How to hike the Pacific Crest Trail

How to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail

In 2015, I decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.  It was kind of intimidating.  A 2650 mile hike.  Where do you start?  The key for me was when I realized it was just 26 hikes, each consisting of a 4-7 day hike.  In between those you hit a road and can resupply.

Have a look at this map made by the PCTA.  This explains it all.

https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/maps/overview-maps/

Here is more of an introduction:

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650-mile long-distance trail running from the U.S.–Mexico border in California to the U.S.–Canada border in Washington. It passes through deserts, the Sierra Nevada, volcanic terrain in Oregon, and the North Cascades in Washington.

Most hikers take four to six months to complete the full trail.

Section 1: Direction and Timing

Northbound (NOBO)
Start: Late March to early May.  The crux will be snow levels from Kennedy Meadows to Northern Yosemite.  Snow is persisent into June depending on the snow year.  If you start before April in a big snow year you will hit a lot of snow
Most popular direction

Southbound (SOBO)
Start: Late June to early July
A low snow year in Washington makes this an awesome choice.
Smaller crowds, tighter weather window

Section 2: Permits

If hiking more than 500 miles, you need a PCT Long Distance Permit.

Apply through the Pacific Crest Trail Association
https://www.pcta.org/permits/

Section 3: Planning and Research

Trail navigation app (most commonly used)
FarOut
https://faroutguides.com/

National weather forecasts
https://www.weather.gov/

Section 4: Gear Essentials

Get your big 4 down to less than 8 lbs.

These are your big 4:

Backpack: Your backpack should be 3 lbs or less. 50–60 liters is typical.  Anything less than that and you will have all sorts of things hanging from your pack.  An Osprey Exos 55(2.84 lbs) is a great pack that is durable and has some padding for comfort.  For ultralight try a Gossamer Gear Mariposa(2 lb).
Tent: tarp, or bivy:  Big Agnes UL1 or 2.  Awesome rugged tent.  You will never regret it.
Sleeping bag or quilt:  If you have the money Western Mountaineering bags are the best!  Enlightened Equipment bags are good too.  
Sleeping pad:  I used a Thermarest Zlite the whole way.  It doesn't pop.

Water capacity of at least 4–6 liters for desert stretches
Bear canister required in the Sierra Nevada
Crampons and ice axe depending on snow conditions. 

Microspikes are useless in the mountains and dangerous.  Every year injuries and deaths happen because people try to use these on steep terrain.
Navigation app or maps

Recommended base weight range: 15–20 pounds before food and water

Section 5: The Trail by Region

Southern California: the Desert or the Dessert for Southbounders
Hot, exposed, long water carries depending on what time of year you are in the desert.
Can be the hardest section.

Sierra Nevada - Kennedy Meadows to Tahoe

You will now have lakes and rivers for almost the whole way to Canada.  Please go swimming everyday!  And rinse your clothes in the rivers and lakes.  Help us locals who pickup hitchhikers not die from toxic fumes!
High elevation, potential snow travel
Bear canister required
Highest point: Mount Whitney

Northern California
Hot stretches and long forest sections
Mental challenge for many hikers

Oregon
Smoother trail, larger daily mileage possible
Mosquitoes can be intense depending on season
Highlights include Crater Lake and Mount Hood

Washington
Rugged terrain and dramatic scenery.  1 of the best sections of the PCT.  Depending on time of year you can eat huckleberries all day.  Don't forget to put some mileage in between huckleberry stops.
Weather becomes a major factor late season.  It starts raining in September and tops in June.

Section 6: Food and Resupply

Most hikers resupply every 3–7 days.
Options include grocery stores in trail towns or mailing boxes ahead.

Popular resupply planning resource
Community resupply spreadsheet
https://tinyurl.com/PCTResupply

Expect to eat 3,000 to 6,000 calories per day.

Section 7: Budget

Estimated total cost: $3,000 to $5,000

Major expenses:
Food
Town lodging
Replacement gear
Transportation

Section 8: Physical Preparation

Any kind of hiking or walking with a heavy pack will help.  Even your back and shoulder muscles need to develop.   A friend of ours on trail used to carry a 25 lb pack everywhere he went for a month before doing a thru hike.  He is a triple crowner!

When you start hiking the PCT your body will go through some changes.  One of the coolest things about doing a thru hike is feeling your body change and turn into a machine.  It does take about a month of walking almost every day.  The first week your muscles will adapt.  You will be tired and a little sore.  The second and third weeks your muscles are strong and  tendons and ligaments start adjusting and this takes longer.  After a month, you will probably be doing 20 miles per day.  The only thing that may slow you down is if there is a lot of snow in the Sierra for NOBOs.

Increase mileage gradually.  We averaged 15 miles per day on our first section, 18 miles per day on our second section and then it was at least 20 miles per day after that.  Doing it southbound we were doing 25-30 miles per day through the desert.    We could have pushed it more too, but weren't in a rush.

Take care of your feet!  Your feet are going to swell to 1 to 2 sizes bigger than normal.  Buy your shoes on the trail.  I used 5 pair of shoes.  The best for me were the La Sportiva Ultra Raptors.  I took them from Mammoth Lakes to Campo.  800+miles!  Topo Athletic Ultraventures or Traverses are good shoes if you have a wide foot.

Section 9: Challenges

Wildfire closures and reroutes
Extreme heat or snow
Mental fatigue
Loneliness or social overload

Success comes from waking up everyday and walking South or North.  It is that easy.  Oh and don't forget to eat, and eat, and eat.  And eat some more!

Section 10: Final Advice

Just keep on hiking!

Start slower than you think you should.
Stay flexible with plans.
Take care of your feet.
Respect weather and fire conditions.
Keep walking.

Completion of the PCT is less about speed and more about consistency.