It turns out that the PCT Instagram community is just the best

We’re @pctassociation

Thyra Bessette, PCT class of 2013, does just a wonderful job poking into her phone and managing an Instagram page for PCTA. Eye-popping Pacific Crest Trail photos stream in from people doing neat things in beautiful places. Follow along on the #PacificCrestTrail hashtag (you can see it at pcta.org/live).

Thyra Bessette, PCTA’s oh-so-wonderful Instagram lead, on the Bridge of the Gods during her PCT thru-hike.

In celebration of our booming success (we’ll probably pass 7,000 followers today), I asked Thyra to pull a few of her favorite photos. Here she goes:

“Approximately 8 months ago, I was given the opportunity to manage the PCTA’s instagram account. It could not be more fun.

The PCTA’s Instagram community is truly amazing. We’ve gone from 1,000 Instagram followers to 7,000 in just a matter of months and the support is only growing. PCT lovers from all over have shared countless photos via our #PCTig hashtag, as well as through our PCTA Photo Contest, and they have been funny, heart warming, educational, inspiring, and beautiful. It has been a “Wild” ride (pun intended) and it has been rewarding to share the fantastic photos that you all take. It has also been really special to see the support our community has for the trail. The highlight of this task has been being able to educate people about safe and responsible wilderness travel — and ultimately spreading word about protecting the trail we all love.

Some special photos from the Pacific Crest Trail Instagram

Snow melt in Washington | Sometimes you are simply blown away by the natural wonders on the trail. Photo by: @homagetothe

A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Sep 15, 2014 at 7:16pm PDT

Desert flora | Although Washington has dominated our feed lately, due to the end of their-hiker season – Let’s take a moment to remember the desert in Southern California. Photo (taken near Scissors Crossing, ~75 miles from the Mexican border) by: @bagminton A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Oct 25, 2014 at 10:02pm PDT

Happy Halloween! | This may be one of the most creative border photos we’ve seen. Top row left to right: Pippin, string cheese. Bottom row left to right: Angles, Ninja, K2, Sloe Gin, Apache. Thanks for the photo guys! What are you going to be?

A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Oct 31, 2014 at 4:20pm PDT

Western Pasqueflower | Anemone Occidentalis along the trail in Sky Lakes Wilderness, Oregon. Enter your flora and fauna photos to the #PCTA photo contest! Photo by: Danielle Kelley A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Nov 3, 2014 at 5:22pm PST

PCTA Sasquatch Crew putting in check steps below Old Snowy in the Goat Rocks Wilderness with Mt. Adams to the south | Sasquatch Crews offer week-long volunteer vacations in the high Cascades of southern Washington and northern Oregon, tackling major tread and erosion problems along the trail. Is 2015 the year you want to experience the fun of trail work?? Photo by: Linda Rostad

A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Jan 6, 2015 at 11:50am PST

Special treat | The wild berries of Oregon and Washington are a real treat after 4 months of trail food. Photo by: Colin Arisman What are your favorite trail pick-me-ups? A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Dec 30, 2014 at 10:03pm PST

Burney Dance | #PCT 2012 Thruhikers celebrate the essence of life (water) with a dance at Burney Falls. HAPPY FRIDAY! Photo by: Karl Schmidt Pictured: Histo, Spud, Oasis, Honey Bear

A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Feb 6, 2015 at 6:08pm PST

Monday Blues? Us too. But at least it’s #MarmotCrushMonday Photo of a marmot just chillin’ on a rock near Crabtree Meadows by: Ashley Ravestein A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Feb 9, 2015 at 11:47am PST

Three cheers for camp shoes | Some hikers love ’em, some hikers don’t feel they’re necessary at all. The diverse array of styles up and down the trail each year is quite entertaining. Some hand-crafted for ultra lightness. Some super durable. Some insanely creative. All hilarious and made for showing off a hiker’s tan. Photo by: Caitlin Barale

A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Jan 27, 2015 at 9:10am PST

The #PCT passes through a fragile desert ecosystem. Because of the scarcity of water, vegetation and organic soils, desert landscapes at the Southern Terminus are particularly susceptible to damage and are slow to recover. | 2014 thru-hiker, “Patches” @patchesthru to choose desert camp sites that provided a view of both the sunset and sunrise each day… and was able to do so by carrying extra water, so that she was not solely limited to the over-populated water source campsites. This is a great strategy, not only in terms of finding prime camp sites with a little more solitude, but also to help protect the trail. Traveling lightly, such as spreading out and not gathering or camping in large groups, allows all of us to act on behalf of the places and wildlife that inspire us. A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Feb 10, 2015 at 1:17pm PST

Mile 1,270 | Not a lot of thru-hikers see this section with a blanket of snow due to the fact that it is typically supremely hot when they are coming through. But get out there on a day hike or backpacking trip in the off-season: priceless. Photo by: @soletosoil

A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Dec 8, 2014 at 6:29pm PST

Mt. Baden-Powell | From desert to the high passes in the pines and back – Southern California has it all. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season. Happy Winter! Photo submitted in our #PCTA #PhotoContest last year by: Israh Goodall A photo posted by PCTAssociation (@pctassociation) on Dec 24, 2014 at 2:39pm PST