I just spoke with Bear - The Bear - of PCT Anza and Whitewater trail angel fame/infamy (along with Ziggy). Bear was a trail angel, along with his somewhat begrudging wife Ziggy, for fifteen years, and in his last few years (until 2016) he was seeing several thousand PCT hikers on his property, using his wifi and water and eating Little Caesars he'd go and pick up in his little blue Geo. Anyway, Bear is 92 years old and has three contacts on his phone. One of them, another PCT gem, has gone MIA. Does anyone have word on what happened to Mr. Bill? Bear has been dialing him over and over and isn't getting through. Mr. Bill (Bill Jennings) was a delightful man with a sparkling laugh, living somewhere down the spectrum. He roamed up and down the trail for many years reading trail registers, taking notes and photographs, and then remembered it all by heart. He could tell you who hiked when, where they signed in, and if you were curious about the uniqueness of your trail name, he'd debunk that by telling you just how many Striders and Mary Poppins came before you. We are hoping Bill is okay somewhere, maybe recovering from a health scare. If you were ever close to Bear, reach out and Ill connect you. He's bored and can no longer walk very far at all. Ziggy is on oxygen but they're both together and hanging in there. For many, many PCT alumni, these two were practically life savers since they lived just over the I-10 at the northern foot of San Jacinto. I hate for them to feel forgotten, and am hoping the community can at least provide some information.

https://lighterpack.com/r/3bd1mm

Leaving middle of March and expecting to do mostly snow travel through the Sierras starting early May. Have done the sierra high route before in May (on skis) so I have some idea of what to expect, travel will be midnight to noonish if post holing. Full moon is May 13 and hiking in the moonlight in the sierras is absolutely magical.

Planning on resupplying in Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon instead of Kearsarge pass, then to VVR. Hopefully VVR is open by then, if not have to stretch on to Mammoth. I don't see the Cedar Grove option used very much and wonder why it is not a more popular resupply. With 7 days of food need to make 10-15 miles / day in the sierras, doable even on snow with passes.

Comments appreciated, TIA.

Hey there, first time poster.

For context: I (solo female hiker, international) secured a nobo thruhiking permit for mid April. Due to several reasons I'll probably only be able to section hike for 2 months though, and am thinking about doing the desert section + maybe the beginning of the sierra.

Is it likely that the desert section of the trail will be open and not completeley burnt down by April? The SoCal wildfires of the past weeks seem to be bigger than the ones of the previous years.

Alternatively I am thinking about doing the Long Trail in Vermont, though the trail might be a bit muddy in April.

Do you think it will be safe and worth it hiking the desert by April? I am always happy if you have any suggestions for alternative trails I could do. Thanks!

I'm from Costa Rica and have explored some sections by Tahoe and Yosemite and am marvelled at how beautiful it is and I'd like to do the whole trail one day. Right now, I am curious to escape for a hiking vacation along the PCT for 1 week. I would like to take my girlfriend and walk on an amazingly beautiful section of the trail. Where would you recommend to go?

I thru hiked the Appalachian trail and have done so many overnight long distance hikes other than the AT but it was all on the East Coast.

I am preparing for the PCT now and I am honestly overwhelmed. So many things to think of and plan for. There's not an AWOL type guide and I am finding that preparing for this hike both physically and mentally is much harder than any other hike I have done. Looking for some words of encouragement and advice!! Im dedicated and know it will be fine but man, this feels like no joke

I'm not sure how much something like this is desired or if this would ruin the "purest" game of refreshing all day long, but I had setup a bot to check the availability page and alert a discord server whenever it changes.

Ultimately, I think there's people sitting on permit dates that are less than their ideal start date that may be desired by others but won't move from the date they're holding because they're not willing to refresh the page all day long to catch the cancellations (ie. someone holding an early April date who wants a late April date and someone with the opposite desire should swap but can't because one of them would have to catch when the cancellations for the day go up). In order for more of us to get our ideal start dates, there needs to be more trading of dates and it needs to be easier for some people; refreshing for multiple hours is a waste of human effort.

Anyway, here's the invite to the server https://discord.gg/a6RuwRPS It's currently limited to just 25 slots because I don't want to overload their system . Please leave the server once you get your ideal date so I can judge if more invites should be extended.

Edit: We're at 25 now. We'll see how this effects their server in the coming days. As people become satisfied with their permit dates and leave, I expect to open the server up again.

Lighterpack link: https://lighterpack.com/r/oyvd5a

Okay, so here is what I have planned for gear so far. The base weight is quite high, because this is my “worst case scenario” list. I start in the Washington in mid June, so there will be snow and dangerous conditions. I need my spikes and ice axe. Additionally I have some extra ‘winter’ gear due to the snow, like a sleeping bag liner and waterproof socks. I have put in the comments what I plan on shedding after snowmelt.

