thirtysixer
“When Southbound is Easier Than Northbound: What if you plan to thru-hike the PCT in less than 4.5 months? Some have constraints that force them to hike at a certain pace. In Oregon I met an airline pilot in his 50s who had limited time off and needed to thru-hike the PCT in 100 days. Although he did it, he probably would have had a better time going south.
If you’re good at navigating and can keep up an above average pace, then heading south is more pleasant than going north. A speedy Nobo waits until May to leave Campo. As a result, she deals with a blazing desert filled with rattlesnakes, empty water caches, a snow covered Sierra with tough fords, lots of bugs, and rainstorms in Washington.
The speedy Sobo, on the other hand, has a sunny, but snowy Washington, encounters few bugs, deals with only a couple of river crossings, waltzes through the Sierra in its prime, and enjoys a cool desert with few snakes.”
http://www.francistapon.com/Travels/Pacific-Crest-Trail/Why-go-southbound-on-the-PCT
This is a relieving paragraph, because of my inherent need to southbound the PCT. I’ve also been known to be a speedy hiker, and when I’m not trying to get lost(and i’m not following somebody), I don’t. That’s definitely a load off my back for sure(two drums and a snare jump off a cliff).
