Pacific Crest Trail Planning:

our thru-hike experience is with the John Muir Trail and Camino de Santiago, but we section hiked the PCT -  completing it in Sept 2010. 

My definition of long distance hiking is hiking trips that are three or more weeks.  The amount of preparation, and the mindset seems to change around that point.  John Muir Trail and the Camino de Santiago are on other pages of this site. The Pacific Crest Trail and some tips we have learned along the way: 

Pacific Crest Trail:

Runs for 2660 miles from Mexico to 12 kilometers inside the Canadian border.  This is a national scenic trail.  Roughly 600 people started it in 2015, and about 60% completed it.  The Pacific Crest Trail Association maintains a web site that is the primary source of information about the trail.  They have a store on the website that carries the most important publications.

PCT Frequently Asked Questions

If you are in a hurry, just check our PCT FAQ list then come back here for details.

Permits:

 If you are going more than 500 miles on the PCT, a permit for the trip can be gotten directly from the PCTA link below. You do not need anything additional in order to summit Mt. Whitney from the west (pct) side. As of 2020, permits have gotten more complex and you should go directly to the PCTA site below to see the details. The highlights are that if you are starting near the Mexican border, there are different quotas and application days that if you are starting elsewhere. Trips must be continuous if you are getting the over 500 mile permit. If not continuous, you have to get permits from the local agencies.
pcta.org/discover-the-trail/permits

You always must get a US Forest Service Campfire Permit, For a campfire permit, print and fill out this presigned permit:
permit.preventwildfiresca.org  The permit is good for any National Forest in California.


Section Hikers going less than 500 miles will have to get the appropriate wilderness permit for their hiking area. (over 500 get the PCT permit).
The wilderness permit is more of a problem. The PCTA has a useful page with an interactive map that shows where local permits are needed. pcta.org/discover-the-trail/permits/local-permits/
We have gotten one from the 1st area we enter, and the later areas honor it. Call the areas you are going to enter weeks in advance, and try to get a permit by mail or fax. 

If you are planning on PCT section hiking thru the Desolation Wilderness (near Lake Tahoe), be sure to call the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit's permit line directly at 530 543-2694 to get a wilderness permit, rather than the normal Desolation Wilderness permit process . They'll waive the usual reservation fees, let you jump the line in front of the April "opening day" of permit season, and the permit you are issued will be different in one significant way: It allows you to camp in Desolation on the PCT without having to go through the LTBMU's zone system for overnight use. Thanks to David P. from PCT-L for the info.

Map Resources:

For useful planning maps, get the official Forest Service maps, at 1" to the mile. www.pcta.org  has some of them, but to get all that are available, go directly to the forest service store site , Browse thru those maps, and select the ones you want. These are beautiful, sturdy but heavy maps. You might not want to carry them, but very good for planning.

I used the discontinued National Geographic Topo State software for California, Oregon and Washington to print the maps I carry with me. I also carried a gps which I turned on a couple of times a day when I needed an exact location. I displayed the gps location using UTM coordinates instead of latitude longitude, because everything is in 10ths and easy to estimate. This means that I had to print my Topo maps with UTM grids. It is important to specify that you want your grids at 1000 meter intervals, not miles, so you can easily estimate distance between grids. Now you can use Halfmile's free maps (in book list later), or Scott Parks Pocket PCT maps, a three volume set, also in book list.

For the John Muir Trail segment, the Tom Harrison JMT Map Pack is excellent.

https://postholer.com/ is a good map, journaling and forum site. He has a Google maps version of the entire PCT, including MyTopo view. He sells PCT map books.
https://postholer.com/gmap/pct.php

PCT Elevation Profiles - Paul Bodnar's Pocket PCT contains them, as does Scott Parks's Pacific Crest Trail Pocket Maps series.
GPS waypoints, topo versions, pdf versions of sections A thru K at Halfmile's site https://www.pctmap.net/ . Tis is the primier free map and trail notes link. You can download gps tracks and trail notes there, as well as the map. Also, he has an associated app for android and apple devices.

If you have a recent Garmin GPS, they have released a complete PCT download/cd with complete 1:24000 topo maps. See Garmin download site.


Erik the Black's maps are no longer online since he published his guidebook. https://www.erikasorson.com/ . He has started publishing (in spring 2008) a series of guidebooks with maps and data points included: PCT Trail Atlas.

PCT on Google Earth: pcta.org/discover-the-trail/maps/google-earth/  once you click this, click the placemark. You have to have downloaded Google Earth free software for it to work.

OpenStreetMap - pct is also here, but I haven't been successful at using it yet: https://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/relation/1225378/

PCT Magnetic Declination: For map and compass work, critical to know. This site will give declination for any latitude and longitude, and has tools for finding latitude and longitude: ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/calculators/mobileDeclination.shtml 

smartphone use as a GPS - in airplane mode

Apps such as FarOut, maps.me Gaia use gps and work in airplane mode. The question becomes how do I keep my phone charged? FarOut Guides site has a good writeup: faroutguides.com/getting-the-most-from-your-phones-battery/

Gadget's hints on smartphones, etc. on the pct:

https://postholer.com/smartPhone.html

GPS - How to get your track on a map

This is a little off topic, but if you are interested in the various ways to see your GPS track on a map, check out Two-Heel Drive's blog entry on the subject.

Water Reports:

A Critical PCT Resource: http://pctwater.com/ . A table with line for each water source, box for comments and date reported. People support it by sending updates. Still going strong in 2013. Just covers Southern California. Created by AsABat and carried on in his memory..

