Here's a link to a good article for some perspective on wintery conditions, which is what you'll see in May. You'll be traveling and camping mostly in the 10,000 - 13,000 ft range from Onion Valley south. Ned teaches winter mountaineering courses and often does an early check on Forester Pass conditions for the PCT hikers coming through (typically in June). Ned may have trail broken for you with some good beta on conditions at
Mountain Education .
PCT Communicator Article Here's a link from PCTA with comparison photos from early season and later season through the Sierra. This year in early May should be less difficult than June 2011, but it's still very early for any year, as we've been saying. There's a lot of snow at the higher elevations and it will be at or near peak runoff.
Sierra Comparison Photos If you decide to take this on that early in the season, a trip report with pix would be valuable for others coming through. Just be sure to make a realistic assessment of your skillset relative to the challenges you will face.
