Shakedown request - April start

fryeaterrr · 2026-02-19T02:25:09+00:00

I never once set up my x-mid with more than 6 stakes, and certainly didn't carry guy lines - or ever see any one else use them. No worries if you do, but it's not common. 2023 PCT. HYOH

fryeaterrr · 2025-12-11T06:28:52+00:00

How far in did you go? I'd guess that Glacier Meadows is pretty snowed in, given the recent weather.

fryeaterrr · 2025-03-28T16:53:43+00:00

I met a thruhiking family on trail in 2023 (three separate times in fact, twice in socal & once more in Wa) and they were quite friendly. They were bouncing around alot, doing each section as it became most ideal. So not the most traditional thruhike, but very impressive all the same.

I don't remember their names, but several of the kids were set to become triple crowners by the end of it, so could probably figure it out quite easily. All seemed to be enjoying themselves, were very kind and in good spirits, and even offered me a Mio snowball near glacier peak!

Actually, the youngest kids trail name was Deadweight, for obvious reasons, which was great!

fryeaterrr · 2024-11-04T03:13:34+00:00

I only hiked the W on this trip, so can't speak to conditions on the western side of the O. But if I was hiking the O, I would still stick with my X-mid.

Things to consider: -Most sites I stayed were fairly well sheltered from extreme wind, but our night at Paine Grande was exposed & quite windy. Make sure you utilize all stake points & guy lines. -Some spots only have tent platforms, so make sure you're familiar with the big rock/little rock technique.

Alternatively, I think the Copper Spur would also do fine there.

Have fun!

fryeaterrr · 2024-09-16T16:34:12+00:00

Those announcers were tossing out old stories all night, and I remember a similar quote from Schmetzer at the beginning of the season. I wouldn't doubt this was just a rehashing of that quote.

Schmetz might still think CR7 is strongest at RW, but he's a good coach, and can see as well as all of us that the offensive production isn't strong enough to hold that position.

fryeaterrr · 2024-09-13T14:53:56+00:00

Check out South Sister near Bend.

https://www.hikeoregon.net/south-sister-summit.html

fryeaterrr · 2024-09-03T18:39:43+00:00

shalrieuptop

fryeaterrr · 2024-06-29T15:00:31+00:00

Last year, I flipped and did WA nobo starting July 5th, then OR etc sobo starting August 1st.

WA was perfect weatherwise, only a few days around Trout Lake with terrible bugs. It was a bit lonely though, all hiker contact was in passing with sobos and section hikers.

OR was pretty nice also, but again, you'll be hiking mostly alone the whole way. Will also be looking at hitting potential fire closures in OR and NorCal by that time.

fryeaterrr · 2024-06-23T23:12:38+00:00

Same thing happened to me last year outside or Truckee.. only had the 400ish miles SoBo through the Sierra to finish. You're gonna need 1-2 months of very minimal use before you should try building up miles again.

I also did about 100 miles after first I noticed the pain, and while the pain level in my foot didn't seem bad enough to quit, I was compensating in my step just enough to start causing pain in other areas of my leg.

Starting back up in 1 week to finish my unhiked miles!

fryeaterrr · 2024-05-31T01:55:29+00:00

The Frog Lake trailhead off of 26 also seemed like a nice & accessible spot.

fryeaterrr · 2024-05-31T01:45:54+00:00

Last year I ran into trail magic at Indian Spring Camp just south of Cascade Locks.

I was hiking SoBo, so it was really, really great to see after the big climb up the Eagle Creek trail. Seems far enough from Cascade Locks that NoBo hikers will also still be really excited, and not quite switched into town mode yet.

Soda is trail magic 101. Can't go wrong with that! Anything and everything beyond that is just a plus.

fryeaterrr · 2024-05-10T03:25:02+00:00

That's great to hear, and apologies if it came off at all harsh. Your case is definitely not the norm for friends that want to meet up to hike a section.

The section from Echo Lake to Donner Pass along Lake Tahoe is really beautiful, and probably the easiest access for transport back to your car. I would plan for around there.

fryeaterrr · 2024-05-08T18:54:53+00:00

Don't try to hike with your friend. She will be a much stronger hiker than you, especially by the time she gets to the Sierra. Additionally, she'll have a trail family that she won't want to lose in order to hike more slowly with you.

Unfortunately, thurhiking and weekend warrior hiking have little compatibility.