Water Consumption:

 In the desert sections the general rule is to carry 2 gallons per person per day. Another guideline for water consumed is by miles per liter: 4 mpl normal weather, 3 mpl hot weather. Cook your meals at a water source if possible, even if it means main meal at midday so that you only have to carry enough water to support your hiking. If it is very hot, start about 5am, hike till 10, take a break till 3pm and hike till 6 or 7pm. To carry water, four 2L soda bottles or two 4L Dromlite or platy bags are commonly used. We find a meal for two takes 1.5 liters.
 
 Some people use a rule of drink a liter carry a liter. We have tried this and it works fairly well. You can drink an entire liter at a water source, though it might take you 5 minutes or so. That will carry you 3 to 5 miles, and the liter you carry will take you another 3 to 5 miles. If that gets you to the next water source you have a plan that works. If you do this, carry a pump or steripen, as treated water needs 4 hours to kill everything.

Doing a spreadsheet with a row for every mileage point in the Data Book was a critical part of our planning. At this point, Halfmile's trail notes have replaced
the Data Book, so you could just print out a set and annotate it with your info.

An example in Google Docs: Spreadsheet for Agua Dulce to Kennedy Meadows. One for Ashland to Shelter Cove.

My Blog entry on planning for long distance hiking

https://timecheck00.blogspot.com/2008/10/long-distance-walk-planning.html

My Blog entry on repackaging food

https://timecheck00.blogspot.com/2008/07/repackaging-backpacking-food-our-menu.html

Early Season Fording Techniques:

If you are a PCTer, you will have a number of fast deep crossings requiring extreme caution.  Evolution Creek is the deepest, sometimes chest high at the normal crossing point, but not very fast. Others are not as deep but fast and dangerous. Usually early morning is best - may be 12 inches lower than late afternoon. Tyndall Creek, Bear Creek, south fork of Kings River, Rush Creek, Kerrick Canyon (northern Yosemite) are some of the others. Consensus from PCT-L forum is to use hiking poles or sticks to get 4 points of contact, keep body facing the opposite shore, angle upstream to keep the force of water from collapsing your knees, wear synthetic fast drying clothes, take off long pants, unfasten waist belt. If shoes and boots are already wet leave them on. Walk between rocks, not on them. If wearing trail runners leave them on - some people take socks off. During dry weather if you have to cross in your boots, remove socks and boot liners, wipe out boots after crossing and reinsert liners.  You will walk dry quickly.  You need something to protect your feet (I have gone barefoot in midsummer and it is painful. I have carried lightweight kayak shoes for camp and river crossing - better than bare feet. I don't want the weight penalty of Tevas).   With normal sierra weather you will dry as you walk fairly soon.  If chilly, put on fleece after crossing.

Note: Oregon and Washington also have dangerous watercrossings. Some of these are glacier fed, and the volume may triple between 11 am and 2 pm, so cross early.

Bear Creek Stream Crossing Video:

Crossing is about 4 minutes into the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g577uUwBnjc&feature=channel_page

Sandra & Larry's Trail Journal - for high snow year experience:

https://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=148318  Read from 6/11/06 forward.

Postholer's Snow Depth Chart:

https://postholer.com/cgi-bin/postHoler

Poison Oak - what it looks like:

I've been thinking about putting a page together on this for several years. Fortunately, I've procrastinated so long that Diane of www.SantaBarbaraHikes.com  has done it for me:
https://www.santabarbarahikes.com/gorp/poisonoak/

Trail Angels we have met:

Warner Springs Monty was our first

http://www.hikerheaven.com/ was the site of the famous trail angel team at Agua Dulce - Donna & Jeff Saufley - this was a mandatory stop on the PCT, but closed due the large number of people now doing the pct, and the bunching effect of such a large gathering of hikers. They have again reopened as a B&B.

Right at the intersection of the PCT with highway 138 in section E is Hikertown and Bob Mayon. See www.hikertown.org for details.

Walt & Laurie in Wrightwood

JoAnn in Mt. Shasta

Jim P for a ride down to Etna

Don't remember their names, but the Hiker Hut in Etna

The trailer court in Seiad Valley providing a hiker area

Diane for those car shuttles

Bob Ennis of Eastern Sierra Shuttle Service for above and beyond service

Remember that receipt of trail magic is a gift, not an entitlement. Leave a donation, and leave them looking forward to the next hiker.

Met the Dinsmores in Washington in 2010
Dinsmores Hiker Haven, now retired

Blisters, etc:

The best preventative I've found by far is breathable first aid tape.  Put it on hot spots before something more serious starts. Johnson&Johnson makes 1/2 in and 3/4 in cloth tape, but best product we found is Hartmann Omnifix in 2 inch by 10yd rolls - enough to wrap entire ball of foot. Google for medco omnifix for the only U.S. source I've found. Once you get a blister, Spenco 2nd Skin dressing works, but it is bulky to carry, hard to find, and you may need a lot. 2003 Update - on grueling 8 day trip, got blister with new boots, used Compeed to cover blister.  Worked well. The Johnson & Johnson product sold in US but licensed from Compeed is not the same as the original. Susan got hot spot on ankle, used Spyroflex Skinsaver - no more problems.  Better not to get blisters - use preventative measures, socks off every stop, soak in cold streams every chance, lots of tape.  There are many ideas on foot fixing - all in John Vonhof's Fixing Your Feet which we got before doing the Camino. John's new edition (7th) is out and you can order from Amazon
 
  However, a French pilgrim who had already walked hundreds of miles, told us about taping, when she saw Susan's feet, and it worked.

Kenesio Tex tape - 1 inch and 2 inch widths. We just learned about this stretchy breathable tape from John Vonhof's newsletter, and ordered some from KMS. It is similar to Omnifix above, though we find it doesn't stick to skin as well - sticks to itself just fine.

