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Brian Dickson | profile | all galleries >> Pacific Crest Trail 2600 miles across US 1998 >> California South tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

California South

The first part of our journey started the Mexican border with California , near a town called Campo in April 1998. From here we intended to keep walking to Canada. See also our blog
The Mexican Border -Campo
The Mexican Border -Campo		 martina in grass san felipe
martina in grass san felipe		 brian with anzo view
brian with anzo view		 brian with poppies
brian with poppies		 valley poppies before the mojave
valley poppies before the mojave
cactus group
cactus group		 deep creek
deep creek		 1998 PCT South California San Jacinto, camp in snow
1998 PCT South California San Jacinto, camp in snow		 san jacinto spring traverse in snow
san jacinto spring traverse in snow		 1998 PCT South California Camp north of Julian, on sand
1998 PCT South California Camp north of Julian, on sand
cactus flower
cactus flower		 martina in flowers
martina in flowers		 sunshade 1- canadian
sunshade 1- canadian		 sunshade 2 - hikin mike
sunshade 2 - hikin mike		 sunshade 3 - marathon man
sunshade 3 - marathon man

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Brian Dickson29-Mar-2004 16:52
Hi Jack thanks for the note and nice comments.
We started April 25th 1998 at campo with the intention of going all the way north to Canada. 1998 was the 'El Nino' winter which effected us with more than usual snow levels. This was great in the desert as it meant (relatively) plentiful water and lots of flowers but the high ground stayed snowy longer than normal. For instance san jacinto was a short but very snowy section. From kennedy meadows north there is a lot of continual high country which would have been snow covered. We decided to switch at Walker Pass (about 50 miles south of Kennedy)on 7th June. We could have waited it out there as another option but decided instead to go to the Canadian Border and Manning Park. There was lots of snow here too but the Cascades in northern Washington are a little less high, dip lower and the El Nino effect that year was less up there. We still had lots of snow travel! But the lovely change of scenery to green lush forest and mountain put a spring to our step and we never regreted 'flip-floping'. We started south on 16th June after a pleasant break around Vancouver Island. I should say that others made it through northward particularly those a bit later and 'Chris and janelle' about the same time as us- so it was possible.
I think that snow levels this year are near normal(?) so I wouldn't think you should have any reason to stray from a northward hike. The last few days north to the Canadian border are tremendous and will be a great climax. We did a 21mile day hike around Harts pass last summer and it was as good as I remember. Incedently, our hiking partner here, Brian Sweet now runs a bookstore in Winthrop off Harts Pass (Trail end Bookstore).

Hope this helps and above all have a great hike !!!! Brian
Rafter Jack 29-Mar-2004 15:15
Hi , Thanks for excellent pics . I through hiked the AT in 04 and am headed to s calif next month to start north on PCT . Interested in reasosns for flip flopping as you did( ?) ; what about snow in North ( washington state ) and what were your start and flip flop dates . Wonderful and thank you . Jack Patterson ( Rafter Jack )
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