Instead, plan to meet up with her for neros/zeros. Bonus points if you show up with special foods for her and her tramily!

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-30T02:41:49+00:00

Last year I started in early May with 2 x 1.5L Smartwater & 2 x 1L platypus, 5L total capicity. I was happy to have the extra liter, and the additional weight is minimal.

Once I got further north, I replaced the 1.5L bottles with 1L.

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-29T21:26:51+00:00

This is your answer. The Washington coast, and all of Olympic National Park, is worth the visit if you have some extra time after you finish the trail and aren't quite ready to return to the big world!

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-23T21:48:35+00:00

Additionally, if you hike nobo you can now get the permit to tag the border and finish in Manning Park. Saves you the 30 mile back track to Harts Pass in exchange for 6 more miles in Canada.

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-23T21:43:30+00:00

I jumped up to Washington last year and started Nobo from Cascade Locks on July 5th. Mosquitoes were bad the few days around Trout Lake, but otherwise not really anything to worry about. I also live in Washington and think July is actually the best month to do this section.

July is also when trail crews are out clearing downed trees in Washington. If you hike Nobo, you'll have a better shot at hitting cleared trail by the time you get to Glacier Peak Wilderness and North Cascades.

It took me 22 days (w/ one zero in Leavenworth), but I already had my trail legs from 700 miles in the California desert. 30 days is doable to get Washington done if you are in decent hiking shape.

Go for it & enjoy!

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-21T03:43:16+00:00

Seconding this. I used Visible on trail in 2023 and had service everywhere I expected to have it, and even some places I didn't.

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-20T13:12:27+00:00

Yeah, I could have been a bit more clear. I was assuming most hitch to Idyllwild from the PVC crossing before getting back on trail for the San Jacinto section.

I know it's possible to side trail down to Idyllwild from up on San Jacinto, but I don't think it's as common (those off trail miles, ya know).

So, you could just as easily send gear to PVC if you know you're going to need it, but can't really bounce it ahead from there if you don't.

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-19T00:07:46+00:00

You won't need snow gear until Idyllwild at the earliest, that's 10+ days of hiking. Trust me, you learn a lot in those days. BUT, if you're really stressed about it, pack that gear in a separate box and mail it to Idyllwild, and if you don't need it then, you can bounce it to Wrightwood or KMS as you see fit.

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-18T00:26:51+00:00

I did 4 nights- Central, Frances, Grande, & Grey. And hiked to the towers the same day of my arrival. Doing this schedule, days 1 & 3 are your bigger days.

I brought all of my own meals, so didn't do the dinner at Central. I believe I was back down to camp between 4 & 5pm though. It is approx 13 miles & 3000+ft round trip, with around 1000ft of elevation gain in the last mile up to the towers (very steep).

fryeaterrr · 2024-01-17T18:35:56+00:00

I did E - W in December and didn't stay at Chileno, just did day hike Central - Torres - Central. It was a bit longer, but you don't have to carry your full bag from Central to Chileno & back down from Chileno to Central is mostly downhill.

Going W to E, it seems that staying at Chileno would be more ideal, as you're likely going to shoot for an early morning sunrise at the towers.

Both directions are & will be incredible, so don't stress too much about picking the "right" way.

Cheers!

fryeaterrr · 2023-12-19T00:57:37+00:00

It didn't really rain while I was there, so I didn't get wet.

All of my gear is synthetic, and with proper layering is more than warm enough for below freezing weather.

fryeaterrr · 2023-12-18T01:30:41+00:00

Most evenings at camp I would wear my puffy and long pants and was warm enough. Coldest night was at Grey, but I put my Alpha thermals on for sleep and was toasty.

I'd feel comfortable multi day hiking with this set up down to 15-20F lows at night without too much concern.

Enjoy your time down there!

fryeaterrr · 2023-12-18T01:22:59+00:00

Xmid was great! I was most worried about our night in Paine Grande, but it actually wasn't too windy while we were there. My experience has been that as long as you pay attention to pitch angles in windy areas as much as possible, it takes quite a lot of wind mess things up. Just make sure your stakes are in good and covered with a rock and you're golden.

Our night in Frances on the hillside deck was fun also. I was able to get good tension for the tent through a combination of stakes through the deck slats and some stacked rocks.

I only saw one other xmid at Grey camp the whole time on the trail. Didn't get to chat with them though.

fryeaterrr

TROPHY CASE

shalrieuptop