Trail culture

Unbalancing Act: Reflections on Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

January 11, 2019

By Kara Kieffer, PCTA P3 Hiker

Outside the window, the North Cascades roll past as the bus travels south to Seattle. A verdant green valley stretches away toward craggy cliffs which jut skyward to be capped with low grey clouds. Seen from the enclosed glass bubble of a Greyhound ... Read more

Resetting life’s expectations on the Pacific Crest Trail

December 20, 2018

Hiker Culture

By Heather “River” Porter, 2018 PCTA P3 Hiker

I decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to meet the person I’d become at the end.

They say an experience like this changes you. You’re cut off from your family and friends and the influence of social media and left to ... Read more

Hiker Trash Vogue: Tommy “Twerk” Corey’s Pacific Crest Trail photos

December 14, 2018

Hiker Culture

Story and Photos by Tommy “Twerk” Corey

As I look over the jagged Washington mountains, I’m trying to find something profound to say about this photo project that, to be honest, started as a joke.

Hiker Trash Vogue is an editorial style photo project featuring portraits of long-distance hikers pretending ... Read more

Warrior Expeditions: a veteran’s perspective on thru-hiking the PCT

December 12, 2018

Hiker Culture, Thru-hiking

By Jonathan B. Grant

Veterans have used nature and hiking to come to terms with their combat experiences since the Revolutionary War, when the primary form of transportation to return home was by foot. The first documented thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail was Earl Shaffer, who told a friend in ... Read more

Friendship blossoms over trail work and a crosscut saw

December 10, 2018

Trail Maintenance, Volunteer

By Mick Mc Bride

I’ll be honest, when I started the PCTA Southern Oregon Rockers I went into it with eyes wide open, and I had no idea what to expect or if I would even like it.

I knew that we would improve the trail and feel good about ... Read more

How the Pacific Crest Trail changed my life and gave me new purpose

October 5, 2018

Advocacy, Hiker Culture, Thru-hiking

By Laura Johnston, PCTA P3 Hiker (2017)

The Pacific Crest Trail’s half-century birthday on Oct. 2 has me thinking about how much the trail means to me, someone born 14 years after it was established. I thru-hiked the trail and fell in love with it, but I also a discovered ... Read more

This is what hiking 2000 miles feels like

August 30, 2018

Hiker Culture, Thru-hiking

By Kara Kieffer, PCTA P3 Hiker

2000 miles feels like waking up tired every morning, like eating the same food again and again until it loses all meaning. It feels like wondering with amazement when 20 miles became a short day. Like pushing yourself up the last climb of the ... Read more

Trail magic, in reverse

August 16, 2018

Trail Angels

By Barry Stuart Keller, Mount Hood Volunteer Wilderness Stewards

I have been a volunteer wilderness ranger in the Mount Hood Wilderness, 62 miles east of Portland, Oregon, for 19 years. I educate day hikers and campers on the trail in the Wilderness about Leave No Trace along the Pacific Crest ... Read more

Welcome to the blog of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Check back often for news about the trail.

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