The sleeping pad is very heavy. I have tried several models of thermarests and the horizontal baffles just suck for me. I’ve used CCF pads before and been okay but I sleep very cold. My tentative plan is take my extremely cushy wide Rapide through the snow, then after snowmelt switch to a much lighter CCF and see if I’m able to sleep through the night. I am hesitant to change it because I have slept terribly on anything other than my Rapide, even after 20+ hr hiking days with 12K elevation gain. I know eventually I will be so exhausted it won’t matter, but the loss of energy until I get there may hurt. Maybe y’all can talk me out of it!

I’m using a bear canister to start because North Cascades and Snoqualmie NF require bear resistant storage. Even though hard sided containers aren’t technically required, if I have to use one I prefer a hard sided container. I will mail it forward once out of Snoqualmie, pick it up in NorCal and get rid of it again at Kennedy Meadows. Additionally, at Kennedy Meadows I plan to swap my tent for a tarp.

I think the area most ripe for improvement is my clothing. I think I have it shaved down to max utility for min weight, but let me know. I do have a down jacket that is slightly lighter and warmer than my Arc’Teryx, but it’s worth it for me to have synthetic insulation I can stuff in a side pocket worry free.

Thank you all for the time!

So I’m trying to figure out what to do about car insurance for the next two months (my policy expires at the end of the month and my start date is in April). Has anyone found a month to month policy with decent coverage?

Edit: thanks yinz guys. Talked with my insurance again and I’m going to put my truck into “storage” when I leave. Essentially removing most of my coverage temporarily and I’ll be reimbursed for the difference.

Before I start, I just want to clarify that I am not looking to start a political debate or pass judgment on the policies of the current administration. I am not from the US and I do not have a say in any matter.

That said, as a prospective PCT thru hiker, I do have concerns regarding the proposed tariffs and deportation efforts, and how these could impact small businesses on PCT towns, as well as the price of food along the trail this year.

I understand businesses will pass increased costs along to consumers, so I am expecting a thru hike to cost more than it has in the past, but I am having difficulty forecasting how much more expensive it might be. All I can do is give it my best shot and hope I don't run out of funds.

Are there any PCT trail town business owners in here that might be willing to share their thoughts about expected price increases or potential staffing issues that might prevent them from operating as they do normally? Are any business owners concerned about being able to operate?

Any information you feel comfortable sharing would be greatly appreciated.

Dear PCT Community

I am an undergrad student from Germany and I’m currently working on my thesis! The paper will look at appealing factors of the PCT and seeks to understand why the PCT is so popular amongst long-distance hikers.

For that I am conducting 1:1 interviews and I am looking for interested people who have previously hiked the PCT (in full) to take part in the 20-30 min survey.

If you’re interested in the interview feel free to comment in the section below or get in touch with me directly. My e-mail is hannes.kenk@iu-study.org

I’d be super grateful for some feedback!

I'm launching my thru Apr 9 from the terminus. The heat and sun doesn't worry me, I know how to deal with those. The cold is what I think about.

I thru hiked the AT last year with a start day or March 3. I had a handful of nights in the teens while I was out there, and I faired well with my kit. I run very warm when I sleep, and it's a non issue when I'm moving.

Will my experience out there be similar to the AT with regards to the low temps? I'm native to the east coast, and until last week I had never been west of the Mississippi. I did a small trip to Nevada and Arizona.

Hey all.

I've been searching, but I'm not finding the specific info I am looking for...

For background, I'm a decently fit 60-year-old who has done some 'longer' hikes (Larapinta Trail in Australia, a 1,000-km extended version of the Camino, etc). I have no problem getting good mileage happening regularly. I'm not hellbent on a single end-to-end, so flip-flop doesn't deter me (other than sorting the logistics)

I've jagged myself a start date for SOBO of July 13 - I'm very excited! Being an Aussie, I have little experience with serious snow hiking, so I want to avoid any 'real' mountainous snow hiking through Washington or the Sierras. I'm trying to be cautious and safe within my experience and limitations (I'll deal with my bear & rattlesnake issues later lol).

I'm considering going with a Flip-Flop. That way, I can likely start late enough to avoid the WA snow, bounce forward to the Sierra after I get near the Oregon/Nth CA border, bounce back again and do Nth CA, and then flop to do Kennedy Meadows to Campo.

By my calculation, that gets me through the Sierra by late September, hiking through NoCal during October, and then the last section from late October to late November.

Really interested in the thoughts of experienced SOBO hikers here, as to their experience........or anyone with good experience in those sections.

I know 'weather is weather' and 'variable' from year to year, but I'm assuming the odds look good for little/no snow in WA if I leave around mid-July, and ditto for Sierra if I'm throughby late September - but what about October in NoCal and November in the desert? Does Big Bear, etc., become a risk? I've done some research on historical snow melt, etc., but I'm still not sure what that means in terms of snowy hiking.

