Over the years PCTA staff members and volunteers have answered thousands of your questions about the trail, planning a hike and much more. We've compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

Trip Planning
Equestrian FAQs

Trip Planning

• Where can I get maps for the trail?
• Is water readily available and do I need to treat it?
• Do I need a permit?
• How do I get to the trail from San Diego?
• As a PCT thru-hiker will I need an ice axe, crampons, climbing rope, skis, or snowshoes?
• Are there many hot showers along the trail?
• How can I prepare for a thru-hike?
• What about re-supply?
• What about reassuring family or friends at home while I am on the trail?
• Should I consider GPS to locate myself by satellite?
• Who should I report bad trail conditions (trees across the trail, slides, bridges out, brush, etc.) to?
• Does the PCTA award me a certificate if I complete the entire PCT?
• What footwear do I need on the PCT?
• How much will it cost to thru-hike the PCT, and how long will it take?
• How long does it take to plan, train, and get ready for a PCT thru-hike?
• How warm a sleeping bag do I need?
• How many people start and finish thru-hikes of the PCT each year?
• Why do most thru-hikers head north?
• What other planning resources are available on this site?

Q. Where can I get maps for the trail?

A. All the maps you will need to use the trail are included in the PCT Guidebooks, which are available for purchase from our online store. For help finding additional maps, click here.

Q. Is water readily available and do I need to treat it?

A. There are long waterless stretches but the guidebooks list all known water sources so you know how much to carry. All water should be treated or filtered. Visit the Water Purification section of this site for more information.

Q. Do I need a permit?

A. Yes, permits are required in all wilderness areas, National Parks, and other restricted areas along the trail. You can obtain a permit from the agency on which your PCT trip originates. For example, if you plan to travel from Echo Lake to Castle Crags State Park, you would need to contact the Eldorado National Forest since your trip would begin in that forest. They would issue a permit good for your entire trip. The PCTA can issue a wilderness permit for trips of 500 miles or more along the PCT. Visit the Permits section of this site for more information.

Q. How do I get to the trail from San Diego?

A. From downtown San Diego, you need to get to El Cajon Transit Center via Bus or trolley (several routes are available) where you will transfer to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System bus to Campo (Routes 894 and 888). Current schedules are available on from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System: Rte. 888 and Rte. 894.

Q. As a PCT thru-hiker will I need an ice axe, crampons, climbing rope, skis, or snowshoes?

A. Depends on season and snowpack. Many north-bound hikers carry an ice axe starting at the Mexican border to provide an extra margin of safety on high steep snow slopes in early season - this assumes you are already qualified in the technique of self-arrest. Consider mailing your ice axe home or ahead when you get through the high Sierra.

Q. Are there many hot showers along the trail?

A. No. You will probably be able to count them on the fingers of one hand when you finish the PCT. Plan to keep clean with cold water!

Q. How can I prepare for a thru-hike?

A. Successful completion of the PCT requires a high level of physical and mental conditioning, as well as the skills covered in the The Pacific Crest Trail Hiker's Handbook by Ray Jardine. (The Hiker's Handbook is now out of print but Jardine has a new book out called Beyond Backpacking in which he expands on his theories and techniques). Ray Jardine recommends trimming every conceivable superfluous ounce from your pack since the effort to carry each ounce is greatly amplified over 2,600 miles. Ray and Jenny Jardine thru-hiked the PCT in '94 with packs weighing less than 10 lbs. (excluding food and water). Jardine's techniques are controversial and not for everyone. Many hikers end up using some put not all of his recommendations.

Additionally, this site contains a lot of helpful planning information. Visit our Resources section for information on maps, trip partners, our mentors program, and much more.

Q. What about re-supply?

A. Most long distance travelers send self-addressed food boxes from home to outposts along the way (listed in the PCTA's Town Guide, Wilderness Press PCT guidebooks and Ray Jardine's PCT Hiker's Handbook) to be held until their arrival. A few start with a food box and a spare gear/clothes box, sending these one re-supply stop ahead, buying locally to replace what they use along the way. Postage can be less expensive this way and there is more flexibility and less need for a support person at home. But don't expect to find backpacking food at small outposts. A very few outposts now impose a holding / storing / handling charge. Please contact all your re-supply points ahead of time to make sure that you have the address correct and understand any holding/storing/handling fees.

