The mission of the Pacific Crest Trail Association is to protect, preserve and promote the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as a world-class experience for hikers and equestrians, and for all the values provided by wild and scenic lands.
We’re excited about the 2020 season on the Pacific Crest Trail and we hope you are too. Some of you will be taking very long hikes or horseback rides on the trail next year. This information is for you.
The 2020 permit season opens on October 29, 2019, for trips... Read more
The stars were bright over the Baring, Washington, Hiker Haven home during the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 2017, when heaven welcomed trail angel, wife, mom, grandma and PCT Mom Andrea Kay Burr-Dinsmore. She lived life on her ... Read more
By Connor Swift, PCTA Trail Crew Technical Advisor
The 2013 Mountain Fire closed nearly 25 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail through the San Jacinto Mountains as it approaches the town of Idyllwild in Southern California.
The fire burned hot and intensely, creating hazards in some places such as dangerous ... Read more
By Connor Swift, PCTA Technical Advisor
Working on a trail crew is always unique. Sometimes the experience is good and sometimes it’s bad. Either way, trail work is an irreplaceable opportunity, and most who do it remember it for the rest of their lives.
One thing is certain: you will ... Read more
An excerpt from The Pacific Crest Trail: Exploring America’s Wilderness Trail by Mark Larabee and Barney Scout Mann
Single women were spinsters and newspapers might identify a woman as Mrs. John Doe, not by her given name, Josephine. That’s how it was in 1899, when 32-year-old Catherine Montgomery came ... Read more
By Connor Swift, PCTA technical advisor
Wildfire in California is like rain in the Northwest: inevitable. While suppressing wildfire in California continues to be a high priority, the damage cannot always be mitigated or controlled, and unfortunately, the Pacific Crest Trail is oftentimes dramatically affected. In some cases, the PCT ... Read more
By Wes Jones
Two seasons of leading Volunteer Vacations for the Pacific Crest Trail Association has left me with one obvious and lasting impression: a simple “thank you” goes a long way. For the nearly 2,000 people who volunteer on the trail each year, it’s not hard to feel good ... Read more
By Connor Swift, PCTA technical advisor
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
It’s no secret that the Pacific Crest Trail is largely constructed, maintained, and cared for by dedicated volunteers. So, where ... Read more
Welcome to the blog of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Check back often for news about the trail.