Wherever strayeds trail through life may lead from here, you turn the last page of wild convinced that a new life and the approach of middle age have actually lightened her load. Nov 05, 2018 a lot of variables play a role in how long it takes to hike the pct. Pacific crest trail backpacking packing list rei coop. The few who achieve sub100 day hikes average well over 30 miles per day. The best pacific crest trail section hikes on washingtons pct section. Start with a short hike to learn your comfort level. Whether youre a weekend warrior in it for an overnight or an ultralighter in it for the long haul, a hike on the pct is a true adventure. First nominated as a national scenic trail in 1968 but was officially finished in 1993, pct stretches through seven different national parks an.
It only covers his first throughhike in 1990, but it very closely reflected my own 99 through hike. One mans journey to peace and freedom on the appalachian trail. In 1995 a woman named cheryl strayed set out to spend her summer hiking on the pct. On top of that, pct hikers uniforms need to have other secret powers. Ive read several pct books and this is by far the most personal. Smart news keeping you current this is what it looks like when you hike all 2,650 miles of the pacific crest trail. Its best used for getting an idea of how long it will travel between resupply. Covering more than 2,650 miles will take a considerable amount of time, even at a rapid pace. How long does it take to hike the pacific crest trail. Dec 02, 2015 this is the story of a 2668 mile thru hike on americas premiere long distance footpath, the pacific crest trail. Feb 14, 2017 the 12 best books and movies about thruhiking. If you are unfamiliar with the pct or the landscapes it passes through, we recommend this book to get you familiarized with the trail and its many environments. Were here to help pct thruhikers and section hikers through the lengthy planning process.
Adventurous hikers looking for a challenge will take the high route through the sierra nevada and cascade ranges and witness some of americas most scenic and varied. Southbound thruhike guide for the pacific crest trail. Experienced thruhikers top tips for firsttimers youtube. Rybacks 1971 book the high adventure of eric ryback. In the first of four columns, pct veteran barbara egbert talks to other thruhikers about gear decisions, training, and preparation originally posted in. This is what it looks like when you hike all 2,650 miles. She soon discovers the pct has many unique challenges to throw at her. Wild is stylized to be a good novel and it succeeded but it doesnt give you daily life feel that is so characteristic of a thruhike.
Thru hiking the pacific crest trail, appalachian trail, or another long path. Firstever winter thruhike of the pct outside online. The pacific crest trail, also known as the pct, is americas second longest trail, stretching from mexico to canada through the states of california, oregon, and washington. Wild is stylized to be a good novel and it succeeded but it doesnt give you daily life feel that is so characteristic of a thru hike. Searching our website can be especially helpful in finding location names on the pct. Are you ready to hike the pacific crest trail hill, jim. These vogueesque photographs started as a drunk stunt but grew into something else along the 2,653mile pacific crest trail. In the first of four columns, pct veteran barbara egbert talks to other thruhikers about gear decisions, training, and preparation originally posted in october 2009. I think i have read every book out there regarding thruhiking the pct pacific crest. A lot of variables play a role in how long it takes to hike the pct. This guidebook is a complete guide to hiking the pacific crest trail pct, an epic 2650mile hike along americas west coast. They represent thousands of hours decades of trail research. But after reading the book over and over, he set a goal of hiking the trail. Books about the pacific crest trail fiction, memoirs, and guides are all welcome, but the pct should be the focus of the book.
We aim to be your number one resource for getting your gear, food, and resupply points in order so you can hit the trail. Reeling from the death, she was seemingly helpless as her family splintered without its matriarch. A neat book packed with factoids is roland muesers lessons learned from the appalachian trail. For hikers and backpackers, getting the chance to hike the complete pacific crest trail pct is a dream come true. If youre contemplating this adventure, then you already know that some serious planning is in order. The best sections you can hike on the famous pacific crest trail. Our cheryl strayed interview about her bestselling book, wild. I still use it sometimes when i go back and section hike. Because the pct has long, dry stretches and snowy mountain sections, many hikers select key resupply points to swap out gear. There is just something about the pct that catches you. For anyone preparing to hike the pacific crest trail, appalachian trail, or another thruhike here are top tips by experienced hikers.
