Weather forcast?

[ZacApplegate]

Hello! Big fan of these boards, I have read some great topics here and used the info for hikes all around Idyllwild and finally need a little help.

I was planning on hiking a section of the pct later this week (between the 74 and 10 freeways) but the forecast keeps changing and the weather looks a little sketch currently so I am rethinking my plans to maybe just do a day hike on one of the clear days. Based on your experience does anyone have any good beads on how they think the weather will pan out? I don't mind the cold but if it's going to be raining and or snowing on me i might opt to cancel the multi day trip and go during the spring.

Thanks in advance, Zac

[Backwoods]

I think this will be a great week up there. I have done that secton in all kind's of weather. If things did get funkie you could always bail out on one of the many trails down the Mt. I live in Idyllwild learned how to hike up in the San J's last year then hiked the PCT from Mexico to Canada I finished on 09/27/12. I was asking about the same questions you are on this list this time last year. This list helped alot One good thing about the PCT in the San J's is that there are many bail out points unlike some or most of the PCT were it coud be 50 or more miles to the next RD or a crazy crossing of some Seirra pass to get out. You'll be fine just be sure to bring enough cold weather gear and make sure you find a nice spot out of the wind to spend the night and check the water report the link is posted on this list. Enjoy!

[ZacApplegate]

Thanks Backwoods!

[Ellen]

Howdy Zac

Sally and I were concerned about a similar forecast last week and day hiked on the PCT from Snow Creek village to the tram before this last system left snow and rhime ice.

I agree with Backwoods -- a multi-day trip of the PCT from the 74 > Saddle junction > Strawberry > Fuller ridge and down to the 10 would be a blast. However, there may be residual snow/ice on the some of the exposed areas from the last storm and the incoming system is a concern. I defer to the more knowledgeable folks on the board.

I've day hiked the PCT from the Zen Center to the tram and from Cedar Springs to the South Ridge trailhead. These are fabulous day hikes and as Backwoods notes, you have multiple bail out points. There are a few potentially sketchy sections on the PCT on the desert divide where the trail is eroded and may be icy. Again -- I defer to folks who have more experience.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen