Explore the Pacific Crest Trail with expert preparation insights and gear recommendations. Discover firsthand experiences and valuable tips to enrich your hiking adventure on this iconic trail.
I would divide preparation into four domains: self (mental/physical), food, gear, and other essentials.
Self (Mental+Physical): As others have noted, minimal walking prep is crucial to acquire trail legs in the initial weeks. We adjusted our packs repeatedly to find the optimum comfort and weight distribution. Practice walking 5-12 miles in Brooklyn wearing the pack.
Mountain Education’s Winter Skills Course surprised me with the need for an ice axe, enhancing directional/navigation skills crucial amidst 500 snow-covered miles. Mountain Ned (instructor Ned Tibbits) even taught self-arrest techniques.
Attend ADZPCTKO home: An annual PCT kickoff event. Connect with fellow hikers, gain insights, receive last-minute advice, and meet PCT legends. Some vendors offer ultra-light gear, potentially allowing last-minute purchases of shelters or packs. Bonus: Walking the first day from the border to Lake Morena with nearly empty packs (slackpacking) offers a chance to shower!
Research: Read books, watch videos, study maps, check old blogs to grasp what lies ahead. Resources we found invaluable:
– Yogi’s Pacific Crest Trail book and cards (had relevant cards)
– Eric the Black’s Pacific Crest Trail map book, our daily go-to during the hike, though not always 100% accurate
– Halfmile’s PCT maps, highly detailed and free, great for navigation
– Tom Harrison’s maps, particularly for California, beautiful and accurate
– Join PCTA: Pacific Crest Trail Association. Supporting an organization maintaining and enriching the trail is admirable and a great resource in planning mode.
General Information
The people are amazing. Meeting hikers of varied ages and abilities worldwide will likely inspire you, forming lifelong friendships. We met a 10-year-old and an 86-year-old thru-hiker and cherish the friendships formed. Walking, camping, zero days in trail towns, sharing stories – these are treasures.
You’ll likely find yourself hungrier than ever, constantly daydreaming about food, especially in desert areas. We once debated grilled cheese for 47 minutes – types of bread, cheese, garlic butter. Imagine that – 47 minutes!
Expect disconnection; the trail offers minimal internet service. It’s an unplugged cleanse. Major world events may unfold, but you’ll only know weeks later.
Parts of the trail may be inaccessible due to fires, necessitating “road walks” on less scenic paths.
Despite the number of people on the trail, you’ll spend most of your time alone, walking silently for about 10-12 hours/day, repeating the routine.
If hiking with others, ensure a comfortable relationship; the PCT isn’t glamping. You’ll reveal unintended flaws, fears, weaknesses, but overcoming them makes it a profound shared experience.
Food: Estimate food needs based on section lengths, elevation profiles, previous hikers’ speeds, and your calorie requirements. We sent resupply boxes to most towns. Check my food blog post: “Food, Glorious Food!” and resupply locations list.
We had adequate food at each stop but enjoyed additional treats in Oregon and Washington due to faster pacing.
Gear: A year of research and purchases focused on lightweight (UL) gear. Weight and durability are key. Our gear list from 2010 may need updating.
Leave space for resupply boxes sent by family. Inov-8s were fantastic.
Kahtoola MICRO spikes are lifesavers; we acquired them late but appreciated them.
Other Essentials
Send detailed instructions including expected schedule and shipping addresses to interested friends and family. Receiving unexpected care packages is thrilling.
Our resupply boxes had cash; not every town has ATMs or accepts credit cards. Cash also helps with trail angels’ assistance.
Expect questions before departure: “Take a gun! Are you crazy? What about work?”
But the sense of achievement upon reaching the border is unparalleled!
