PCT Southern California – early start

Reading the pct blogs, some take off for weddings, or drink beer at major cities (sign me up!!), … so I wouldn't see a problem in terms of HYOH. If doing the PCT, I'd probably have to take some time off to see family in Los Angeles and San Francisco (catch up on forwarded mail, which is turning out to be a hassle on even 2 week trips but I digress).

Here's a recent post from a hiker friend (Twinkle) of Carrot Quinn, followed on the PCT blog thread – I thought everyone was on a death march to Canada:

http://stevenjshattuck.wordpress.com/2014/07/27/becoming-a-sobo-in-sister-wilderness-thoughts-on-hiking-your-own-hike/

Maybe a "purist" (in the above terminology) would give you grief but they aren't paying your bills IMHO.

It's all about the water!

The main thing to consider when starting before the "herd" is that you may be outside the time when trailside water caches are maintained. That would mean that you may have to do some "monster" water carries (a lot over a greater distance)… on the other hand, temperatures will likely be a bit cooler (but you never know in the desert).

HK – the ethics don't bother me….I'm 53 and don't give a damn :-D

The water more so, thanks Valerie – and getting over the San Jacinto Mountains with an early start…although last seasons snow pack appears to be light – well from 5,000 miles away anyway..

Who knows what next season will hold? I have read that there are walk-arounds, but don't really know enough to see if it is a problem…

Another question (water wise) is how a decent El Niño (as predicted) might affect that stretch of the PCT (and the rest of it)

Just did that. I left the border April 5. First as Val said the water issue is a biggie. At several points I carried over six liters and it was a death march. And yes I was too early for both trail magic and most water caches, a bummer but manageable. I only used two cache water sources in the first 700 miles, one at third gate north of Scissors crossing and one before Big Bear that Papa Smurf and Nature's Inn maintains early.
Second, there will be late snow storms on high places and you DONT want to be leaving Idyllwild or Big Bear right before them like I did unless you are prepared to carry winter gear and deal with slippery conditions. Third, you don't want to get to Kennedy too early, the snow up high is a bitch unless you are a mountaineer and like postholing for miles and are willing to carry equipment. Other than those points it's a blast, go for it.

DM

That is really useful information – thanks very much; the idea of six litre carry's is fun…

I'll be gone from the trail for 10-14 days after about 600-700 miles/Mojave (depends on the legs) as I have to go home for work commitments, so just before KM/Lone Pine – hopefully the snow pack will be OK when I get back, as I think I should be re-joining the trail about the same time as the late April starters..

That will work.

I encountered snow and ice in the Laguna mountains 2 days from the border, after an April 2 start many years ago.

Be careful relying on trail reports from the last three years of extreme drought. USA west coast warm/dry and cold/wet years can be back-to-back.

El Nino is a factor, but it's complicated. Most El Nino years are very wet in Southern California, random in Central California, and dryer north of there. But it depends on the strength and timing of the El Nino. And El Nino predictions for next year have not been stable.

— Rex