PCT Supply Schedule
I started on April 21 and was pretty close to my schedule until I hit the record deep snow and high creeks in the Sierra Nevada. I left the trail from Lone Pine and have now devised a plan that at least gives me a shot at completing the trail this year without drowning in flood stage creek crossings. I will return to the trail at Donner Pass where the trail crosses I80, about 400 miles north of where I left the trail. I can fly into Reno and then take a bus to Truckee which puts me close to the trail. After arriving in Canada I will bus to Vancouver, fly to Reno and then bus back south to Lone Pine to start the 400 mile hike north to complete the Sierra Nevada and the trail. I will have to hike into early October and it’s safer to do that in the Sierra than in the northern Cascades.
The spreadsheet below is my original plan, not updated with the changes above.
| Resupply Point | Trail Mile | Distance From Previous | Type | Wild Ball Park Estimated Date To Not Count On |
Distance From Trail & Notes |
| Warner Springs | 109.6 | 109.6 | USPS food | April 26 |
1.2mi road east; USPS to Warner Springs Post Office, Warner Springs CA 92063 |
| Idyllwild | 179.4 | 69.8 | buy | April 30 |
2.6mi trail + 2.6mi road to campgrounds w/showers, laundry, grocery stores; outfitter has fuel cans |
| Big Bear | 266.1 | 86.7 | buy, USPS maps 2 & 3 | May 5 |
9mi road SW to Big Bear Lake – groceries, restaurants, sporting goods, Big Bear Hostel $20 bunk; fuel cans at big 5; mail to Big Bear Hostel in Big Bear Lake (day off here) |
| Wrightwood | 369.4 | 103.3 | buy | May 12 |
5.5mi east trail to grocery store, motels, hardware store w/fuel cans, camp wrightwood is barebones hostel if stuck in town. |
| Agua Dulce | 454.5 | 85.1 | buy | May 17 |
on trail, grocery store, restaurants, Hiker Heaven Hostel (aka Saufley’s) |
| Mojave (hwy 58) | 566.4 | 111.9 | buy | May 22 |
12 mi road east to Mojave w/ grocery store, motel 6, fuel cans at hardware store; alternative is 9.2 mi road west to Tehachapi with grocery stores (overnight here, day off) |
| Kennedy Meadows | 702.2 | 135.8 | UPS food, snow gear | May 29 |
.5mi road to Kennedy Meadows General Store, day off |
| Independence (via Kearsage Pass) | 788.9 | 86.7 | UPS food via ZDR, UPS maps 4 & 5 | June 9 (snow advanced course) |
About 50 miles into this section I meet the Mtn Education group 1 mile north of Cottonwood Pass on the evening of June 3. Receive steep snow skills training while hiking trail north. Mileage for side trip to summit Mt Whitney is not included in section mileage. 7.5 mi trail up over Kearsage Pass to Onion Valley trailhead then a 13 mile road to Independence. Package sent to Mt Williamson Motel & Base Camp. |
| Vermilion Valley Resort | 874.5 | 85.6 | UPS food & fuel via ZDR | June 18 |
1.5mi trail + 4mi ferry ride; UPS package to Vermilion Valley Resort c/o Rancheria Garage |
| Tuolumne Meadows | 942.5 | 68.0 | buy | June 24 | .3mi trail to campground store; As of 3/15 NPS estimates campground not opening until 8/1 due to snow; Alternative is 19 mile hitch east on 120 to Mono Market in Lee Vining. |
| Sonora Pass | 1018 | 75.5 | SPR | June 30 | Order from Sonora Pass Resupply, they meet you at the pass. They will also ship home bear canister. |
| South Lake Tahoe | 1,090.8 | 74.3 | buy | July 5 | 12.0mi road NE to groceries, restaurants, pharmacy, outfitter |
| Sierra City | 1,195.4 | 104.6 | USPS food & fuel via ZDR, USPS maps 6 & 7 | July 10 | 1.4mi road to USPS package to Sierra Country Store, 123 Main St, Sierra City, CA 96125; River Haven Hostel |
| Belden | 1,284.3 | 88.9 | buy | July 14 | on trail small store, limited |
| Old Station | 1,371.0 | 86.7 | buy | July 18 | .3mi trail to mini mart |
| Burney | 1,408.8 | 37.8 | buy | July 20 | 7.7 mi road sw to safeway |
| Castella | 1,498.6 | 89.8 | buy | July 24 | 2mi road to safeway, laundry, restaurants, campground near PO |
| Seiad Valley | 1,653.4 | 154.8 | buy | August 1 | on trail small store |
| Ashland | 1,716.2 | 62.8 | buy | August 5 | 13mi road to grocery store, motels, pharmacy, hostel (wife Gayle meeting me here, taking several days off) |
| Crater Lake (Mazama Village) | 1,819.2 | 103.0 | buy | August 11 | 2mi road to campground store |
| Shelter Cove Resort | 1,904.1 | 84.9 | UPS food & fuel via ZDR; UPS maps 8 & 9 | August 15 (3-4 days off here) | 2.2mi trail to UPS to Shelter Cove Resort & Marina. Gayle meeting me here, taking 3-4 days off. |
| Olallie Lake | 2,043.1 | 139.0 | buy | August 25 | .1mi trail to camp store; |
| Cascade Locks | 2,144.2 | 101.1 | buy | August 29 | on trail grocery store |
| White Pass | 2,292.4 | 148.2 | USPS food & fuel via ZDR | September 5 | .5mi road; USPS to Kracker Barrel Store, Naches, WA 98937 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 2,390.6 | 98.2 | USPS food & fuel via ZDR, USPS map 10 | September 9 | .3mi road; USPS to Summit Inn, Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068 |
| Skykomish | 2,461.6 | 71.0 | USPS food & fuel via ZDR | September 13 | 16.2mi road west; USPS to Skykomish, WA 98288 |
| Stehekin | 2,569.2 | 107.6 | USPS food & fuel via ZDR | September 18 | 11mi road (bus possible) USPS to Stehekin, WA 98852; free camping, coin showers |
| Manning Park | 2,661.3 | 92.1 | done! | September 24 | hostel, lodge, restaurant, greyhound to Vancouver; go home! |
Note: ZDR = Zero Day Resupply. This is an online hiker food store that ships anywhere. The shopping cart shows weight and calories totals. This way I can order as I go (from my phone), adjusting menus to my changing plans, caloric needs and tastes.
