7 Things to Know About the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail)

Recently, I streamed the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episodes on Netflix and became intrigued when character Lorelai, single mother of grown daughter, Rory, decided to clear her head by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which would be just like her, when part of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail runs through Connecticut, probably right past fictional Star Hollow’s backyard.

Lorelai had read Cheryl Strayed’s PCT memoir, Wild, which was made into the movie starring Reese Witherspoon. Personally, I think it would have quirkier if she had decided to follow the footsteps of a middle-aged man, as in Bill Bryson’s book, A Walk in the Woods, which was based on a memoir of an Appalachian Trail hike and was made into a movie starring Robert Redford.

Being somewhat familiar with the Appalachian Trail, since I reside closer to that one, I was intrigued to find out that the west coast had a similar trail. So, I added Wild to my Netflix DVD.com queue, and after watching the movie, decided that I won’t be attempting the trail anytime soon, but here are seven things about the PCT you might find interesting from the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) and Wikipedia.

1. The trail was first proposed in the 1920s and was not declared finished until 1993. Most of the construction occurred after the National Trails System Act took effect in 1968. The PCTA organized volunteers to assist the federal government for the project.
2. The PCT is 2,650 miles long and runs from Mexico to Canada cutting through California, Oregon, and Washington. It’s never been mapped with sophisticated tools, and it ranges in elevation from sea level to 13,153 feet.
3. Many notable sights along the way, include the John Muir Trail, which runs 211 miles along the PCT from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney through Sierra Nevada mountain scenery. Other notable locations include: Ansel Adams Wilderness, Mount Hood National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, and many, many more.
4. Water is an issue on the PCT. Sometimes 30 miles stretches between water sources. Faucets and water tanks can run dry. Careful planning is necessary. Too much water is an issue, too. In the Sierra Nevada, early season travelers find snow, and in the early spring, creeks rage across the trail.
5. Permits are necessary for day trips and overnight along the PCT. For shorter trips, permits can be obtained at trailhead kiosks. For those planning trips of 500 or more continuous miles in a single trip, long-distance permits are available. Both types of permits are free, but can be limited in number.
6. The Pacific Crest Trail can be dangerous. It’s the wilderness. Weather, falling rocks, and wild animals exist on the trail. Ray Echols perished when he lost his footing and fell 200 feet. It’s not free of crime, either. Cell phones don’t always work, so getting help in an emergency might be difficult. Personal locator beacons work well, though.
7. It takes time and money to hike the entire PCT. The average time commitment for hiking is five months. That’s after six months of training and planning. Most northbound hikers start in mid-April through early May. Southbound hikers start in late June through early July. Expenses usually total from $4,000 to $8,000 to hike the entire trail.

So, there you have it: seven things to know about the Pacific Crest Trail. In the USA, there’s also a Continental Divide Trail (3,100 miles) and a coast-to-coast trail called the American Discovery Trail. That one, with its two alternate routes, spans 6,800 miles.

If you’ve hiked any of these trails, please comment below. I’d love to hear about your experience.

Ann Silverthorn

Disclaimer: I am a member of Netflix’s DVD.com Director’s program, which gives me free access to movies. If you sign up with my referral link, I may receive a referral reward.