June 14, 2010 , WA please help

This is not completely ski related but I hope everyone can understand since it's still backed with the same passion and the freedom of the mountians.

I am hiking the PCT southbound starting in B.C. and I would like to start this weekend (6/18). I don't think there is a site I haven't researched or a Park Ranger station in WA that I haven't spoken with, so now I would like to ask advice from the people who are out in these areas everyday.

I am considering skiing and skinning to start my hike from the boarder just East of Castle Peak down through Castle Pass, Hopkins Pass, Woody Pass, Windy Pass, Harts, Glacier, Cutthroat and then I know I will be dropping too much elevation to continue on ski. From there I do continue between 3-6k ft into Highway 2 and then continues with similar gains and loses. 

I guess my true questions are would it be worth bringing skis and how much do you think I will be carrying them compared to riding them? How far do you think I could make it before they become a burden? Without skis once I climb out of BC up Castle Pass about what elev does the snow become constant and will I be post holing all the way to hwy 20. Are snowshoes a MUST if the skis aren't beneficial? I know with me only giving limited info I can only expect limited feedback, but anything will help and be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Mid-June is late for skiing in the area between the Canadian border and Highway 20. But it's early for hiking in the same area. My educated guess is that you're in for a lot of work, however you do it. The worst part will be the transitional areas where it's part snow and part dry trail.

My guess is that snowshoes would be poor for this, since a lot of the high country involves side-hilling. Snowshoes suck for side-hilling. Skis are much better for that.

The one saving grace about this spring is that the snow transition zone is pretty sharp. But this is only helpful when you're following a route that climbs through the transition zone directly. I'm not sure that's true along the crest trail.

If I was attempting this, I would probably bring lightweight skis. But of course this means having boots that you can ski in, which won't be much fun to hike in. My personal view is that hiking south along the crest trail from the Canadian border at the present time is a questionable plan. (There are good reasons why most crest trail hikers go south to north later in the summer.) But maybe you're looking for an adventurous workout. If so, good luck with it!

Right now western Pasayten snow levels are down to roughly 5800 feet (as seen in Manning Park on the 12th). They are not necessarily continuous above that. That sounds just wrong for your trip.

Yea the idea of humping boots and skis seems a little much unless you use something like a Karhu Guide, a Silvretta 500 binding and just use hiking boots with welts or crampon capable.  Then you only have to carry skis as extra weight (until you ditch them) as your poles and boots stick around.  Bring extra snow baskets for your poles and maybe lightweight skins cut down for weight and to conserve pack space.   Also, as you probably already know, the PCT isn’t well marked and disappears under the snowpack leaving you to your orienteering skills and sense of direction. 
Sounds like quite an adventure!

I'm hard-pressed to think of a more difficult section of PCT to travel right now. Even the Sierra, snow-choked as it is, seems like it would be easier travel, since you'll have better weather and a higher likelihood of overnight freezes on the snow, so you might be able to manage just with crampons. Then once through the Sierra you could start in Canada sometime in July, and could lollygag south without having to worry about getting shut down by fall storms in the Sierra.

Good luck...sounds like a great workout and adventure either way.

i have hiked the PCT south through washington & oregon - i think with this start date i would be ready to leave the skis behind.