Selecting Start Dates Based On Typical Conditions

Choosing a start date is one of the most influential planning decisions for a long distance hike. The timing determines which seasonal conditions a hiker is likely to encounter at different points along the route, including snow cover, heat, storm cycles, and hours of usable daylight.

Educational discussions of start dates are oftengin with historical averages. For example, hikers may look at typical snowmelt timing at key passes, median last-frost dates in lower valleys, or patterns of extreme heat later in the season. They then consider how long they expect the hike to take and where they might be when major seasonal transitions usually occur.

An early start can provide more time to complete the hike but may involve colder temperatures, patchy snow, and limited water access in regions where supplies depend on snowmelt. A later start can reduce early snow exposure but may introduce risks such as late-season storms, early snowfall at the end of the hike, or hiking through peak heat or wildfire seasons.

Direction of travel also matters. Northbound and southbound hikers on the same route can experience very different seasonal sequences. Flip-flop strategies, where hikers start in a central location and later complete the ends, allow more flexibility in managing seasonal windows but add logistical complexity.

Any decision about timing must account for personal experience, comfort with various conditions, and willingness to adapt if the year unfolds differently from historical trends. This article is informational only and does not provide individualized recommendations or assurances of safety.