Essentially, a thruhike is an endtoend backpacking trip on a longdistance trail like the a. They represent immense passion and dedication toward this. Thinking of hiking a long trail or just love dreaming about it. This 2,650 mile long trail runs from the mexican to canadian border through. This complete path guide will be useful both in preparation and during your hike, whether youre going two and a half miles or the full two and a half thousand miles. Tommy corey is primarily a wedding and portrait photographer. The pacific crest trail, officially designated as the pacific crest national scenic trail pct is a long distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the cascade and sierra nevada mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles 160 to 240 km east of the u.
Who prepares for a thru hike by reading books when you can track down a million resources from the internet. Its probably etched out in your bucketlist as something you must accomplish in your lifetime. Reviewed well by both thruhikers and would be thruhikers, cindys account of her time. If you plan on hiking or horseback riding 500 or more continuous miles along the pct in a single trip, the pacific crest trail association can issue you an. Mileages, landmarks, facilities, resupply data, and essential trail information for the entire pacific crest trail, from mexico to canada. More than a decade later, living with posttraumatic stress disorder, hed. It was computed from a host of surveys from throughhikers during his 89 throughhike. On the pacific crest trail, if one arrives at the sierras too early in the season, too much snow can make the sierras impassable. Feb 17, 2019 for anyone preparing to hike the pacific crest trail, appalachian trail, or another thru hike here are top tips by experienced hikers. The pacific crest trail, officially designated as the pacific crest national scenic trail pct is a longdistance hiking and.
This resource is designed to help you understand everything you need to know about thruhiking the appalachian trail. The best pacific crest trail resources halfway anywhere. While i planned about 95 % of my upcoming pct thru hike through the interwebs, books provided more of the personal inspiration. May 01, 2018 if youre contemplating this adventure, then you already know that some serious planning is in order.
I think wild and this book are just two different approaches. Here you will find information regarding the trail and the culture that surrounds it, gear talk, thruhike preparation, hiking strategies, social etiquette, and much, much more. Mar 03, 2015 firstever winter thruhike of the pct think cheryl strayed is tough. Some places have public transportation but its rare and a long way between. You can find pct sections, trail mileages, and resupply locations on the free pacific crest trail map from magellan. The buildup to the day you finally set out if youre planning underway gets you all thing inside.
Hiking the pct nobo north bound from the mexico border to canada has been on my bucket list since i first hiked parts of the pct in the 60s and 70s during my youth. Whats the best time to start the pacific crest trail. Perhaps the most popular question i have received from readers recently, and perhaps the most difficult to answer accurately, that is, but i can make up numbers for days. How much does it cost to hike the pct hiking gear lab. Most northbound thruhikers start the pct in midapril through early may. Trail legends and veterans offer pct hiking advice. Like other longdistance hiking trails, the pct is divided into separate sections.
The pacific crest trail is a challenging 2,650 mile 4,265 kilometer trek through california, oregon, and washington. Sorting through a deluge of advice and wondering which to pay attention to. One of the most importantand often overlookedaspects of getting ready for a pct thruhike is the decidedly unglamorous task of budgeting. Theyd all met me as guthook long before i started making apps for the pct and appalachian trail, but on this trip i tended to go by my real name rather than my trail name. A southbound thru hike of the pacific crest trail is an outstanding experience and an immense challenge. Or marvel at the snowcapped peaks along the pacific crest trail.
As far as im concerned, thats enough incentive to hike the pct right there. Thruhiking a trail is a long and difficult journey. We all had injokes and complaints about that book and its flowery prose and its outright lies. If you want to hike the appalachian trail, you cant define it as a vacation. The pacific crest trail, officially designated as the pacific crest national scenic trail pct is a longdistance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the cascade and sierra nevada mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles 160 to 240 km east of the u. Top 10 longdistance hiking trails in the us travel. From lost to found on the pacific crest trail, originally appeared in the magazine. Long trail planning guide your guide to planning a long. One that same token if you are not into hiking or the pct the book probably wont resonate as well, but that kind of goes without saying. A thruhike on the pacific crest trail is at the top of many hikers bucket lists. A bit of that magic is captured in each of the pacific crest trail books that have been published over the. Firstever winter thruhike of the pct think cheryl strayed is tough. I hiked the pct long enough ago that people didnt use cellphones and apps to navigate. Ultralight gear makes sense in the california desert, while extra weather protection is needed in the sierra and cascades.