Footwear Life:

My experience with Asics Gel Nimbus is that after about 500 miles they have lost most of their cushioning. My feet are fairly tough by then, so I still get another couple of hundred miles. At 700 miles they are showing various signs of physical failure - cracking in various spots, sometimes some delamination of rubber from fabric, etc.

My current footwear is Altra Lone Peak. The wear experience is about the same, except I still have my 1st pair that I wear at all times except for a big trip. They must have about 1000 miles and no holes yet.

Gear:

Weight is critical. See our gear page for packs, footwear, etc., see our John Muir page for detailed equipment list for JMT/PCT. Most thru-hikers use alcohol stoves, packs in the 1 to 2 lb range, low topped well ventilated running shoes for the desert. For couples a canister stove is more efficient.

Crampons

If you use running shoes and have to travel over a lot of ice, screw shoes are a poor man's crampons. runwenatchee.com/blogs/blog/screw-shoes-for-winter-running/ tells you how to put screws in your running shoes.

Some PCT hikers use instep  crampons, others have found the Kahtoola Microspikes From REI to work better. We finished the PCT in 2010, doing Washington in Aug - Sept. Just had our trail runners.. There were a couple of snowfields where we would have used crampons if we had them. For those conditions, I don't think the microspikes would have had enough bite. Kahtoola also makes a crampon that fits on trailrunners.

Ice Axe Self Arrest

If you can, attend one of Ned Tibbet's excellent classes. If you can't, at least watch this excellent video on self arrest: Youtube - Self Arrest

Bear Canisters

They are required in most of the Sierras. Yes, you may get away without getting caught, either by a bear or a ranger, but chances are that a bear is going to get your food, and eventually get shot due to people not using canisters. More info on canisters on our gear page. https://www.wild-ideas.net  has the largest and lightest/meal hard sided container. They have special rental rates for PCT, JMT, etc. Call them for details: wild-ideas.net/rent/ . We carry a couple of soft Ursacks for all areas of the PCT except the JMT part. The Ursack keeps mice, etc out, as well as less educated bears.

Re Resupply Boxes and Fuel:

It's best to buy at resupply point. Fuels can't be flown. US Postal Service will allow butane/propane canisters and alcohol less than one liter to be mailed ground only provided they are packed and labeled properly.  Labeling has changed (2021) ORM-D doesn't work. Need a special limited quantity square on point Hazmat label.

Details if mailing fuel

Always label as ground only, and tell postal clerk ground only.

following is per Steve Herr, JMT-groups.io (with permission)
Governed by USPS Publication 52

section 342.4(b) of the manual says b. For surface transportation, parcels must be plainly and durably marked on the address side with an approved DOT Limited Quantity marking (see 325.4). Surface shipments bearing the Limited Quantity ground marking are not required to include the proper shipping name and identification number. A shipper’s declaration for dangerous goods is not required for mailable gases sent via surface transportation.

Section 325.4 after you go through most of the legalistic gobbledygook that applies to air shipments (which flammable gas cartridges do not qualify for) it says:

f. For surface transportation, a Limited Quantity ground mark (square-on- point) is not required to include the proper shipping name and identification number. from Amazon

The square on point limited quantity mark is shown in 325.4(f) as a square, one corner ("point") down, with the top and bottom points filled in with black. For what we're doing, you do not need the name of the commodity, the UN number, or anything else in that square on point mark.

Ralph's note: Alcohol is a flammable liquid and has separate packaging requirements. Briefly, less than a quart, metal screwtop container, enough padding to absorb entire contents if a leak. See Appendix C section 3A of pub 52 Same limited quantity labeling is required.

I mailed an unopened can of alcohol to Mt. Laguna for our section A hike, properly packed - wrapped with paper towels inside a ziplock inside a well padded box. Good thing I followed the rules because it did leak - not a lot, but all the paper towels were damp - nothing into outer box.

Food and Lodging Info

You should have Yogi's handbook https://www.pcthandbook.com/ , but also take a look at David P.s page on food and lodging: http://www.emeraldlake.com/pctguide/pctintro.html

Tips on keeping warm:

One of the challenges of the pct is dealing with the extremes of weather. You are going to have some very cold, cold/wet nights by the time you reach Canada. Review http://www.chiff.com/a/camping-sleep-warm.htm

San Diego area help:

The thetrek.co site has a good getting to the southern border page: thetrek.co/pacific-crest-trail/get-pct-southern-terminus/.

ADZPCTKO - Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff - what it was

This event is permanently cancelled due to hiker volume. The bunching of the herd of hikers caused by this severely impacted hiker towns up the trail. It was usually the 3rd week in April.
A similar event - The annual Trail Days Festival happens at Cascade Locks, Oregon about mid August pctdays.com

Kennedy Meadows General Store address change as of 2008:

Kennedy Meadows General Store
96740 Beach Meadow RD
Inyokern, CA 93527

Shuttle Hint for PCT section hikers:

When we did section A we parked in Warner Springs and a trail angel drove us to Campo. When we did section B, our trail angel was hiking, so we parked in Warner Springs in the school's little outer lot, and when we reached interstate 10, called Enterprise Rentacar in Palm Springs. The PCT comes out at Tamerack Road, which is in their pickup range.  They will drive up to about 12 miles to pickup someone who wants to rent a car.  They will also drive you back after the rental.

Another good source of shuttle info, shower locations, etc that is kept current: climber.org/data/index.html

For a Mojave shuttle, the Days Inn no longer gives shuttles.  Cell is good at Cameron Rd, not at Oak Creek. Tehachapi Taxi: 661-600-2771 or California City Yellow Cab 760-338-3494.  Verify numbers ahead of time, as numbers and businesses change.

