hiked Dunsmuir in NorCal just past Snoqualmie Pass in WA, about 930 miles. Got off trail due to a badly twisted ankle.
Year 2 - Started at the Mexican Border in early March but got off trail after Warner Spring when everything shut down to the Wuhan flu. Went back out in August and started at the Canadian border, hiked south to Snoqualmie pass. Finished a total of about 350 miles.
Year 3 - Started again at the Mexican Border in early March and hiked to Kennedy Meadows my end of April - 700 miles of which 600 were new to me.
Year 4 - Started at Dunsmuir in August hiking south. Suffered heat stroke south of Burney Falls and got off the trail at Old Station for a few days off, got back on the trail at Belden but caught some sort of stomach flu. Got off again at Sierra City and took a week off hoping to recover. Skipped up to Route 50 near Tahoe but still couldn't keep food down while on the trail. I got off the trail at Sonora Pass and called it quits for the year. I got tested for the usual, Giardia, Noro, Crypto, etc. All tests came back negative. Don't know what it was but it resolved itself without treatment.
Year 5 - Record snow in the Sierra's so I didn't apply for a permit to hike. Did get out to hike for a week around Cloud peak in the Big Horns of Wyoming. Fortunately all ailments from last year are gone. Appetite was good and no issues with nausea. No issues with Altitude.
Year 6 - So I'm planning to apply for a permit for Kennedy Meadows north to Old Station this year, about 700 mile hike, departing in August and finishing near the end of September. Hoping to go Northbound, but I'd take a southbound permit if necessary. I'll start a journal once I get the permit.
Woo Hoo!!!! My permit is approved for the Sierra. I have an August 9th start from Kennedy Meadows at mile 704 to Old Station at mile 1380.