Q. What about reassuring family or friends at home while I am on the trail?

A. You may be able to supplement occasional phone calls and letters home with messages (collect phone calls or pre-addressed post cards) relayed by hikers, riders, or others you meet along the trail. This worked well for me. One thru-hiker kept his family informed using a very small ham radio and volunteer ham radio operators to relay messages. There are relatively inexpensive pocket e-mail devices available now that many hikers find useful, PocketMail by Sharp in particular. Finally, the more your loved ones know about the trail, the better. Many hiker and rider families have found the PCT-L helpful in regards to educating themselves about trail life. For more ideas, check out the Communicator article Are You a Worried Mom?

Q. Should I consider GPS to locate myself by satellite?

A. The PCT is fairly well marked and described in the guidebook such that most experienced trekkers would find a GPS superfluous and want to avoid the extra weight. This presupposes you can read a map and compass. By all means carry a small compass and you might consider a light pocket or watch altimeter to help find your location when landmarks are obscured by clouds.

Q. To whom should I report bad trail conditions (trees across the trail, slides, bridges out, brush, etc.)?

A. Mark them on your map, then at the next phone, call the PCTA at 888-PC-TRAIL to report the problem. We will post that information on our website and update the phone message as well as notify the agency responsible for that section of the trail. You may also track and report trail conditions online on our Trail Conditions page.

Q. Does the PCTA award me a certificate if I complete the entire PCT?

A. Yes, PCTA members will receive a certificate if they notify us of their completed thru-hike. Use the online Let Us Know form to do so. Completion certificates are free to PCTA members and $4.00 for non-members.

You might also want to send in a picture and the highlights of your trip to be published in the member magazine, the Communicator or post your journal to our site. Trip commentaries contain a wealth of information and are eagerly awaited by following thru-hikers. To post your journal click here .  For information about submitting writing or photographs to the Communicator, click here.

Q. What footwear do I need on the PCT?

A. There are heavy leather boots out there but increasing numbers of hikers use running shoes for most of the trail and fabric hiking boots for step-kicking in snow at higher elevations (but not for crampons, which require suitable mountaineering boots). Gaiters help keep snow out of your boots. Below snowline I find that low gaiters even over running shoes help keep out dirt and debris. Footwear is an ongoing discussion on the PCT-L (an email discussion group or "forum"). To join the PCT-L, click here.

Q. How much will it cost to thru-hike the PCT, and how long will it take?

A. A typical hiker wears or carries $1,500 to $3,000 worth of equipment, spends $800 to $2,000 for trail food and posting boxes, add $500 to $1,000 for restaurant binges, junk food, and motels at re-supply points, add $500 for replacement boots, clothes, and other gear, add travel costs to and from the trail and that should just about do it. You can cut the cost of gear/clothes/and food drastically if you are willing to make up your own. Most thru-hikers complete the 2,650 trail miles in 5 to 6 months that means averaging 20 or more miles a day for days actually hiked. For more help figuring out the cost and timing of your trip, visit Craig Giffin's Trip Calculator.

Q. How long does it take to plan, train, and get ready for a PCT thru-hike?

A. Usually longer than it takes to hike it - maybe 6 to 8 months.

Q. How warm a sleeping bag do I need?

A. Depends on the individual, but most hikers find that a down or synthetic bag rated at +20° F is a good compromise between warmth and weight/bulk. You might choose to add a VBL (vapor barrier liner) at Kennedy Meadows in early season for the high Sierra, or a 5° F bag. Otherwise you will probably be a little chilly at times. Most hikers carry a light sleeping pad, but some insulate themselves from the ground with only clothing and gear. You will need to protect your bag and clothes from rain and immersion during river crossings.