There is a Mojave Tehachapi regional shuttle that can drop or pickup at highway 58 trail head cameron exit. See Kern County Transit Route 100 schedule kerntransit.org/routes/route-100 You must call the bus dispatcher first to tell the driver to detour and stop.

In the Walker Pass area (SR-178) we have these untested numbers, and know there is no Verizon cell reception. Maybe Att ok. Ridgecrest Taxis, (760) 384-2227 rndtransitco@gmail.com, Enterprise Car 760-384-2816, Avis 760-446-5556, Dollar 760-446-4554 and other car rentals. You would have to hitch east into InyoKern or Ridgecrest to get the car rentals. Enterprise will drive up to 10 miles to pick you up.

An East Side Sierra Shuttle Service that is run by Paul Fretheim started in 2012. https://www.eastsidesierrashuttle.com/ It covers the east side from Yosemite to Death Valley, and will do custom trips to almost any location in the Sierras.

There is a west side shuttle service into Sequoia-Kings Canyon Nat'l Park from Visalia:
sequoiashuttle.com/

There is a west side shuttle service into Vermillion Valley Resort from Fresno
vvr.place/hikers/#transportation

Summary of Public Transit to Yosemite: There was a post on Backpacking Light from John, who lives in Yosemite valley. He uses public transit on a regular basis. To get to Yosemite from the east coast, fly into San Francisco or Oakland  than take Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to Richmond, there transfer to Amtrak, take it to Merced. At Merced, take the Yosemite Area Regional Transit bus yarts.com to Yosemite  valley. Coming back from Whitney Portal, there is regional  transit bus service on highway 395. Take it to Mammoth Lakes then YARTS back to Yosemite valley. (ed. note: if you do this be cautious at Richmond Bart. It is in a dangerous neighborhood. Don't walk around.)
 
For Public Transportation schedules: To get to the Eastern Sierra or Yosemite, The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority: estransit.com/routes-schedule/ 

The important long distance forums:

I monitor the Yahoo BackpackingLight forum, as well as Facebook Group - Pacific Crest Trail>.  Backpacking Light is useful but not free - a lot of good comments on gear.  If you are planning to thru-hike or section hike one of the others, join the appropriate facebook group.  

Trail Journals:

It can be very helpful to read daily journals of thru-hikers. To get a sampling of these: www.trailjournals.com an excellent place to follow current thru-hiker journals on the PCT as well as all the other major trails.

www.postholer.com as of 2008 has added journaling capability with good features.

PCT Fire Info:

We have a separate page on this: Backpack45 Trail Pacific Crest Trail Fire Info Sources

U.S. Forest Service PCT site - good info: https://www.fs.fed.us/pct/

Current Snow Conditions:

postholer.com/cgi-bin/postHoler  a good graphical representation of how much and where.

Temperature Change with Elevation:

If you carry a thermometer, it is sometimes useful to estimate expected temperatures at higher elevations. There is a normal temperature drop of 3.6° F for each 1000 feet increase in elevation. i.e. if you are at 10,000 feet, the temperature is 40° F and it is raining, expect snow at 13,000 feet.

Wind Speed Estimating:

You expect a range of weather on the pct, from snow to triple digit temperatures. What some people do not expect is the possibility of winds that you can knock you off your feet in the desert sections of southern California. See outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/conservation-and-climate/how-to-estimate-wind-speed/ to estimate wind speed. A summary is that 40 mph takes concentration to walk, above 70, almost impossible to walk.

Ice Axe Tether: To see how the strap should be attached to your ice axe, go to climber.org/gear/IceAxeStraps.html

PCT Fire Information Sources:

We have a separate page on this but in brief: For any fire in the U.S. inciweb.nwcg.gov for a fire is managed by California Dept of Forestry you can get current info from
fire.ca.gov/incidents

Cell Phone Coverage

Halfmile has a page with cell phone info by carrier - I highly recommend looking at it
https://www.pctmap.net/cell/

Satellite Phone:

If you have to have more reliable service than a cell phone, what I personally use is the Garmin Inreach Mini That gives me the ability to send texts via satellite and battery life is good. If you want voice and can afford it and the weight, choose an Inmarsat or Irridium sat phone, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H3YUXAM/ref=nosim?tag=wwwbackpack4c-20" rel="nofollow">for example

USB Solar Charger: The Suntactics chargers have gotten some good reviews on Amazon for charging iPods, Pads, Phones and similar devices. The chargers do not have a built in battery. They need to be connected to your device. Charger in direct sun, but device should be shaded. Devices don't charge well if they are hot.

Cameras:

This is constantly evolving for us. We used some of the Canon Digital Elph series as they were small, light and reliable. They do not do as well in low light situations with no flash as some other brands, but otherwise we were happy with them.

My current camera is a LG G7 smart phone. The image quality is excellent. The only problem is keeping it charged. Staying on airplane mode
all day helps, but for the backcountry, I carry an Anker battery backup

Susan an iPhone, but carries a dlsr: Olympus OM-D

Triple Crown Talk (PCT, CDT, AT) by the Powers:

Saw an excellent presentation (Dec. 2003) at Sunrise Mountain Sports in Livermore by Ken & Marcia Powers on their triple crown trips.  They are one of the few couples to complete the triple crown (Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail).  The show was excellent - good visuals and enthusiastic team presenters - both up front and giving a coordinated talk. They started with the Pacific Crest Trail, northbound, then did the Continental Divide Trail, northbound, and finally the Appalachian Trail, northbound.  I've checked out their website www.gottawalk.com .  It has an excellent equipment list, item by item and ounce by ounce for each person for each trail.  Also a detailed food list.  This is an excellent resource and anyone planning to thru-hike any of these trails should look at their website. Since their talk they have thru-hiked the American Discovery Trail as well. Since then, they have walked the Arizona Trail, and a substantial part of the PCT again. Follow them on: https://trailjournals.com/GottaWalk/

Pacific Crest Trail Talk: by Matt Geis

We went to our local REI and heard Matt Geis talk and show slides of his 2002 Pacific Crest Trail trip . If you ever get a chance to hear him, do so.  There are now water caches in the desert part of the PCT, where PCT supporters put out gallon bottles of water for PCT thru-hikers.   He did hit a spot, where all containers were dry, and he had to hike out to the nearest town to get water. The convention on these caches is that you do not depend upon them. Carry enough water to get you to the next guaranteed source. At a cache, drink your fill, but only take more if essential for safety. When Susan and I did our 2005 section A and B hikes, we would use about two liters from a cache.

