The very factor that makes the PCT so special, also makes it tricky to hike – the isolation. Unlike parts of the Appalachian Trail, hiking along the PCT we will go for days without meeting civilization. This therefore requires some forward-planning regarding food and basic supplies. People approach resupply strategy differently – some buy everything along the way, some send themselves resupply boxes, and other do a combination of both. We are mostly sending boxes, as I admit to being a fussy eater, but we will also be picking up certain things.
Research indicated that we should not attempt to carry more than around 5 days of food at any given time due to the weight. Therefore I used Craig’s PCT Planner website to work out how long it would take us to hike between the potential resupply stops, and then consulted Plan Your Hike for further information. Note: It is a good idea to contact any chosen resupply location to confirm their online information is accurate.
Below is a copy of the resupply schedule that I originally left with The Marshmeier’s in order to post our boxes. A couple of the postal dates changed along the way – including a urgent text request to ‘HOLD ALL BOXES’ sent in our first week after experiencing so much snow we didn’t think we’d last – but generally everything arrived well-ahead of us.
For most thru-hikers who average 25-35 miles a day, our number of resupply stops would seem excessive, but it was designed around our lower mileage expectations. In a nutshell, we stopped at every possible resupply location in Washington (because the trail is more isolated there), and then selected most, but not all points in Oregon. The only change I would have made with hindsight? I would have omitted Timberline Lodge for sending a package to, purely because we could have done a full grocery shop two days later in Cascade Locks.
Word of warning – boxes take A LOT longer to pack than expected! We numbered them and kept open in case we needed extra items added/ removed before posting.
Following a 3-week snow delay we will be setting off from the Hwy 5 intersection in Oregon this coming Monday. I can’t believe we are so close. Only 2 more sleeps in a real bed! Continue reading Final Kit Explosion
Continuing north on our journey to Oregon we had just one day to do a quick ‘highlights’ tour of Lassen. We had our plan. It was going to be intense. We would drive the park road from the southwest entrance exiting through the north. This would allow us to marvel at the geothermal wonders, take lots of pics, and hike the famous Bumpass Hell to Kings Creek trail. Hiking up Lassen Peak was also a potential option. Continue reading Lassen National Park let down
What a Monday! I really enjoyed this trail. It probably had something to do with the fact that it didn’t involve any massive ascents, and that there were dazzling azure lake views throughout. Continue reading Tahoe Rubicon Trail
Today we experienced our first taste of the PCT thanks to the recommendation of a Tahoe Park Ranger. Joining at Lower Echo Lake the trail is partnered with the Tahoe Rim Trail running north. Continue reading Tahoe Rim Trail
Putting one’s life on effectual hold whilst also getting ready for the hike has entailed an awful lot of admin. I have checklists upon checklists.
In Massive Summary:
1. USVisas
As Brits we need an extended stay travel visa (a DS-160) which allows a 6-month stay. $160 plus a lovely trip to the US Embassy for an ‘interrogation’ and we were all set!
2. Flights to the US
It never ceases to annoy me how much flight prices have increased in the last few years! That aside, we booked tickets with Virgin Atlantic to San Francisco to arrive 3 weeks before our start date. We will be staying with relatives in California so we can train and buy the bulk of our gear/ food supplies. This we be no 3-week holiday!
3. Secure permits – PCT & Canada
Both simple to do online. The Pacific Crest Trail Association limits the number of people on the trail and staggers start dates from the southern terminus in order to maintain the wilderness. Any thru-hikes or section hikes of more than 500 miles require a permit. This is free, but a donation to the PCTA which maintains the trail is encouraged.
For entry to Canada in the backcountry you will need to carry written permission from the Canadian Boarder Agency. The permit is free, and requires completion of just one form.
Our PCT hike forms part of a longer US trip. We have the summer, so wanted to choose a section of the trail that fitted into our timescale. To decide I firstly consulted Half Miles’ PCT maps which are free to download. I knew that we would be too late in starting to realistically cross the desert sections. It would be too hot and have less reliable water sources. We like the idea of splitting the hike into 2 sections that we could later return and complete. Reading fellow hiker blogs convinced me that Oregon-Washington offered spectacular scenery and were a good bet for our situation.
