Refining Plans

The last few weeks have been very busy, but it is beginning to feel like everything is coming together. First of all, Evan and I have decided on our route. There are pluses and minuses to traveling Northbound, as well as to Southbounding, and through most of our discussions, I was leaning toward the overwhelmingly more popular (and therefore more predictable) Mexico-Canada, but Evan was very much taken with the idea of beginning in Manning Park and ending south of San Diego. Here are some of the differences:

If you go Northbound:

- You run the risk of encountering either a little or a lot of snow in the Sierras.

- You will hit the Cascades during their world-famous rainy season, and may end up hiking a month or more drenched (which means everything will be heavier).

- The desert will be hot, but in May and June, it will have the most water of the whole year.

If you Southbound:

- Your first few weeks will be snow-covered, but the Sierras will be dry by the time you reach them.

- The desert will be cool, but after the summer's heat, there will be little water.

- Harder descents - When the glaciers created the mountains of North America, the southern side was graded more sharply. This means that, although your ascents will be less steep, climbing back down will be harder on your knees.

- No one southbounds, or at least almost no one. If you begin the trail on June 21st at the northern terminus, you may not see another human being until you reach the Sierras in August or September. You can look at that as good or bad. Or neither.

Evan and I have decided to take the best of both worlds and flip flop. We will begin in early May at the Southern Terminus and hike until we reach Mount Whitney. Then we will travel by way of train, car or plane to Manning Park and hike Southbound until we reach, and summit Mount Whitney. This route will give us a chance to warm up and stretch our legs in the desert, while it has the most water. Then we will enjoy the Pacific Northwest and the High Sierra in their most favorable seasons.