Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - The Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of eight National Scenic Trails in the USA. It was
authorized by Congress in 1968 and construction completed in 1993. The PCT is a
wilderness walk stretching 2670 miles from the Mexican Border to the Canadian Border
through the mountains of California, Oregon and Washington. It is a well-constructed
trail designed to be usable by pack animals and horse-riders as well as walkers, avoiding
roads and human habitation as much as possible. Unlike the mountains of Europe,
there aren’t any huts or shelters, so hikers have to be self-sufficient and at times
heavy packs have to be carried.
The first 650 miles from the Mexican Border to Walker Pass traverses the arid
mountains of Southern California, cutting across the Mojave Desert. This section is
best walked in early spring when the temperatures are more likely to be tolerable and
there is some chance of finding water on the route. Even in the spring it could be
necessary to carry water for two days, while walking in temperatures up to 100ºF. With
some sections, reaching up to 9,000ft it is likely that some sections will still have winter
snow obliterating the trail and snowstorms are still a possibility in April.
The 450 miles from the Walker Pass to Lake Tahoe over the Sierra Nevada Mountains
is the most demanding and also the most spectacular part of the route. With much of
the route over 10,000 ft and with mountain passes over 13,000 ft to be crossed. This
section is best hiked in July - September, but thru-hikers must pass through in June
when extensive snowfields are inevitable. As always in high mountains, there is a high
probability of storms. However a bigger problem could be melting snow making rivers
and streams difficult or dangerous to cross. Water shouldn’t be a problem but food
supplies are difficult to arrange, as there is a 240-mile section, which doesn’t even cross
a single road. Bears could be a problem, as they have taken a liking for hiker’s food,
particularly in the Yosemite National Park.
The remaining 600 miles in California sees the transition from the granite mountains
of Southern and Central California to the volcanic Cascade Mountains stretching from
Northern California to the Canadian Border. The walking is mainly through forested
hilly terrain. Thru-hiking in July, the high summer temperatures could again be a
problem and there will be long sections without water.
The 450 miles through Oregon consist mainly of gentle forested hills interspersed with
huge volcanoes. This is an easier section with less climb than in California or
Washington. However water could be a problem as in the volcanic terrain rain tends to
disappear underground. Hopefully the weather should still be quite good.
In Southern Washington rolling wooded hills continue, interspersed with massive
volcanoes. The final 250 miles in the Northern Cascades of Northern Washington gives
a tough finish with many long, steep climbs in alpine terrain, with the prospect of heavy
rain and snow by the time thru-hikers reach the area in late September. However any
hiker reaching this far is likely to be able to find a way to finish the route.
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is one of eight National Scenic Trails in the USA. It was
authorized by Congress in 1968 and construction completed in 1993. The PCT is a
wilderness walk stretching 2670 miles from the Mexican Border to the Canadian Border
through the mountains of California, Oregon and Washington. It is a well-constructed
trail designed to be usable by pack animals and horse-riders as well as walkers, avoiding
roads and human habitation as much as possible. Unlike the mountains of Europe,
there aren’t any huts or shelters, so hikers have to be self-sufficient and at times
heavy packs have to be carried.
The first 650 miles from the Mexican Border to Walker Pass traverses the arid
mountains of Southern California, cutting across the Mojave Desert. This section is
best walked in early spring when the temperatures are more likely to be tolerable and
there is some chance of finding water on the route. Even in the spring it could be
necessary to carry water for two days, while walking in temperatures up to 100ºF. With
some sections, reaching up to 9,000ft it is likely that some sections will still have winter
snow obliterating the trail and snowstorms are still a possibility in April.
The 450 miles from the Walker Pass to Lake Tahoe over the Sierra Nevada Mountains
is the most demanding and also the most spectacular part of the route. With much of
the route over 10,000 ft and with mountain passes over 13,000 ft to be crossed. This
section is best hiked in July - September, but thru-hikers must pass through in June
when extensive snowfields are inevitable. As always in high mountains, there is a high
probability of storms. However a bigger problem could be melting snow making rivers
and streams difficult or dangerous to cross. Water shouldn’t be a problem but food
supplies are difficult to arrange, as there is a 240-mile section, which doesn’t even cross
a single road. Bears could be a problem, as they have taken a liking for hiker’s food,
particularly in the Yosemite National Park.
The remaining 600 miles in California sees the transition from the granite mountains
of Southern and Central California to the volcanic Cascade Mountains stretching from
Northern California to the Canadian Border. The walking is mainly through forested
hilly terrain. Thru-hiking in July, the high summer temperatures could again be a
problem and there will be long sections without water.
The 450 miles through Oregon consist mainly of gentle forested hills interspersed with
huge volcanoes. This is an easier section with less climb than in California or
Washington. However water could be a problem as in the volcanic terrain rain tends to
disappear underground. Hopefully the weather should still be quite good.
In Southern Washington rolling wooded hills continue, interspersed with massive
volcanoes. The final 250 miles in the Northern Cascades of Northern Washington gives
a tough finish with many long, steep climbs in alpine terrain, with the prospect of heavy
rain and snow by the time thru-hikers reach the area in late September. However any
hiker reaching this far is likely to be able to find a way to finish the route.
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The start
The Finish
Bighorn Plateau
Mount Rainier
Deep Creek Hot Springs