So looking forward a year at a 2026 nobo thru, if all is perfect ( weather/permits permitting) for a mid april start and early June entry into sierras, I am wondering where is it best to plan to send things such as spikes, Ice age, bear canister and possibly puffy and baselayers too, Warner buff and gloves? How long would you expect to need them. A link to lighterpack for reference.

https://lighterpack.com/r/czs685

I'm looking at a 12 lb base to start, but I would add

1. bv 500- 40 oz

2.Microspikes, ice axe - 24.5 oz 3. Puffy, wool base layers warmer buff - 25 oz 4. Full rain pants (or helium) - 6oz Total 95.5 oz total

1.are Those all necessary to enter the sierras? 2. Is there anything else I should consider bringing 3. Anything to not bring? 4. Would it be better to bring a base layer or puffy for the start and cold nights in the desert? 5. Sending them home and possibly back in washington? 6. Better options? ( buying stuff right before entering / renting canister, ect?)

Thanks much in advance.

Hi, I unfortunately missed the permit release day and time that was assigned to me.. I still want to hike the PCT in 2025. I know there is another permit release day sometime in January. How likely is it to get one there and are there other ways to get them?

Thank you and all the best!!

Hi everybody,

Where can I buy an Alpha Direct 90 hoodie in Europe?

I can only find the Gpack alpha direct 120, kinda too hot, except winter alpinism.

thanks

Hey guys. Like many of us in here were all planing to do or have done the PCT. I asked my Father a few years back if he wanted to join me on the journey and while reluctant at first, he's now in heads deep and excited.

My father and i don't get to see eachother very often as ive been living overseas since 2011 so we really wanted to document our journey as much as possible and figured a small little podcast would be a way for us to talk more regularly and get a good record down so we can remember it and share a bit with friends, family and whoever else might be interested.

Right now were just talking planning, preperation and a bit if chatting about the trail. Once on the trail we plan on uploading a once a week off the cuff, no editing talks about the weeks events.

We just published our first 3 episodes on Spotify

Ill look into publishing on more platforms like audible possibly if there is interest.

Please feel free to listen. We're obviously not professionals on podcasting, but i still hope someone finds some amusement in this.

If you have any questions for us or please feel free to ask, or even suggestions for topics.

I got a LiteAF backpack for the PCT. It’s a 40L Curve Ultra 200X Full Suspension backpack which has an extra 15 liters in external pockets. Fits like a dream which is why I got it. I just packed it for a weekend trip and it’s pretty full. Bear in mind it’s not the most perfect packing but it just made me nervous about it having space enough for the PCT where I’m not ULTRA-light but as close as I can get like my big 3s comes to a total of around 3 kilos. I know the average is between 40-60 liters but what are your experiences with sizes and freaking out beforehand? 🫠 it has to be said it’s my first long through carrying EVERYTHING so it seems crazy that I’ll only have a 40+15 liter pack on 🌝 I only see now that it also comes in a 46+15 liter but it will be a hassle to return! Is it worth it though?

Updated with link to my ligtherpack here: https://lighterpack.com/r/z8ifld

I'm curious about post-hike situations. What'd yall do after you finished the PCT? Hike more? Go back to the office? Nothing? As someone who is a bit of an over-planner, I hesitate to take the plunge because of the substantial financial investment and uncertainty of what comes after.

I got engaged last year and while my fiance and I are so excited to be married, we are finding that our unique family dynamics are making it tricky to plan the wedding we want. Since we'll be hiking the PCT together next year, we have more recently been considering an elopement in the US.

Has anyone done this? If one were to get married to their hiking partner while on the PCT, where would be a good place to do it?

We are UK citizens and I understand we'd need to apply for a marriage license, which could take a few days depending on where we decide to do this.

Hi everybody,

I am French and planning to hike on the PCT about 2 months and a half next year, from late June to mid-september.

I plan to hike the whole Sierra (starting from Walker Pass) and then skip north to hike most of Washington, and maybe some short section hikes in Oregon before entering Washington.

I am not sure to have fully understood the permits rules but I see 2 options :

- to get during the January release a PCT long distance permit from Walker Pass to Canadian Border. But it seems they are still limited (1400 permits released for hikes overlaping the JMT) and the PCTA do not issue permits for northbound hikes starting south of Sonora Pass with a June start date (I would have to wait until July 1st to start from Walker Pass)

- walk from Walker Pass to KMS (no permits), to apply for a non-quota permit from KMS to Sonora Pass (permit which must be requested 2 weeks before start date) and apply in January for a PCT long distance permit from Sonora Pass to Washington (which seems non-quota). I would need to precisely plan my arrival date at Sonora Pass depending on my departure date at Walker Pass.

Am I right or am I missing something?

Am I ouf of law if I skip northern california and part of Oregon with a long distance permit (supposed to be used for a continuous trip), even if it's a non-quota one?

And besides, where would you advise me to exit the Sierra (Sonora ou Tahoe), are there highlights to see in Oregon, which sections to hike in Washington?

Thanks!

My first 4 pairs of Lone Peak 5s were great; each lasted 550+ miles. My last 3 sets of Lone Peaks (5, 6, and 7) all blew out at the sides by 200-300 miles. I'm not taking any chances anymore; I've pre-emptively glued patches along the sides (inside and outside). This way the fabric is as clean as possible for best adhesion. I have a bunch of B7000 on hand so that's what I used which should be close enough performance-wise to E6000.

https://preview.redd.it/9lbc1ffnsk3e1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b423495419d839a47f3cc2e2d0e569ad0989e8f5

https://preview.redd.it/m7excctosk3e1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8e90363e2e5ad057a7afcec8ec7117be7a350109

Farout Unlimited is $45 right now for an annual plan, and you get $100 in credits to put towards lifetime maps. Deal ends 2 Dec. So this would give you any map for the next year, AND can buy $100 worth of lifetime maps. Unfortunately yesterday I bought the PCT map, or I would have gotten this deal.

