Dear ‘PCT Class of 2023’ friends and family - they will be fine.
If the thought of your loved one thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is keeping you up at night, I got you!
Be their biggest cheerleader as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime, with this round up of what to expect before, during and after their hike.
What is thru-hiking? Thru-hiking is a term used when you hike the full distance of an established long distance hiking trail (like the PCT) in one go, travelling in one direction from start to finish. If you didn’t get off trail for an extended period of time, you are a thru-hiker!
What’s involved in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)?
Key facts:
Distance covered - 2,654 miles
Hike from the USA/Mexico border to USA/Canada border (or vice versa)
Hike through California, Oregon & Washington
Planning, preparation and over-thinking everything! There is a lot that goes into preparing to hike the PCT, from deciding which direction to hike and applying for the permit - to sorting out life admin, like what to do about your house, car, job etc.
Every year the PCT gets more and more popular - which on the one hand is great as they won’t be hiking alone. The flipside is that it’s getting a lot harder to get a permit.
The Pacific Crest Trail is one of three long distance hikes in the USA, alongside the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail - known as the Triple Crown of Hiking.
What to expect before they start hiking.
Before they even step foot on the trail, there are a few key things to sort out:
Save money ~ thru-hiking for 4-6 months isn’t cheap, especially if they need to buy all the gear (budget tools).
Decide which direction to hike ~ SOBO (southbound) or NOBO (northbound).
Get a permit from the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) ~ permit application is limited to selected dates only and there is a limited number available.
Food re-supply strategy - there are a few stops on the trail where they will need to send a box ahead of time.
Hear from previous PCT hikers:
Chippy, from Perth, hiking the Sierras in 2019.
Learn more about the trail by reading what previous hikers share about their experience.
Check out Chippy’s experience on the PCT in 2019.
What to expect when they start hiking.
Life on the trail is simple, beautiful and hard!
Good days, bad days - they will experience them all. A huge part of hiking a long distance trail is the people they will meet along the way - including trail angels and tramily!
The good news is that the trail is well marked and the FarOut (formerly Guthook) app is fantastic, working offline so they will know where they are at all times.
You may not hear from them as much as you would like, however there are a few options available as and when they are areas with limited or no service.
A lot of things will be out of their control when they are hiking, from extreme weather conditions and injuries to trail closures.
Example of trail closures ion 2022.
Day one on the PCT, at the Southern Terminus.
On my PCT hike in 2022, I made it a far as Harts Pass as we were unable to hike to the Northern Terminus due to the trail being closed.
What to expect when they return home.
It’s bitter sweet! They will be glad to return home and reunite with friends and family and relish in creature comforts.
On the other hand, they will miss the trail and new friends made. Often finding it hard to re-adjust to ‘normal’ life.