April in the Valley is a very good time to go: few people; weather is warming and the falls are beginning to flow. Higher elevations are accessible. Snow is compacted and easy to walk on; there’s so much granite that melts off that snow isn’t an issue for much of the time. And anyway the Valley itself is stunning and worth days exploring. And yes in March you can find solitude.
Sounds like you want to section hike a relatively snow free portion of the PCT and not travel that far from the Bay Area which are conflicting goals I think.
There have been other threads here on BPL about places and routes south of the central sierras. So perhaps start a new thread asking a more specific question about a desired location and or hiking conditions.
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership.
Premium Articles
You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team.
Get full article access by subscribing to a Premium or Unlimited Backpacking Light membership!