Planning an 07 PCT Thru Hike.

[corduroy]

A long time friend and myself have recently decided to begin planning an 07 PCT thru hike. I'm hoping some people with PCT experience can point me in the right direction.
IE: guidebooks, personal experiences, when to start, what to bring, etc.
I hiked half of the AT in 05 and decided to get off due to a lack of interest in the trail/experience itself once I left the south.
I hiked below 40 lb's the entire trip, and after Georgia my pack was rarely over 32. I've hiked in heavy snow all my life, and it shouldn't present an immense challenge, but I'd still like to avoid it- esp. at altitudes over 7000 feet.
Feel free to brain fart.

corduroy
VULTURE FIST

[Blue Sky II]

Check out the PCTA page that lists helpful resources:
www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/resources/books.asp
I really like Yogi's handbook for prehike preparation and the information pages to take on the trail. Be sure to carry sections of the guidebooks on the trail and the data book is very helpful to keep track of mileage.

[chris]

You'll want and need the three guidebooks (SoCal, NorCal, OR-WA) and the databook (ok, won't need but will really want). The guidebooks have the maps and you need the maps on the PCT for the most part. You'll want the guidebooks for water info as well. Yogi's book is very popular and people have found it helpful.

You will be hiking in snow at elevations up to 13000 feet. No way to avoid it unless you start insanely late and roll up 40 mile days.

For planning purposes, http://www.pctplanner.com is very useful for getting an idea of how far apart resupply points are and how difficult the terrain is.

There are a ton of trail journals out there and these should give you some idea of what you might encounter along the trail. Just make sure that you don't read too much in to them and try to replicate someone elses hike.

[Sly]

http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

[Mountain Mike]

Definately check out the PCTA http://www.pcta.org/& American long distance hiker association west http://www.aldhawest.org/default.asp If you want any info from someone whom has hiked most of it you can email me at [email protected]