The PCT

Creating the westernmost leg of the Triple Crown of Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a continuous, 2,660 mile foot & equestrian trail that traverses the US from the Mexican to Canadian Borders. As the trail snakes through the major mountain ranges of California, Oregon, and Washington, hikers travel through hot deserts, sparkling rivers, cool alpine meadows, and dark forests, all the while soaking in the   breathtaking views, variable terrain, and incredible natural biodiversity of these Pacific Coast states. Though the trail was conceived 1932, it was not completed until 1993; it now passes near some of the most beautiful and unique treasures of the American landscape, including Death Valley, Mt. Whitney (the tallest peak in The Lower 48 @ 14,505 ft), Yosemite National Park, Crater Lake, and the Cascade volcanoes (including the prominent Mt. Rainier).

PCT Facts

Length: 2,663 mi

Total Elevation Gain: 315,313 ft (59.7 mi)

Lowest Point (on trail): Cascade Locks, 140 ft

Highest Point (on trail): Forrester Pass, 13,153 ft

Thru Hiking

PCTA.ORG – THRU HIKING THE PCT

Though there are an infinite number of ways to experience the trail, the best-known method is thru hiking, which is hiking a long-distance trail from end-to-end in a single, continuous timeframe. Most PCT thru hikers choose to start at the southern end at Campo, CA, USA in mid-April and head north. After approximately 20 miles a day for 4–6 months, a thru-hiker will complete the trail at Manning Park, BC, CAN sometime in late Summer or early Fall.  2015 is shaping up to be an interesting year to be on the trail as the drought in California continues to pressure water supplies and the extremely mild Washington winter left little snowpack in the mountains. Completing the trail will require extensive and careful planning, and will be a test of both physical and mental endurance.

Hikers Galore

Since the trail was completed in 1993, PCTA.org estimates that 3,426 people have traveled the entirety of the trail and earned their passage  into the 2,600 Mile Club. Recent media has increased the general public's awareness of the trail, so the trail is becoming more popular. Though a record number of 1,468 thru hike permits were issued in 2014, only 432 people finished the trail. 

By the Numbers

Upon completing the PCT, a Thru Hiker will have:

• walked over 2,663 miles
• taken 4,678,800 steps
• gained elevation equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest from sea level 30 times
• drunk 160 gallons of water
• consumed between 500,000 and 750,000 calories
• lost 15 lbs
• destroyed 3 pairs of shoes
• fended off 6 bears, 3 rattlesnakes, and 1 gaggle of angry hippies (not really, but it would make for some great stories)

How It Works

Traditionally, thru hiking is a marathon, not a sprint. On the PCT, this means that hikers typically hike for about 6 days at a time, carrying with them a week's worth of food, water, and shelter. Every 7th day, hikers then take a day off (Zero Day, or ZD) and hitchhike a nearby town/village/hippie commune to rest and resupply.

ZD locations with "civilized" amenities are a special treat. These larger towns offer thru hikers opportunities to get a hotel or hostel room, sleep in a real bed, bathe, do laundry, and EAT (it is not uncommon to see individual thru hikers eat multiple pizzas in a single sitting).

However, some of these ZD locations have very limited amenities, so rather than expecting  a small store to be open or have adequate inventory of rations and equipment for the next week, many hikers will spend months preemptively planning, preparing, and packing meals and supplies. Hikers then have friends and family mail these resupply boxes to resupply points, where the hikers can restock for the next week.