Trail culture

Footprints for Change

My time on the PCT in 2021 shifted my perspective about my Footprints for Change mission. A beautiful aspect of Footprints for Change is that change is ever-evolving—like Nature and like myself.

Yes, I still believe we need more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) representation outdoors, and I ... Read more

In Memory of Pete Fish, Legendary PCTA Volunteer

We’re deeply saddened to report that after a battle with Lymphoma, legendary PCTA volunteer Pete Fish passed away on March 26. He was 90. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, three children, and four grandchildren.

The Pacific Crest Trail was a “second career” for Pete. After retiring from ... Read more

PCTA’s 2021 Annual Award Winners

The Pacific Crest Trail Association’s annual awards recognize people and partners for their extraordinary dedication to the Pacific Crest Trail. Below is a summary of those recognized throughout 2021. Some award winners listed were selected in previous years but were unable to be recognized until this year. The PCT will ... Read more

BearVault: Saving Wildlife From Our Food

As more people venture into the outdoors, properly protecting our food and other scented items is becoming more important than ever. It’s a popular belief when camping in the backcountry that we protect our food from wildlife for our own benefit—but in this video, BearVault owner Tracy Twist explains ... Read more

Imagining the PCT in a changed climate

Editor’s note: The following article by Julio Araujo appeared in our Communicator magazine in 2017. We thought it was prescient, as aspects of the scenario the author predicted three years ago are happening now. On May 4, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially shifted the baseline for “normal” ... Read more