SOBO Start Point
Hey everyone! Looking for some feedback to see if my line of thinking is on the right track.
I started the PCT this year NOBO back in April. I had an amazing first month on trail and made it 454 miles to Agua Dulce before I unfortunately had to get off trail due to a stress fracture in my foot. I’ve been home over a month, and Blaze and the orthos I’ve been seeing at home are optimistic I should be healed up and able to get back on trail likely in late July.
Due to it getting later, I’m planning to flip flop and go SOBO when I head back. I’d originally thought to go all the way to Canada, but if it’s almost August by the time I’m able to get back on trail, I’m already getting late in the SOBO window. Plus, it’ll eat up a few days getting to Hart’s pass and hiking to the border. I’m also not going to be ready to crush big miles right away and make good time. When I got off trail, I was averaging around 20 miles a day and now I’ve been much less active (though still doing what I can). I’ve basically accepted that I likely won’t get the whole trail done this year, but I’ll plan to finish up sections in the future.
All that being said, I’m thinking of flying into Seattle and starting south from Snoqualmie pass. I’d then get as much of the trail done as I can this year, then save the stretch from Snoqualmie to the border to be the final section of the trail that I do in the future. That means I can still finish the trail at the northern terminus like I’d always pictured. It also means I start in slightly easier terrain than jumping right into the north cascades and I can use southern Washington and Oregon as a little more “training” time.
So, does that all make sense? Are there things I’m not considering? Is it worth taking the time/effort to go up to the border and start there instead of skipping ahead to Snoqualmie? Any advice/thoughts would be much appreciated!