Two tips from his talk: Your feet expand. His went up a size and a half over the course of the trip (back to normal now).  He was using low cut running/walking shoes and went thru I think six pairs during the trip.  Some PCTers bought all their shoes up front, and put them in their resupply boxes, but were only able to wear the first pair. The other tip is not to forget you own your equipment.  Do not be afraid to modify it to fit your needs.  In his case, some cutting of his shoes saved a lot of pain, and could have been done days earlier.  This is also something Ray Jardine suggests. Re blisters, foot problems, he had some the first few weeks due to too many long days and not enough rest days, also did not take boots and socks off at every break at first - did later. A third tip - he said it was fairly easy to get sponsors for such things as shoes.

One of his highlights was the Vermillion Resort, as was mine on the John Muir Trail. They make a big thing out of the PCTers and JMTers that come thru.  1st beer and 1st night free.  Muir Trail Ranch is another resupply point slightly farther south of Vermillion Resort, but they have guests that take priority over walk-ins, so have a reservation if you want a meal and place to stay.

He talked about the experience of being on the trail, and being back in the city after finishing the trip. What he said was like a flashback to me. There is no such thing as post trail depression.  What happens is that you are on this high - you understand the stresses other people are having with everyday life, but you can't be mad at anyone, its been weeks or months just thinking about food, shelter and other hikers along the trail.  The feeling gradually wears off, but at the same time, the memory of the more difficult parts of the trip start to fade, so you have this great experience to draw on. (There are lot of times on the trail when you think: Why am I doing this? This is NOT fun, but somehow the good parts outweigh it.)

PCT Books by category

Pacific Crest Trail Records and attempts

I've collected these from various places. Please email me if you have corrections, new candidates, etc. at rbalcorn at gmail dot com.

Fastest Assisted Record:

Definition: Assisted means crew following hiker and providing food & shelter at every opportunity. Hiker just has to walk the PCT. Feet on the ground the entire way.

2023 Karel Sabbe 46 days, 12 hours, 50 min, entering Canada on August 26. https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/ultrarunner-smashed-pacific-crest-trail-speed-18299645.php

2021 Timothy Olsen (*not feet on the ground*) 51 days, 16 hours, 55 minutes. Hit Canadian border on July 22nd. Because of fire closing part of the PCT, Timothy had to be driven to where the trail resumed. In the course of the detour, he ran 20 miles, which was the length of the closed trail segment. sfchronicle.com/travel/article/Ultrarunner-sets-speed-record-on-Pacific-Crest-16335467.php

2016 Karel Sabbe 52 days, 8 hours, 25 min, entering Canada on August 13th. facebook.com/Karel-Sabbe-Ultrarunning-1693493784271108

2014 Joe McConaughy - 53 days 6 hours 37 minutes, crossing the Canadian border on August 10th.nwpr.org/post/seattle-runner-smashes-speed-record-full-length-pacific-crest-trail

2013 Josh Garrett - 59 days 8 hours 59 minutes, left southern border June 10th. This was two days after Anish who got the unsupported record a day earlier (see below). pcta.org/2013/pct-speed-record-is-shattered-twice-13750

2005 David Horton - 67 days - June 4 to Aug 9 at age 55
https://sturminator.blogspot.com/2005/08/full-friday-bag-o-blog.html
https://www.backpack45.com/newsletter2005.html (Sept newsletter)

Fastest Unassisted:

Definition: Unassisted means normal PCT hiker, no slack packing.

2023 Sept 18, Jessica Pekari Fastest female unassisted: 63 days, 7 hours, and 31 minutes traveling North to South fastestknowntime.com/fkt/jessica-pekari-pacific-crest-trail-ca-or-wa-2023-09-18

2023 Sept 6, Nick Fowler 52 days, 96 hours, and 18 minutes traveling North to South sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/pacific-crest-trail-hiker-18359949.php

2022 August 7, at 8:56 P.M., Josh Perry 55 days, 16 hours, and 54 minutes outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/pacific-crest-trail-fkt-josh-perry

2013 Heather "Anish" Anderson 60 days and 17 hours and 12 minutes, started June 8th from southern border. pcta.org/2013/pct-speed-record-is-shattered-twice-13750
2013, July 7 in progress per email from Marcia Powers: Triple Crown hiker Anish, Heather Jo Anderson, is currently past the 1000 mile mark on the PCT. She is on track for the fastest known time, FKT, by hiking 41 miles per day. She is entirely self supported to the extent of walking to resupply points rather than hitching.

2011 Scott Williamson completed on 11 Oct 2011 64 days, 11 hours.
https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2011-October/054732.html

2009 In Progress - Scott Williamson and Adam Bradley attempting to break Scott's unassisted record, at the same time breaking David Horton's assisted record time. Link to Jacob Nahin's video interview with Scott Williamson and Adam Bradley at Agua Dulce. See fastest California below.

