The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the second-longest trail in America. The course stretches from Mexico to Canada through states Oregon, California, and Washington. The PTC is top of their bucket list for many ambitious backpackers, opting for the high track passing through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges. The 2,650 miles long PTC starts from Campo, a small town on the U.S-Mexico border, and moves through states to the northern terminus at the U.S-Canada border in Manning Park. The trail is divided into 30 sections; 7 in Oregon, 18 sections in California, and 5 in Washington, with each averaging 91 miles.

Some sources have reported the track to be slightly shorter and others somewhat longer which may be down to the trail getting rerouted every passing year to move hikers away from threats such as wildfires. Secondly, the path has only been mapped with consumer-level tools, which don’t provide a truly accurate length. Whether you decide to thru-hike the PCT or take it up in bits, there is some vital information you will need to best prepare for the adventure.

• What to expect when Thru-hiking the trail

I believe that some standard rudimentary practices for hiking may not suffice when it comes to this trail. It is an extraordinarily long course that may require a few pointers to get you through.

• Shipping out food and supply to the next leg on the trail will lower your load and give you a spring in your toes as you play out a game of endurance for this course. The fact is that you won’t be able to carry all your supplies in one go so, plan out the route and see what you need on the first section, mail out the rest of the supplies and clothes to another town on the trail.
• Volatile weather on this course. It will feel like ages on this hike thanks to the weather, one month, you will brave the sun and temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius, and the following month could see yourself hiking through the snow with temperatures -7 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you need to do extensive reading on each section of the course and plan for these changes.
• Bring camping gear. You will need it. The majority of the sections on the PCT are in the wilderness and will require your acquaintance with camping skills. You will need a tent to sleep in a while in nature for the more significant part of your thru-hike. However, there are also towns on some sections of the hike. You can find reasonable lodging and proper meals in any of the town’s hotels and motels.
• Prepare for the path’s threats and look for ways to combat them. The PCT is a long course, and just like life, things are bound to get out of control. Most hikers on the PCT have had run-ins with bees in Northern California, rattlesnakes while camping, foul weather conditions like lightning, and tough bikers while hiking.
• Long stretches without access to water. You are bound to go 20-30 miles without water in sections of the PCT in an arid climate. On the PCT, water sources mean streams. For example, the Hat Creek Rim in Northern California is a 30-mile hike between reliable water sources. However, there are sections where you might be aided by the goodwill of selfless hikers and residents, which we now term “Trail Angels,” leaving jugs of water along the trail. However, you should carry at least two or more liters of water when crossing a desert without reliable sources, depending on the season.

• How long before you complete the PCT

Some have done it in a single season while others a lot longer; thru-hiking the PCT is a serious commitment. Some pro hikers have finished the track in 100 days, an average of 30 miles per day. An average hiker gets the feat done in 5-6 months but lest you take longer, make sure you finish before winter when conditions become unbearable. It will ruin your experience on the track.

Set daily targets when you go hiking on the PCT. It will help you complete the course and take the track bit by bit, this could be 10-20 miles a day, but consistency here is vital to crossing this track off your checklist. It would help if you planned to complete the PCT in the utmost six months. Keep within the average mileage even when not feeling into it; otherwise, you risk freezing (literally) when the cold season dawns.

Given the changing seasons while on the thru-hike on the PCT, getting the daily miles may seem unfeasible. Some hikers move quicker in deserts than snow, then perhaps doing longer stretches in the desert to cover for the few you will take in the snow. If you find all this confusing, then a general target such as I should be done with Oregon by the end of next month might come in handy. The trick to long trails is momentum; never lose the momentum.

• Planning, training, and feeding on the PCT

My mom always said that “A good strategist will always win in the game of life,” which is valid for the case of PCT. 

• Planning; your approach will come in handy on what gear you need for the route. It is often a choice of going northbound or southbound because the weather on the trail will ultimately change during the hike. If you want to go northbound, then late April is the time to begin your thru-hike and late June for southbound. Make a research on each course and its anticipated weather while there will help you plan the re-supply strategy. 90% of thru-hikers on the PCT go northbound because they believe that the weather and other logistics are less challenging as you go north.

You should get all the required three permits. First, if you plan to walk 500 continuous miles on the PCT, you will need a thru-hike permit. Are you going northbound? You will need a license to allow you to cross into Canada. And a third permit for boiling water and cooking food while in California. Note: Even with a permit, South California doesn’t tolerate campfires.

• Training; for the PCT isn’t a requirement, but God forbid you to attempt without it. Try out exercises that push for endurance, find a reason why you need to do it, and write it down to remind you of the course when your body wants to give in. Read memoirs of those who have taken and completed the path to get acquainted with what to expect.

• Feeding; preparations can be quite tricky given the long duration expected out in the wilderness. Many make the mistake of trying to buy 5-6 months food supply which they often regret. Knowing what you will want to eat next Wednesday is often a challenge; many get angry with a lack of variety when shopping. The best approach is buying snacks and accessible to prep meals for the first leg of the hike and mix it up when you go shopping in the re-supply towns. That way, you don’t lose your taste buds on the trail.