2015 PCT NOBO Limit

With very low snow totals thus far in the North Cascades, this might be the year to do it SOBO.

More info on the cap at the link below, but yes it's now 50 people per day. That's a good thing, as the herd is big enough now days that it needs to be spread out over a few weeks to make sure people can find campsites etc, and to reduce the burden on trail angels.

http://www.pcta.org/2015/improvements-southern-california-aim-protect-visitor-experiences-pct-environment-27304/

Hi guys,

you've mentioned it, the PCT will be very popular this year and it might be the perfect chance to hike southbound.

I will do so.

I know barely anyone does but here comes my question – is there anyone else in the PCT class of 2015 who will hike it SOBO?

Sabine

There's a Facebook " PCT SOBO 2015 " page….looks like a few folks are doing the SOBO hike. I met five SOBO's last year while on my NOBO, they had to flip several times, the snow was still too deep by July even though it was a low snow year like this year. We had late snowstorms and that added enough to make it impossible for them to make much progress even though they were well prepared, several were from Europe.

What time would you leave SOBO to pretty much garantee that you will avoid northern/Sierra snow?

Being later in the year in the Deserts at the bottom I'm guessing isn't much an issue (for most people).

(Sorry if this is a stupid question from an Aussie who hasn't been to the US before!)

It's a tough call because you've got to be thru the Sierra Nevadas before or during August or when they get new snow in the late fall. (If it ever snows deep there again..

You'll need to take into account that the few remaining "reliable" water sources south of Kennedy Meadows won't be so reliable this year, with many being reported dry already.

I thru-hiked the trail last year NoBo and will SoBo next year. If you are thinking of Hiking SoBo this year, the big problem you will need to figure out will be knowing your water sources from Kennedy Meadows (mile 702 to mile 0) to the Mexican border. It's already dry here and there is no chance of it getting any better until next year. Timing wise, in most years, you want to be over Forester Pass by October 15, or you are taking your chances on getting snowed out at 13,200'. So, what you need to figure out is, how long will it take me to hike the 1,881 miles from Canada (mile 2660) to Forester Pass (mile 779) and get there before the middle of October at the latest?

Thank you D M for the facebook tip =)

As far as I've heard you should be in Kennedy Meadows (aka out of the Sierras) by Oct 1. And some people recommend to be in Campo by Nov 1 because that's when the Forest Service shuts down its wells.

I was thinking about starting in Cascade Locks early June, hike north to Canada and then drive/hitchhike back to Cascade Locks to hike south to Campo.
From what I've heard there is less snow in the Cascades than last year…

re the water from Campo to Kennedy
I would wonder how actively the water cache angels maintain those key caches in late season…will they be as reliable as they are for the herd of NOBO's etc…

You can't rely on water caches as a NOBO and you can do the trail without any water caches anyway. So really, the water caches don't matter in your planning. What matters is to get some kind of a water report or trail info from section hikers. Expect all seasonal water sources shown on the map to be dry. Pipe springs tend to be reliable. At least that has been my experience in the Los Padres National Forest. You'll be surprised how much So Cal PCT water comes from faucets.

"You'll be surprised how much So Cal PCT water comes from faucets."

Why is California worried about drought when we can get all we want from faucets?

Wait a second…

–B.G.–