Adam & Scott arrived at the Oregon/Washington border on July 31st, 53 days, 8 hours, 41 minutes, 57 seconds after departing from the southern terminus, and 10 days 14 hours 16 minutes 12 seconds after entering Oregon. https://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=9275 (author's note: Susan and I just went thru the section about 20-25 miles north of Cascade Locks, and saw Scott's signature on a pair of faded blue levis, dated 8/1/09 along with dozens of other signatures from 08 and 09.)

8/12/09 new record - Scott & Adam - 65 days 9 hours 58 min 47 seconds.

71 days 2 hours in 2008 - finished Aug 18 - Scott Williamson & Tattoo Joe (Joe Kisner)
https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2008-August/019696.html
https://www.sierrasun.com/article/20081124/NEWS/811249978/
https://team.inov-8.us/2009/02/scott-williamson.html
a little controversy in that they went thru an active fire area (Clover Fire)  that was closed to pct hikers, however, they did get permission from the firefighters and rangers on the spot.

79 days 21 hrs in 2007 - finished Aug 7 - Tattoo Joe https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-August/009353.html

81 days 8.5 hrs in 2005 by Squeaky (Mat Hazley) http://www.trailforums.com/detail.cfm?PostNum=5674

83 days set in 2003 by Ray Greenlaw https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0308/msg00119.html

85 days in 2001 by Brian Robinson as part of his 2001 triple crown. www.outdoornewswire.com

Catra - dirt diva - attempted fastest unassisted (2007).
 https://catrapct.blogspot.com/2007/07/days-67-68-sun-mon-july-29-30.html  had to abandon attempt in Sisters after Giardia & injured knee

74 days in 2002 - RocketGirl - (Terry Wiemer?) (pct 02, cdt 04)
https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0311/msg00244.html
https://friends.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-May/007827.html
http://www.trailforums.com/detail.cfm?entryID=35868
Someone said RocketGirl is a madeup hiker. Yogi's journal entries indicate she knew Rocketgirl,  Yogi confirmed this to me by email.

Fastest California section

Adam Bradley and Scott Williamson - 7/21/2009 - 42 days, 18 hours,
https://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=284061  unsupported (this includes no riding in cars, as well as no pre-arranged rendezvous with personal food deliveries, etc. - just utilizing the available services and mail drops, on foot.)

Andrew Skurka - 45 days - 2006 https://www.andrewskurka.com/PCT06/index.php

Fastest Oregon section

Adam Bradley and Scott Williamson - Adam & Scott arrived at the Oregon/Washington border on July 31st, 10 days 14 hours 16 minutes 12 seconds after entering Oregon. https://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=9275

First Winter Southbound PCT

In Progress Jan 2015 - Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter
pcta.org/2015/meet-two-guys-winter-thru-hiking-pct-19-incredible-photos-26687
Feb 2015 - through the Sierras to Walker Pass
justinlichter.com/blog ladyonarock.com/2015/02/11/video-interview-pepper-and-trauma-winter-pct-thru-hike/
Finished on March 1, 2015
rgj.com/story/life/outdoors/recreation/2015/03/01/pacific-crest-trail-winter-hike/24232641/ facebook.com/hashtag/pacificcresttrail?source=feed_text&story_id=10153320754187985

First Yo-Yo (round trip)

Nov 2014 Raindance Started Apr 25, completed Nov 5th, 195 days
per April Sylva post in Facebook Pacific Crest Trail Group and
postholer.com/journal/viewJournal.php?sid=982f939427e37b6aae767cdb1ffbe19f&entry_id=44744 Nov 2004 - Scott Williamson - 197 days, and in Nov 2006 - 191 days https://www.backpacker.com/article/8846

Most Completions:

Scott Williamson - Completed 11th PCT in 2008

First person to complete PCT in single season on horseback

Jim McCrae of Aldergrove, BC - 1988. Per email from Tamara Hamilton "He had two horses and one mule in 1988. One of his horses was injured in Washington and had to be trailered home, but he completed the remainder of the journey with Shiloh (a grade buckskin gelding) and Duke ( a very temperamental mule). Jim shoveled a path through the High Sierras, as that year the trail was not melted when he went through. Previous horse packers had taken alternate, lower, routes. Jim stuck to the crest."
Altergrove Star - Backcountry Horsemen of B.C.
infocus magazine 2009

Other attempts: I'm not sure if she actually made it, but was past Harts Pass in deep snow on Oct 3, 2013. "midnight rider" Alina Dudding, her horse Valentino. Thanks Donna Sauffley for the info. midnightridernvalentino.tumblr.com/

Oldest man to complete the PCT

Age 81 2018 Al Learned - started May 15 age 80, finished Sept 28 age 81. Al was already a Triple Crowner, having done the PCT earlier in 2003. m.facebook.com/notes/al-learned-hikes/our-story/1669280853096149/
 
Age 75 Calvin Batchelder Per email from Meadow Ed: "Back in 96 my friend Calvin (Batch) did from Mex to Sierra City. In 97 he came back out to redo the trail and actually rewalked up to Kersarge Pass then jumped to Sierra City and made it to Canada. He was 75!" also in Walking the West dvd documentary.
 
 Age 78 Per pct-l post from Jim (Bigfoot) & MIna : "John Olley aka JohnnyO, from Dunsmuir, who is 92 finished section hiking the Pct in the early 90's and finished the AT in 1994. John was the volunteer trail maintainer at Castle Crags state park for about 15 yrs, quitting at 90 yrs old."
 https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-August/009583.html (My estimate for age is completed in 93, age 92 in 2007 makes him 78 in 1993)

Age 80 Bob Holtel ran the pct again in 2010 obituaries.tbrnews.com/us/obituaries/tbrnews/name/bob-holtel-obituary?id=6693074

Oldest woman to complete the PCT

80? "Listener" in progress in 2012 - no word on finishing

Mary (Medicare Pastor) Davidson - 2012 age 70 and 50.5 weeks finished July 24, 2012 per personal communication

"TOB" Tough Old Broad (Jane D.) 2006 age 70 mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2006-July/000391.html Also, personal communication

Eleanor Guilford in 1989 at age of 71 https://redwood.sierraclub.org/articles/October_05/EnvironmentalForum_Nov.html

Oldest combined couple age to complete the PCT

147 years 9 months combined age: Jonathan Upchurch and Betty Upchurch had a combined age of 147 years, 9 months when they completed the PCT as Section hikers. Finished October 12, 2024.