Hi. As I am getting my backpack built for my upcoming PCT hike I got a great discount on a Durston X-Mid Pro 1 with woven floor. Would you get that one vs pay the full price for the one one with Dyneema floor?

I plan on hiking from the border to lake Moreno. I will do it in 2 days So I need an over night parking location for my car. One option is to get a camping spot at
Lake Moreno, hitch to the border and pick up the car when I arrive at
Lake Moreno. Is there other options anyone can suggest.

Mostly as the title says, but I was curious if anyone had any opinions on the subject.

I’m an iPhone user, and with the recent update and a newer iPhone, apple enabled text messages to be sent and received to/from other devices via satellite, even if they don’t have satellite capabilities themselves. The emergency satellite feature already existed, but this seemed to really take it up a step. I’m sure other newer devices of other brands will have the same features.

I mostly wonder whether this makes a garmin or similar device moot? Especially since (right now) the satellite messaging and SOS is free and already built into the phone.

Can’t tell when it ends. Last year it ended Monday.

Hello all, I'm an Australian planning on doing the PCT in 2026. On the reccomendation of many posters here, I have been reading the Halfway Anywhere blog and wow, it appears that Australians comprise the largest chunk of foreign hikers on the PCT.

My question is to any Australians who have completed the PCT - what trails, if any, did you hike in prep for the PCT? For context, my friend and I are planning on doing the Larapinta in June, we also have the Tassie Overland Track loosely penciled in for April. We are based in Sydney so Bibbulmun is a no go - too far away and too long for the time being. At the moment I am just doing day hikes in the blue mountains and surrounds.

I suppose an ideal track would be something that replicates the conditions on some part of the PCT, insofar as this is actually possible. I also know that many believe you don't need that much trail experience before hopping on the PCT, but I want to do this because I love it and it makes the goal feel much more exciting / real!

Hey all, I am trying to thru hike NOBO this year on the PCT and I missed out on the first wave of long distance permits. Since I like to be fully prepared for the possibility I could miss out on the second wave of long distance permits this year I have been researching the piece wise permit process on the PCT. I noticed that a lot (if not all) want exact dates I’ll be in that section, but as any thruhiker knows, that can be hard to predict. How accurate do rangers typically require the dates on the permits to be? And how many miles a day would someone say is reasonable if I averaged 20 miles a day on the AT?

Did anyone else order the medal? It's been a month and no word from the PCTA.

I've been all-in on my thru (4/23 permit) for months now but have started to encounter my first signs of doubt.

I'm a white-collar worker outside of tech with 5 years of experience. I likely won't be able to get a leave of absence, as my bonus drops only 6 weeks before my start and I'm not willing to risk that money by broaching the topic early. Unfortunately -- white collar hiring is in something of a recession right now. Job searches are long and forums are full of people sending out 300+ apps without success.

I do have enough budgeted to cover my hike and 7-12 months of unemployment afterward, but am increasingly concerned about my employment prospects. White-collar workers (and 2025 hopefuls), what are your thoughts on 2025 vs. potentially waiting a bit?

Edit: I recognize there are plenty of post-thru 'job' posts but have found little regarding the current labor market.

I always had down jacket (patagonia down jacket, micro, rab microlight alpine) and I never had a synthetic insulated jacket like the "Rab Xenair alpine insulated jacket " with primaloft https://rab.equipment/ca/mens-xenair-alpine-insulated-jacket? or Atom Hoodye

Why should I continue to use down instead of the Rab one? Is it bad in static situations?

p.s I found it more casual too, cause the flat surface.

After going into the first round with a late time slot I knew I would have to take whatever permit date I could therefore didn’t put much thought into it. I managed to get a mid May permit and after spending the last few weeks looking for cancellations watching quite a number come and go but none being my “optimal” date I realised I don’t actually know what would be optimal for me

So I’ve begun trying to figure that out and so far have seen lots of conflicting anecdotes. This week alone I’ve seen people state mid to late May is the best, early April is the best, they really wanted a March date etc. Which this all makes sense as people have different starting fitness levels, appetite for heat/snow, life events to schedule around etc.

As someone who has done a number of LDTs of the past couple years and generally consider myself a fast hiker I’m gravitating towards end of April onwards as being good to avoid the Sierra snow but I’m going on feeling rather than well researched ideas. So I was wondering if anyone has any good tips, guides or schedules etc they can point me at so I can figure this out?

• https://www.rei.com/product/208257/garmin-inreach-mini-2

Some other thruhike-relevant stuff: https://thetrek.co/the-20-best-hiking-gear-deals-from-the-rei-winter-sale/

Hello,

I am going to hike the PCT (May 10 start). I made a list of the gear I currently own.

Lighterpack.com/r/4ypg0q

I am still missing some items:

• Satellite Phone: Garmin Inreach 2 to buy
• Bear Cannister: Buying in the USA
• Trekking poles: Open for recommendations!
• Microspikes: Buying in the USA at kennedy meadows
• Sunbrella: Gossamer Gear
• Bottom Baselayer: Open for recommendations!
• Gaiters: Alta

Is there anything I am missing and cant go without?

Much love for this community and have a nice day!