The children in the ExCEL summer school class at Cascade Locks Elementary know that where they live, the Columbia River Gorge, is a special place. They also know their town is within a national scenic area. When a photo of Oregon’s iconic volcano flashes on the screen, they can immediately ... Read more
By Pete Fish
PCTA volunteer Bill McConnell passed away in early June at a retirement facility near his home in Big Bear, California. This was not a surprise. By my reckoning he was 97, or close to it. While it is sad that he is no longer with us, just ... Read more
Each year, PCTA volunteers put in more than 90,000 hours maintaining the trail. Summer is the height of the volunteer season, so day, weekend, and even week-long projects deep in the backcountry are in full-swing. Here are some of the stories from the trail we’ve heard so far this summer.... Read more
It’s wildfire season and that means campfires are now banned in multiple spots along the Pacific Crest Trail. And it’s pretty much a sure thing that officials will expand restrictions to new places in the coming weeks.
It is your responsibility to know what the current restrictions are for the ... Read more
By Geolyn Carvin
You’ve probably seen a Boots McFarland cartoon somewhere: online, in a hiking club newsletter or perhaps the black and white comics featured years ago in the PCT Communicator. Where do these cartoons originate and where do the ideas come from?
I’m a nature lover, like you. ... Read more
By Kara Kieffer, PCTA P3 Hiker
The sun is cresting the horizon, the air is cool on your face as you take your first steps down the trail. And what is that in the distance? A white flower blooming in the harsh desert environment? The fluffy tail of a wild ... Read more
Siskiyou County will be extending its STAGE bus service to Castella this summer to accommodate Pacific Crest Trail hikers.
This new service will provide transportation from Castle Crags State Park and the PCT trailhead at Soda Creek Road to the towns of Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta City, and Weed, with connections ... Read more
In order to maintain remote sections of the Pacific Crest Trail far from the trailhead, Pacific Crest Trail Association volunteers often rely on volunteer horse packers to get tools and supplies in and out of backcountry camps.
But in the North Cascades, closures on feeder trails have made many remote ... Read more