I have done section hikes on the AT totaling about 600 miles and a few hundred miles in the Beartooth Mountains in Montana where I spend my summers but I have no experience hiking in Oregon or anywhere on the West Coast.
I will be in Oregon in mid-May, 2023 until June 1, 2023 and was interested in hiking from Charlton Lake (MM 1925) to Government Camp (MM 2092) starting around May 15.
I looked at a website called Postholer.com and scrolled to something called their "Pacific Crest Trail Data Book". If I am reading this website correctly it says that Section F (Hwy 242 McKenzie Pass to Hwy 35 Barlow Pass) has 57.4% snow cover on average in May?
Looking at the elevations for that area of the PCT, other than in a few areas that exceed 6,000 feet, I did not expect that much snow cover in May. Generally, I don't think we have 60% snow cover in May at 7,500 foot elevation in Montana outside Yellowstone.
My question: Is it reasonable, after an average winter, to hike from Charlton Lake to Government Camp in mid to late May? Will the trail be covered with snow in most of that area in May and not passable or at least very tough going?
I am 63 years old and in reasonably good shape. Temperatures ranging in 10's to 60's are fine given my gear but I would not want to go on a death march for 150 miles through knee-deep snow.
After doing some very quick online research, I am starting to think maybe I should pass on this hike in May.
Thanks for any guidance!