I have attached a screen grab of a basic planning effort (you gotta start somewhere).

Any advice or thoughts are gratefully accepted!

https://preview.redd.it/pskok78h0wfe1.png?width=3218&format=png&auto=webp&s=b032068669991fed936ebb4e55f2bb0457dc9201

https://lighterpack.com/r/27bmbo

Hey there, AT thruhiker taking on the PCT this year and I'd love a shakedown of my preliminary list.

From the start: I'm a big dude and generally pretty happy hiking with this set up. With the exception of the bear can I have give or take 4000 trail miles with the same or very similar gear. There is a few areas I want advice on, which I've marked with a star on the lighterpack.

First off, I'm currently planning on packing a 15 degree sleeping bag but I have a 35 degree quilt I can swap it out for. Desert hiking is the one area where I really don't have experience so I'd like to know if I'm going overboard in terms of temperature there or if I should save the 35 degree for further down the trail.

Tent stakes are going to be swapped out but if you have a specific recommendation for a set that's less than .5 OZ per stake I'd love to hear it.

I'm currently planning on carrying 4.75 L in terms of water with the CNOC as an additional 2L reserve for longer carries. If I'm overthinking that I'm more than happy to leave the CNOC at home.

With the battery pack personally because of my estimated electronics use I really don't want to go down to 10kMAH but the weight on the Goal Zero is killer. If someone knows a 20k bank that's lighter weight I'd love to hear it.

Lastly, I'm currently pretty divided on carrying the bear canister the whole way or picking it up at Kennedy Meadows. I love camping with it due to the ease of use and time it takes, but it's obviously a heavy carry and the one way to really easily lose weight off this list. I'd love to hear any and all thoughts regarding that.

Any advice given would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Long-time r/PacificCrestTrail lurker, second-time poster. This year is finally the year for me and I am looking for some insight on my loadout. Almost all of my gear, outside of the sleeping bag and backpack, I have used extensively before and am comfortable with.

I feel I am in a pretty good spot, have shaved off significant weight over the past few months of preparation and am close to the gear survey's average baseweight. All that being said, I see other people's shakedown requests and can't help but feel I am doing something wrong or overpacking because I am running a few pounds heavier.

Maybe this isn't a big issue, maybe it is. Would love your feedback.

Appreciate your help and look forward to seeing you out on the trail!

Location/temp range/specific trip description: PCT - Mid-April

Goal Baseweight (BPW): <15

Budget: $1,000

Non-negotiable Items: Open to all reasonable suggestions

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: 

-I tend to run cold, so have moved to a 10 degree sleeping bag from a 30 degree for this trip.

-A couple years ago, I did the Timberline Trail in Oregon and ended up with a knee overuse Issue (Believe IT band) which had me hobbling up to the Timberline Lodge on the last day and out of commission for a couple weeks. I would very much like to avoid a repeat on this adventure by taking whatever precautions I can. My plan is to hopefully start slow, listen to my body, and try to keep my pack weight down.

-Originally had a kindle on here, but I am not a big reader in everyday life and doubt that is suddenly going to change on the PCT when I will be absolutely exhausted at the end of each day.

-Probably will add sun gloves, a fleece, and inflatable pillow.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/yr8fvn

Looking through the very awesome Pacific Crest Trailway book and found this map showing the (notional?) PCT traverse through northern California near Shasta:

https://pcttrailway.pctplanner.com/map07.html

At that time, the trail followed the Lava Crest Trail, which veers to the east of Shasta and doesn't hook up with the current PCT until near Hyatt Lake.

As we all know, the Klamath Knot has some spectacular scenery, but even a short glance at a PCT map makes you wonder why the trail takes such a long detour.

I have driven through that very northeast corner of California, and would guess that the terrain is probably pretty flat, hot, and dry. But so are other parts of the PCT like the aquaduct, Hat Creek Rim, and much or southern Oregon.

I'm generally wanting to know if people know what led to the "official" PCT swinging for hundreds of miles all the way to places like Seiad Valley.

When the white o ring that seals the filter to a water bottle comes off or is on the filter improperly water leaks everywhere. Do most hikers carry a backup or what? This has happened with both of mine so far.

Not an extreme harm, but I do feel like surveys people post or reference make new members feel limited or pigeonholed into thinking there is a right way to do the trail. This isn't a knock on anyone who posts the surveys either. I love statistics and research data.

I'll see someone asking about shoes and the feedback they get is the top shoe last year. Then, because everyone will use that shoe because they were referenced a survey saying it was top, it will be the top again the next year and the cycle continues. I also think it makes unnecessary stress about starting dates and causes people worry about the most popular dates, as opposed to what works best with their schedule or hiking style.

