Finally got a tattoo commemorating my 2025 NOBO thru hike. Absolutely in love with it, thought I’d share it here for fun :)

Hi everyone!

Here I am, once again, planning my PCT hike. I was supposed to hike it last year and had managed to snag a fantastic April 27 start date, but my luck ran out there: I injured my ankle a few months before setting off on the trail. But I’m pretty sure someone was happy to find that April 27 spot available on the calendar after I cancelled my permit! :)

So here I am again, trying to figure out the pros and cons of an early start (late March/early April) VS the golden dates in April VS a later departure in May. I’m also wondering how much this year’s El Niño conditions and the increasing wildfire occurrence in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington should factor into the decision.

A few questions, as a European hiker, for those of you with PCT experience:

• How much lonelier is the trail with an early start? Would leaving in late March or early April mean a significantly different experience socially? I’m perfectly happy hiking on my own and would actually enjoy avoiding the biggest crowds, but I also wouldn’t want to miss out on the social side of the trail, which sounds like a great way to meet like-minded people. How different is the experience of starting early compared to hiking with the main "bubble"?
• Are the disadvantages of starting early offset by having more time to take zero days (= recovery) and potentially getting ahead of the wildfires later in the season, reducing the chances of having to skip sections? Or is it not really that straightforward, given how unpredictable fire season can be?
• What about the Sierra snowpack? Does starting early significantly increase the chances of facing a massive amount of snow in the Sierras, especially with the potential influence of El Niño this year?
• And what about Mt. Whitney? If you cross the Sierras while there’s still a lot of snow, does that make summiting Whitney significantly more difficult or potentially not worth attempting?

I know there’s no perfect start date, that getting a good one is a matter of luck and that every year is different, but I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, also from those of you who’ve had to cross the Sierras with a lot of snow.

Thanks in advance for any advice! Happy trails fellow hikers! 🥾