Hi,
next summer I'd like to fulfill a big dream of mine and attempt a 6 - 8 weeks section hike on the PCT. My time frame will be early June until the middle of August. This year I did an AT section hike from Springer to Damascus (470 miles) in about 30 days, so I guess 800 miles should be a doable distance for a 6 - 8 weeks hike. However, the PCT seems to be a lot more dangerous than the AT. In particular there are two things that I'm concerned about lack of water in the desert and too much snow in the mountains. Another problem is that I'm not from the US, so I have to find realistic start/end dates and rely on public transport.
Hence my plan is to hit the trail in Kennedy Meadows in mid June and get off the trail in Dunsmuir in early August. Still there are a couple of questions:
- Would you say this is a reasonable plan? I am also up for different sections or going southbound.
- How difficult is it to get to Kennedy Meadows via public transportation/shuttle?
- How difficult is it to get to Dunsmuir from the trail? (there is an Amtrak station in Dunsmuir)
- Is June 15 a reliable start date with respect to snow levels in the Sierra?
Any replies would be greatly appreciated!
PS: This site was a great resource with a lot of valuable information to prepare for my AT section hike!