Q. How many people start and finish thru-hikes of the PCT each year?

A. In recent years out of 300 or so who start out to hike the entire trail, roughly 60 percent finish. A list of "2600-Milers" will be available on this site in the near future.

Q. Why do most thru-hikers head north?

A. You are more apt to successfully negotiate the snow / runoff / dryness and heat / and early winter storm windows this way.

Q. What other planning resources are available on this site?

A. For additional help in planning your PCT adventure, checkout our Before Trip section (link to Before Trip). It contains more information on permits, health and safety, re-supply strategy, mailing labels, and resources. For an on-going discussion of everything PCT, join the PCT-L e-mail discussion group (also called an e-mail forum). For more personal advice, consider contacting one of our volunteer Mentors. Additionally, our PCTA Communicator magazine is a great resource for hikers and equestrians alike. To receive the Communicator (it's published bi-monthly) simply join the PCTA - all PCTA members receive a free subscription.

Equestrian FAQs
Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Using Horses & Pack Stock on the PCT

• Approximately how many people thru-ride each year?
• Is there enough water along the trail and how do I find it?
  
• How much grass pasture is available?
  
• How many miles per day can I expect to travel?
  
• How often should the stock be re-shod?
  
• How many pounds should I pack per animal?
  
• What type of first-aid kit should I bring?
  
• Is it a good idea to bring hobbles with me?
  
• Should I bring an electric fence?
  
• How much weight should I put on my riding animal?
  
• What kind of horse should I use?

Q. Approximately how many people thru-ride each year?

A. Not very many, we're still working on finding an answer to this question. Historically, only a handful of thru-riders have successfully completed the trail. Section-rides tend to have a higher success rate.

Q. Is there enough water along the trail and how do I find it?

A. Most years there are ample sources of water along the trail. There are, however, some sections where it's necessary to travel a short distance off-trail to find water. Refer to the PCT Guidebooks for more information.

Q. How much grass pasture is available?

A. Not enough to depend upon, and in some areas you're not allowed to graze your horses or stock. If you'd like to complete the entire PCT in one season (thru-ride) you'll need 6 pounds of grain or pellets per animal/per day (2 pounds/3 times per day). During a thru-ride, a support person(s) is needed to bring hay, grain and provisions to the riders. It's possible to complete two-week trips without support.

Q. How many miles per day can I expect to travel?

A. A good pace is 20 miles per day for six days with one day of rest. Remember, you want to enjoy the trail, not race through it.

Q. How often should the stock be re-shod?

A. Once a month or every 500 miles, whichever comes first.

Q. How many pounds should I pack per animal?

A. About 150-160 pounds per mule, maybe a little more per horse.

Q. What type of first-aid kit should I bring?

A. First, consider prevention and be sure that your stock are vaccinated with a "4-Way" (for tetanus, toxoid, inf1uenza, and sleeping sickness). Next, invest in a good first-aid kit like the one available from the Backcountry Horsemen of California, Kern Sierra Unit in Bakersfield, California.

Q. Is it a good idea to bring hobbles with me?

A. Only for short periods of restraint.

Q. Should I bring an electric fence?

A. An electric fence can work out o.k. if stock are trained to it. Otherwise, it may be wise to tie one animal (preferably a mare) while the others graze. It's not recommended to leave stock loose at night in country that's unfamiliar to them or you. If you do, you many end up spending a lot of time looking for them in the morning.

Q. How much weight should I put on my riding animal?

A. Given your weight and the weight of the saddle you don't want to add too much more. Use small saddlebags(6" x 6" bags are big enough). Keep in mind also that because the weakest part of the animal's back is at the back of the saddle you don't want to put any significant weight there - ideally no more than that of a slicker or jacket.

Q. What kind of horse should I use?

A. Your horse should be at least six years old and well broken. Be sure your stock are accustomed to crossing bridges, logs, streams, and rocky areas as these are common during backcountry travel. Remember, the PCT is not a speed trail and that most gaited horses like flat roads.