Please note that some of the links on long trail vermont are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, the site will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase. The pct is, by its very nature, a point to point hike. Winner of the 2017 national outdoor book awards instructional category make the dream of a long distance thruhike a reality have you been dreaming of the summer when you can hike the appalachian trail. There are innumerable books on hiking, the natural world, and the various philosophies behind it all. Ask people how much they spent hiking the pct and the answers vary. It is carefully organized and includes information on the history of the trail and the regions, the flora and fauna, and tips and suggestions for resupply points. Thru hiking is a term used in referring to hikers who complete longdistance trails from end to end in a single trip. My mind was made up i was never doing another thruhike. Ask friends or post questions on the pct social media channels for advice on where to hike. The state is divided into six trail sections, and is presented in a manner to make the pct accessible to hikers of all abilities and interests. How an audiobook persuaded me to thruhike the pct there were mere days remaining of my 20 appalachian trail thruhike. One mans journey to peace and freedom on the appalachian trail stutzman, paul on.
A quick guide to thruhiking the pacific crest trail. Want to do some planning for your inevitable pacific crest trail thruhike but dont. We created this miniguide to help demystify the southbound thruhiking experience and educate you about the upsides and challenges of going from canada to mexico. The 12 best books and movies about thruhiking backpacker. While serving in iraq in the early 2000s, will robinson was rummaging through a box of books when he found an unlikely distraction.
Some information is provided for thruhikers, but the book is primarily a bigpicture overview. Thruhiking hiking a trail its entirety in one season is a longterm commitment. Winner of the 2017 national outdoor book awards instructional category make the dream of a long distance thru hike a reality have you been dreaming of the summer when you can hike the appalachian trail. Thru hike preparation is very similar to preparing for any other backpacking trip, but on a much larger scale. Were here to help pct thru hikers and section hikers through the lengthy planning process. Cheryl strayed was 22 when her mother died suddenly from lung cancer. Each year hundreds of hikers and equestrians set out to travel on extensive longdistance hikes across the trail. The authors of mountaineers books hiking the pacific crest trail series offer their top tips to help you prepare for their respective sections of the trail in southern california, northern california, oregon, and washington. A southbound thruhike of the pacific crest trail is an outstanding experience and an immense challenge. Successful backpackers can tell you what really matters. How much does it cost to hike the pacific crest trail. A bit of that magic is captured in each of the pacific crest trail books that have been published over the decades. These are the best pct sections to hike if you dont have time for the entire trail. She chronicled her story over a decade later in her book wild.
Mar 29, 2012 there the author shared the story of her long walk toward redemption along the pacific crest trail. Thruhiking means to hike the entirety of an established longdistance trail pacific crest trail, continental divide trail, appalachian trail, etc. Raised in louisiana, robinson had never been interested in hiking. Each year hundreds of hikers and equestrians set out to travel on extensive long distance hikes across the trail. Aug 14, 2017 how an audiobook persuaded me to thruhike the pct there were mere days remaining of my 20 appalachian trail thruhike. The culinary experience of the pacific crest trail is not something that will get you excited to be out on the trail in the first place. Frequently voted among the best hikes in the world, the route, which was created exclusively for backpackers and horseriders, stretches from californias mexican border to canadas british columbia.
This is the story of a 2668 mile thruhike on americas premiere long distance footpath, the pacific crest trail. Day and section hiking pacific crest trail association. The pacific crest trail through the famed sierra nevada is one of the premier trail experiences in the world. Apr 21, 2014 having lived in the eastern united states most of my life i wanted a pct trail book to help with the planning of my pct hike.
Far from being aloof from the thruhiker social scene, jim reported on his. Or simply section hike the continental divide trail. Apr 08, 2016 pct thruhikers need a real life power suit. Its often easier to find a trip in a book than it is to find it on the internet. Everything you need to know about hiking the pacific crest trail. My name is noel nelson, and i am currently backpacking the pacific crest trail. First nominated as a national scenic trail in 1968 but was officially finished in 1993, pct stretches through seven different national parks and national forests.
Pacific crest trail tips how to hike the pacific crest trail. Author cheryl strayed hikes the pacific crest trail in wild. Elite athletes who are experienced on the pct have finished the trail in as little as two months. We wanted to catalog all of the pacific crest trail books ever written because theyre worth it. Some places have public transportation but its rare and a long way between access points. A pct or cdt thruhike also entails several months of planning in order to prepare gear and resupply points. At the end of last summer, i spent a week on the pacific crest trail with some of my old throughhiking friends. The trail is 2,650 miles and it generally takes the entire snowfree season to walk.
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