Bumped into these gals today. They started a few weeks ago at Manning Park, but snow and bad blow downs forced them to abandon the PCT to hike the Railroad Tracks near Wenatchee. ( This is not a good year for a Southbound thru-hike) We talked briefly and took the photo. My take would be to take a bus down to Lone Pine and start hiking North, then flip and do the desert in late October/ Nov. Emma on Right has hiked the AT.. Good Luck gals...