depending on snow levels in the High Sierra. Websites given in Appendix B should enable you to keep a check on snow levels throughout the winter. In a high snow year many hikers start too early for the conditions. However, in 2016 the PCTA introduced a daily limit of 50 permits per day from Campo, with online applications accepted from February 1, so early application is recommended.
The key date isn’t when you begin but when you reach Kennedy Meadows at the start of the High Sierra. Ray Jardine’s suggestion is that, in an average snow year, you should leave Kennedy Meadows on June 15, known as Ray Day. You will still find some snow on the higher passes but most of it will have melted and water levels in the creeks will have started to drop. Snow melts extremely quickly at that time of year and even a week’s difference in start date can make a tremendous difference to the snowpack.
In a high snow year it would be best to leave Kennedy Meadows at a later date. In 2006, even the beginning of July was too early. Obviously the later you leave Kennedy Meadows, the later you will arrive in Canada. In 2006 hikers were still reaching Manning Park at the end of October though that was preferable to hitting the High Sierra too soon.
In a year of low snow levels, hikers who have opted for a schedule of between 160 and 180 days might prefer to leave Kennedy Meadows a little earlier so that they reach Canada a little earlier. Appendices D1 and D2 give finishing dates for different schedules assuming you leave Kennedy Meadows on June 15.
Once you have decided on your Kennedy Meadows departure date, work back to determine the date on which you should leave Campo. For example, if you plan to take 50 days, including zero days, to reach Kennedy Meadows by June 15, you will start about April 26 – it isn’t just coincidence that that is the approximate date of the kick-off party.
Fuller Ridge, in the San Jacinto Mountains, on April 30 2006 – too early to start! (Section 8)
Another consideration will be snow conditions in the San Jacinto Mountains, which you reach during your second week. The trail contours on steep north- and east-facing slopes, where snow can persist into late April. Those who start the PCT in early to mid-April might find dangerous conditions on those steep slopes and navigation can be very difficult if the snowpack is continuous. However, in a low snow year, the trail could be clear by early April.
Hiking north-to-south
Only a few hikers attempt to thru’-hike from north to south each year. In an average snow year the PCT in Washington won’t be free of snow until late June, even later in a high snow year. In North Washington the trail often contours on steep slopes, the most difficult and dangerous terrain to cross in snow conditions. Crossing creeks in North Washington can also be a serious problem if you start too early.
If you are considering hiking south, therefore, you should consider starting about July 1 so that you finish by the end of November. That means tackling Washington in July, Oregon in August and Northern California in September, which is fine. You would then pass through the High Sierra in October, a time when you might expect some storms. You would be unlucky to have the first heavy winter snow but you would be cutting it rather fine. You will have supply problems because most of the facilities in the High Sierra will have closed and you might need to hike into the night occasionally to get in your mileage, which will certainly test your navigational skills. November could be a good time for hiking in Southern California, as long as you’ve had rain to replenish the creeks and springs and as long as you haven’t got deep snow in the higher mountains.
Basically a north-to-south thru’-hike is only for experienced long distance walkers who have good knowledge of the PCT or are super-fit and intend to do the trail in three or four months. There is an additional legal problem as there is no easy procedure for gaining permission to enter the US from Canada along the PCT. This guidebook assumes you are hiking from south to north.
Flip-flopping
Some thru’-hikers reach Kennedy Meadows too early. Rather than face deep snow conditions or wait for it to melt sufficiently, they decide to head to Northern California and return to the High Sierra later in their hike. That is not a good idea, however, as the High Sierra is the easiest PCT section to traverse in snow. If there is substantial snow there, there will also be snow in the mountains of Northern California, Oregon and Washington where the PCT traverses many steep slopes, which are difficult and dangerous under snow.
The only section to which you might flip-flop is the short section from Hat Creek Resort to Castella, in Northern California. The other flip-flop some hikers choose is to hike through California from Campo to Ashland, then travel to Canada and hike south from Manning Park to Ashland. That can be a good plan if you reach Ashland rather late and don’t want to risk being in Northern Washington for the first big winter storms.
Hiking 7–8 hours a day
A typical backpacker will hike between four and six hours a day. Even a relatively low-mileage thru’-hiker will need to hike between six and eight hours each day once they have built up their fitness. This takes discipline.
You could do what too many hikers seem to do: start fairly late, walk for seven or eight hours with minimal breaks and collapse into camp, exhausted, about teatime. However there are much better hiking patterns, patterns which will make your hike more enjoyable and easier to achieve.
Most hikers take short breaks. That might be fine for youngsters but for the older hiker a break of between 15 and 30 minutes is long enough to stiffen up yet not really long enough to recover. It also means you are hiking through the hottest part of the day!
Late start from Pioneer Mail Picnic Area for Hans (Section 3)
In the hot conditions that predominate along the PCT, an early start is essential. Once you are fit, try hiking from 7am until 10am or 11am without any substantial break. Then stop for two hours before walking for an hour in the afternoon (not too long if it is hot), then take another long break before doing a two or three hours in the evening, once it has cooled down.
Many might consider 7am to be a late start. Billy Goat would start walking at first light and stop for breakfast between 7am and 8am. When it is hot, the earlier you start and the longer the morning session, the easier you’ll find it. It can be uncomfortably hot by 10am.
One other thing to consider is having your evening meal before doing another hour or two before camping. That is certainly a good idea if you arrive at water between 4pm and 6pm. Have your meal, then do an evening session to a dry camp. That is also good practice in bear country. You could consider walking on after dark. That might sound a good idea in hot conditions but probably won’t help much, as you might then make a later start the following morning. You would be better off getting up while it is still dark and getting away at, or even before, dawn.
On reaching Washington you will find the days getting shorter but the temperature will be comfortable for hiking. By then you should be fit enough to walk for four hours in the morning before one long break and completing your mileage in the evening.
RULE OF 11 AND 13
You can expect to spend 11 hours in camp: an hour in the morning, two hours at night and eight hours asleep. This leaves 13 hours for walking and resting during the day. If you are going to be walking for eight hours, that leaves five hours of breaks to scatter through the day. If you spend more than 11 hours in camp you probably aren’t making the best use of the day!
In bad weather you should consider having a lie-in but