143 combined age: Ralph and Susan Alcorn (timecheck and backpack45), 74 and 69. Finished Sept 7, 2010, 11:10 am.

Oldest man to thru-hike the PCT

Age 81 2018 Al Learned - started May 15 age 80, finished Sept 28 age 81. Al was already a Triple Crowner, having done the PCT earlier in 2003. m.facebook.com/notes/al-learned-hikes/our-story/1669280853096149/
 

Billy Goat (George Woodard) is the current contender. He has hiked the PCT at least 6 times. In 2008 he was age 69 and on the trail. I assume he finished, but no confirmation.
https://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/25/local/me-billygoat25

 I think there have been some 70+ and maybe 80+ who thru-hiked it, but no documentation.

Longest number of years to complete hiking the PCT

37 years 3 months - Jonathan Upchurch and Betty Upchurch took 37 years, 3 months to complete the PCT as Section hikers – from July 17, 1987 to October 12, 2024

Mary Kwart aka Fireweed,  34 years. Started in 1976, finished 9/14/10 at age 58.

Per email from Meadow Ed: "I ran into a feller up to Stehikin back in 01 who was doing it on horse back, Ralph Looney! It took him 49 years to complete it! I asked him why he did not wait til 02 and make it 50 years! His answer was Hell at my age i felt i should do it now , who knows what another year will bring."

Jim Batdorff - 26 years - started in 1981 and completed in August 2007 at age 65
https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-August/009567.html

   in progress:
 expected 29 years per pct-l email from barney rubble: " Keith who is known as St Alfonzo, started section hiking in 1980. He has completed everything north to Cascade Locks. He plans on doing 1/2 of Washington in 08, and the other 1/2 in 09. I have seen him on the trail the last few years."
https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-August/009585.html

expected 44 years per pct-l email from Steel-Eye: "I began hiking the OregonSkyline Trail in late July or early August of 1965, several years before it was incorporated with other trails in California and Washington to form the PCT, and have hiked portions of the PCT most years since. Substantial portions were: Oregon thru-hike in '99, Cascade Locks to Stevens Pass in '00, Stevens Pass to Manning in '02, and Campo to Sierra City in '07. About 480 miles remain, but I'm only 65 so I should complete it in '08"
https://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/2007-August/009586.html
 

Oldest man section hiking

Chuck Ward (aka "Catalina Chuck") - 73 in Dec 2008 - A, C, F, G and part of H in 2008
 - 74 in Dec 2009 - Calif B, D, H, I  in 2009, Calif E, J, K, & L in 2010, in Aug 2011 at age 75 completed Calif M & N
Ralph Alcorn 72 contender - 72 in May 2008 - Agua Dulce to Cottonwood Pass, Ashland to Shelter Cove in 2008,- 73 in May 2009 - Shelter Cove (OR) to Panther Creek Campground (WA) in 2009, Completed PCT in Sept 7,  2010.

Oldest woman section hiking

Susan Alcorn 67 in 2008 - Agua Dulce to Cottonwood Pass, Ashland to Shelter Cove
 - 68 in 2009, Shelter Cove to Panther Creek Campground. Completed PCT in 2010.

Oldest woman to have hiked a section of the PCT

80? "Listener" in 2012 seen near Crater Lake

Oldgal (Marge Prothman) 73 in April 2000 Section B , also something in 2005.

Youngest person

2014 Christian BuddyPacker Thomas age 6 completed pct on Nov 24th. buddybackpacker.com
facebook.com/BuddyBackpacker

2012 Monkey ( Sierra Burror ) age 8 when started on April 22nd, 9 when finished Sept 23rd with her mother Mama Bear (Heather Burror) https://www.sierrawave.net/14329/mother-and-daughter-complete/

2011 Sunshine (Reed Gjonnes) age 11. Also, Sunshine hiked the AT in 2012.Sunshine has now thru-hiked the CDT in 2013 at the age of 13 which made her the youngest person to hike the CDT and complete the triple crown. Here's a link to the USA Today article which verifies all 3 of her hikes. usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/27/young-hiker-triple-crown/3282981/

2007 - Oblivious (Brian McCarty) age 12  - hit Oregon 8/2 - did AT in 05. Traveling with father Troll (Bill). Both in kilts. Finished PCT on 9/16/07. Planning on CDT in 2009.

2004 - Scrambler (Mary Chambers) age 10. Travelling with Barbara Egbert & Gary Chambers. https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0410/msg00542.html
https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/03/CMQL10MA1H.DTL

1977 - Strider (Greg Hummel) age 11. https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0410/msg00542.html

First Thru-hike:

1952 Martin Papendick - (North to South) https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/9807/msg00022.html

1970 Eric Ryback - challenged due to rides accepted. https://www.pcta.org/about_trail/fun.asp

1972 Richard Watson (confirmed) https://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail

1972 the group of Bill Goddard Toby Heaton, Butch Ferrand, Wayne Martin and David Odell.  David had done the AT in 71 and did the CDT in 77. (per 2010 email from David Odell).