Hi all! Love being in this community. In the early days of my dream to hike the PCT I mentioned to friends they should join me for sections of it, especially near JMT and those portions. Now that my time is getting closer (NOBO 2026) I am realizing I am a little nervous people may not be able to keep up with my pacing since I will have been on the trail for a while. Now thinking if someone does want to join, I should limit it to 2-3 days and slow down to 15mi/day while they are with me. Do you all think this is a fine idea or do you think I will regret it?

Does anyone have experience thru hiking with psoriasis or other similar skin conditions (eczema, etc)? I’ve had moderate psoriasis most of my life and mostly control it with topical medications and UV phototherapy. I’ve found that backpacking and just generally getting sunshine and exercise are always helpful but they only go so far.

I’ll be starting the PCT this year (march 24) and am wondering if folks here have any tips for how they kept their psoriasis at bay while on trail without necessarily carrying a bunch of heavy medications? Or did you just let it happen and deal with it as it came up?

Thanks!

Basically in the title. Planning on entering early April this year and haven’t really planned anything because of life getting in the way. What would be your last minute planning must-dos before the trail? Have camped and trekked before, but never more than a week at a time. Please be nice.

UPDATE: Some logistics:

• I have a permit approved for early April 2025
• I have the finances to complete the hike and I’ve got a break from work
• I have all the gear required for a weekend hike/camping trip, but none of the stuff for any long distance trek and/or solo trek

I was looking for advice on

• any planning required for the expected stop over points, check ins?
• any gear I need to get that’s unique to a trek like this?
• any preplanning for start/logistics for getting to start?
• anything you didn’t do that you should have done and vice versa ?

I really want to love my Topos, but I tend to lift my big toe when I walk, which causes the shoe to rub on top. I can manage this with gel toe caps, but I’d prefer a more permanent fix. I didn’t have this issue with my Saucony Xodus Ultras, so I’m thinking about either going back to them or trying Hoka Speedgoats instead. Has anyone had the opportunity to directly compare Hoka Speedgoats with Topo?

Hey all, me and my friend both have experience camping long periods/backpacking with Conservation Corps, and we wanted to try our hand at it recreationaly. I have done a lot of research and amassed the gear. We live in Seattle, I have read that I don't need a permit for a trip on the PCT that is under 13 days. We wanted to do a weekend trip, any ideas what a good section would be to try for a begginer trip? Nearish to the Seattle area if possible. I'm not necessarily expecting fantastic views just maybe a decent spot to camp. Also what time of year would be best?

Ive always wanted to hike the some of the pct and have spent a lot of time in the sierras in the last ten plus years. I was looking to hike from Beldon down to Sierra City. My family is going to be camping a little south of Downieville. Just looking for some pointers…

Hi all --

I have an Olicamp XTS for my cooking pot. I'm headed out solo NOBO in May. It's 6.7 oz. It works great for two people, but is it overkill for just one? I do plan to be cooking (simply), so the extra space and the efficient heat transfer system would be nice. Additionally, I don't love the idea of buying something new when I already have something that works well. But, I also know extra ounces turn to pounds quick, and maybe buying something new is worth for the 3 oz weight savings. Thoughts?

I have clip on sunglasses. Has anyone cracked the code for a lightweight glasses case?

I love my Topo Ultraventures, and it's sure time for a new pair of these. Should I buy a half size up? Or stick to my original size?

I've decided to bring rain pants. Do I go for a pair like Frogg toggs or give all my money to Montbell? Is there a good inbetweener? What're your favorites?

And finally, for all my pierced thru-hiking friends... are we keeping earrings in or out for 5 months...?

Thankful as ever for this community! Grateful for any thoughts.

Hello! I'm a high schooler planning on taking a gap year. I'm trying to plan out my year, and something I really am hoping to do is the Pacific Crest Trail, but I was hoping for a little bit of insight into how to best make use of my time. For context, I'm planning on doing some seasonal work in parks to save up through the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026, on top of some other savings I have. I've already hiked the JMT, and am struggling to make a strong choice so that I can plan ahead - my two current options are hiking the entire thing NOBO or hiking just part of Oregon and all of Washington. I'm going to list my pros and cons below, but I was hoping someone could give some insight/tips and tell me if I'm missing anything!

Whole trail pros: strong sense of community, sense of accomplishment, more time on trail :), accomplishing one of my biggest goals/bucket list items

Whole trail cons: hard to finish before college starts (likely late August/early September), would the desert even be enjoyable?, just lower chance of completion

Section pros: all beautiful parts, easy to finish on time, easy to work into a schedule, less time commitment

Section cons: less community, less time on trail, less accomplishment, regretting never trying the whole thing

Does anyone have any advice/which way would you choose? And is there anything blatantly missing from this list?