To finish that whole Pacific Crest Trail by walking through it, you gotta do ’bout 15 miles every day. At that speed, it’ll take ’bout 6 months. If you’re headin’ NOBO (northbound), brace yourself ’cause Washington’s got some wild weather waitin’ for ya. But most folks up their daily miles as they go along. I started with 10 miles a day and pitched camp by 3:00 pm. Towards the end, I was on the trail for 12-14 hours coverin’ over 30 miles – pretty much what most folks do. Some hikers do over 40 miles, some do less.
Now, if you’re lookin’ to hike the whole PCT (2,650 miles) in one shot, ya gotta be real mindful ’bout the weather. Startin’ too early NOBO (March or earlier) means runnin’ into peaks and snow ’round 170 miles in at Apache Ridge. Wait too long (late May), and you’ll be trekkin’ in desert heat. Also, steer clear of them Sierra Nevadas ‘fore June unless it’s a low-snow year. Hold off enterin’ Northern California (up north of Dunsmuir) ’til early July. Plan to hit Canada by September ‘fore the snow kicks in. If you’re headin’ southbound, set off ’round mid-July and make it to the Sierras ‘fore October.
Keep in mind: the snow line in Southern California’s ’round 6,000 feet, ’bout 3,000 feet in Northern California, and ’bout 900 feet in Washington. Crossin’ a snow-free 7,000-foot peak in SoCal don’t mean you won’t find snow up in NorCal if you’re thinkin’ ’bout turnin’ north to avoid the Sierras too early. Those higher peaks in NorCal (9,000 feet) usually hold onto snow ’til August. And never underestimate the Sierra Nevada’s snowpack – can be up to 20 feet deep with high-altitude hiking above 10,000 feet.
Get yourself ready physically, gather up knowledge and gear, and you’re set for a journey that’ll define your life. Good luck out there! – Hotlips (trail name)