Families that have thru-hiked the PCT with more than two children:

2015 nobo The Ravens (trailname). Tim Umstead, Ann and their children Will 13 and Joon 9. Will broke leg last 300 miles so had to complete that section in 2016. They went on to complete the Triple Crown in 2019
theravens15.wordpress.com/about/past-trips

2018 sobo Vince Strawbridge, Monica, and their 4 children - Aiden, June, Henry and Georgiana, ages ranging from 17 to 11. They have since completed the CDT then completed the AT and the Triple Crown on June 21, 2021.
thelakelander.com/strawbridge-family-trek
baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2018/11/19/lakeland-family-walks-2-600-miles-from-canadian-border-to-mexico
outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/strawbridge-family-triple-crown

2019 nobo Adam and Mindi Bennett and their 4 children - Sierra 16, Kaia 14, Tristan 12, Ruby 9. Finished at Canadian border July 18
outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/family-hikes-pacific-crest-trail

First women to thru-hike:

1972 Mary Carstens -  https://www.pcta.org/about_trail/miler_list/
1974 Jean Beck (now Audet) First woman to thru-hike both AT (72) and pct with her husband Rick
https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0412/msg00159.html and per email 2010 from David Odell 72 thru-hiker
1974 Denise Myers
https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0412/msg00264.html

1976 Teddi Boston - First to thru-hike  solo southbound. Hiking north to south, starting May 1st, Boston completed the PCT in 1976. At the time, she was in her forties and a mother of four
https://www.pcta.org/help/join/magazines/kick_off.asp 
https://www.backcountry.net/arch/pct/0412/msg00159.html
1976 Carolyn 'Ravensong' Burkhart along with Teddi Boston above, First to thru-hike solo north bound - personal communication
1984 Joanne and Marion (Mugs) Knezacek - (source https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/chronicle/AL_CHRON_1984_2.pdf )

First Person to Run the entire PCT

Bob Holtel over the course of three summers starting in 1885 at age 55. He did it again, over two summers, starting in 2010, finishing at age 80. His book on the first run is listed above.
https://www.bobholtel.com/
https://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_15093127

Lowest REI number held by a PCT hiker.

This just for fun category was inspired by some recent pct-l messages re REI. I'm not recording the lowest 3 digits to prevent compromising the number.

Thatcher Koch - 139###.
Susan Virnig - 127### 1967
Paul Freiman (Bivy) - 106###
Yosemite James 74### 1964-65.

Other:

2001 Brian Robinson PCT, AT, CDT all completed in one calendar year.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20011027/aponline213001_001.htm

Ken and Marcia Powers completed the "Grand Slam" - PCT, AT, CDT, ADT. https://www.discoverytrail.org/news/powers/index.html They have now (2008) finished the Arizona Trail.

Peter Bakwin's Fastest Known Times page:

fastestknowntime.proboards.com/ - A lot of information on this site on fastest times on many different trails. Check it out.

PCT Early History

The Pacific Crest Trail exists mainly due to the efforts of Clinton Clark and Warren Rogers, starting back in the 1930s. The family of Warren Rogers has gathered the early history together and built a website: http://pct-nst.com/ . It makes for interesting reading.

Our Gear List for PCT or JMT:

The gear list is a google spreadsheet. To get an xls file you can save, click on  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NQ9fzrrf7QXF6I5KYDNyC8Sjtammz_Ga9GhxzxBppf0/edit?usp=sharing  - on the bottom right of the resulting google spreadsheet is an edit button. Click that, and you will be able to view it in a form that can be saved off to your hard drive as an xls file.

Trail Journals:

To follow some of the current PCT and other thru-hikers, click on the following to go to www.trailjournals.com
- also a good place to see detailed gear lists - an example is Ken and Marsha's American Discovery Trail 2005 journal.

Backpacker Magazine Wisdom of the Week:

Their website www.backpacker.com is an excellent resource - far beyond the normal retail outlet site.  Look in the community section and you can find useful forums that I check at least weekly - broken out by topic.  Several on regions such as international, northwest, book reports, backpacking with kids, just for women, etc.. The magazine is published by Rodale Press - publisher of Organic Gardening, etc., and has strong environmental roots.

A Training Resource - BLM Lands Near You:

An alliance of conservation organizations has recently put together a site promoting the crown jewels of the BLM system. You can click on the following and find the selected areas by state: https://www.conservationsystem.org/conservationsystem

More Temperature Data than you can ever use:

Six PCT hikers carried data recorders during their 04 and 05 through hikes. You can look at temperatures for selected days, time of day, etc. Keep in mind that these recorders may have been in a pack, or exposed to direct sun, so don't represent average air temperatures. For example, that 126 F day probably was inside a hot pack pocket.
 https://www.michaeljaylissner.com/pct-temperatures

Other Links:

Crow's blog - a huge amount of PCT gear info along with some interesting stories http://asthecrowflies.org/ 

Do your own gear patterns, lightweight gear, excellent advice on thru-hiking https://thru-hiker.com/materials/index.php

An excellent but huge site dedicated to lightweight backpacking is www.backpacking.net, forums, archives, gear, the works.

Joe Valesco's lightweight gear includes belt bags and shoulder strap bags for carrying cameras, etc. https://www.zpacks.com/

Also, Joe's ultralightbackpacker.com is an excellent non commercial site with the best writeup on Tyvek that I've seen.

www.adventurealan.com - another non commercial ultralight site with good info and great photos that load fast.

Great Grand Canyon site for anyone thinking of hiking the Grand Canyon www.hitthetrail.com

4500 mile trail in North America - the ECT - Eastern Continental Trail - Quebec to the Florida Keys - find more about it and the in thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/eastern-continental-trail-here-i-come/

Ray and Jenny Jardine have a lot of interests beyond long distance hiking.  Check www.rayjardine.com for comments on ultralight hiking, among other things.