By Lynn Shapiro & Patti McCarthy
Imagine learning about a challenge that somehow calls to you. It might be a mountain you’d like to climb, a sea you’d like to sail, a trail you’d like to hike. You research, study, plan and execute. You make arrangements, your life is changed, ... Read more
By Kara Keiffer, PCTA P3 Hiker
During the course of a thru-hike or section hike, you’re likely going to end up in town where you’ll encounter people who don’t live outside and sleep in the dirt. Sure, you know the on-trail code of conduct — you know to yield to ... 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
Have you seen our extensive advice about stream crossing safety for hikers and backpackers?
By Charles Williams
In 2016 I hiked the California section of the PCT. This trip brought me to the Southern Sierra in the month of June. As in many years, there was significant runoff from snowmelt ... Read more
Safely and successfully hiking the Pacific Crest Trail requires some basic survival skills as well as a keen awareness of your surroundings. You can’t possibly plan for everything, but you can easily prepare yourself with quality gear and enough knowledge to identify dangerous situations. Keep reading to learn the five ... Read more
By Linda Rose
Over the summer, I had the great opportunity to fulfill one of my long-time goals and hike the Pacific Crest Trail. While the trail runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, I felt that 500 miles would give me an experience I was looking for without taking ... Read more
When backpacking, your pack weight is probably going to be the heaviest at the beginning of your trip. Why? All that food, of course! Lightening your pack and fueling your body go hand-in-hand, creating a win-win situation for your stomach and your shoulders.
While “eating weight” on a backpacking trip ... Read more
By Justin Brimer, PCTA trail crew technical advisor
As trail maintainers, we use many different tools to take care of the PCT. If you are a regular PCTA volunteer, you know how fun and rewarding it is to show up—rain or shine—to dig, lop, lift, sweat and get dirty for ... Read more
Welcome to the blog of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Check back often for news about the trail.