5. Research & buy gear
Gear reviews!!! I have become slightly OBSESSED with reading gear reviews in a desperate attempt to carry the lightest pack possible. It’s a little over-whelming though. The reviews don’t all agree, and the choice kit costs some serious whack! How much of an ‘investment’ in this stuff do we need/ or should we really make? And do we really want to be ‘those 2 British Muppets with all the gear and no idea’?! Other thru-hiker blogs proved very useful here (see below).
Most of our gear was purchased through REI, the US-based outdoor cooperative who offer a 10% dividend on all purchases to members. They are also renowned for their ‘no quibbles’ return policy. Other sites we used were Campsaver, who run a lot of promotions, and Back Country, who have a very fast delivery.
6. US SIM card
Unlike in the UK there doesn’t appear to be a concept of no contract (PAYG) SIM cards in the US. We set on a monthly GoPhone package for $40 + tax from AT&T. It provides 3GB of data, free texts and domestic calls. This was based on requiring some data whilst on the trail, and online information which indicated AT&T will have the best area coverage.
7. Travel insurance
Boring but essential, especially in the absence of a US public health service. Companies really hike up the prices on any trips lasting over 30 consecutive days. They also take issue with hiking with ice axes. Luckily we hope to not require these – wishful thinking maybe?
Full disclosure: We have no upfront knowledge of camping or useful outdoorsy skills to rely on. This seemed amateur. I do not underestimate how vulnerable we will be in the middle of nowhere! Watching YouTube videos became an evening staple (sad I know). The stuff that people post on there can be priceless. Other niche sites such as Clever Hiker have great information, though I did feel a renewed sense of fear when watching the videos about bears and other hazards! I would recommend taking a first aid course. Many companies offer specific ‘wilderness’ training. REI stores also run a program of local training courses on various helpful subjects – just a shame we were not in the US for any of their dates!
Googling stuff
A scary read!
My favourite PCT bloggers who go out of their way to give awesome advice are:
As I gaze out at another grey and rainy London day it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to jet off to the Californian sun. We could find a beach, eat lots of ice cream, work on our tans… except this time my husband Conrad and I will be loading our lives into a backpack and hiking through Oregon and Washington states along the Pacific Crest trail north to Canada!
OK, so many attempt the full hike in a season, and over the last couple of weeks I have been following handfuls of excited individuals set out on their mammoth pilgrimages from Mexico. And good luck to them, I am in total awe. We have chosen to instead ‘section’ hike the northern 942 miles, which if we complete it will be a personal feat for a number of reasons:
We have no experience of real backpacking i.e. carrying a heavy load and camping
I have serious fears of the indigenous wildlife (and gun-carrying people!)
We are not match fit! Due to some health and logistical setbacks we haven’t had the chances we expected to physically train for the challenge ahead
Did I mention camping, in the wilderness, with bears, snakes, mountain lions?!
I don’t know what scares me the most right now – the lack of shower facilities, or the wilderness itself. Will we be physically and mentally tough enough to just ‘get on with it’? I’ve always considered myself pretty hard, but then again I haven’t ever put myself in this sort of outlandish situation, and I do like my creature comforts – throughout the entire winter I have taken a hot water bottle to bed! And I can’t quite get my head around not showering.
Yet there’s nothing like having family members laugh at the very idea of us camping, and taking bets against quit dates to makes me want to show them!
Why Oregon & Washington?
Well, firstly I wanted to avoid the desert! For 2 hiking amateurs, I didn’t think that setting out into desert, where water sources are limited would be a very cleaver idea! I had visions of us needing to be airlifted out as our sickly pale skin is over-exposed and our bodies fail through severe dehydration! No one wants to be that idiot. We need a chance to build up our strength and stamina on the hike. Oregon seems smart. No heavy bear canister to carry, and by doing so we are able to start later than most.
I would like to complete the entire PCT eventually, so this way I figure we can ‘split it in 2’ and start with the shortest part. Lastly, we get to end in Canada which is pretty cool, I love poutine!
What makes our hike different?
The most obvious answer is our lack of skill/ hiking/ camping knowledge. But we are not total idiots, and have spent the last 2 months reading countless books/ blogs/ watching YouTube videos to try and educate ourselves, but nothing beats experience. So we need to learn-as-we-hike and will be starting based on an assumed daily mileage of just 12 miles, with rest days. In comparison, the main thru-hikers heading up from Mexico will probably easily be crunching off 25-35-mile days by then in a race to beat the snow! I hope we don’t have that same tight deadline.
We will also be hiking this section ahead of the majority, so the weather and trail conditions are harder to ascertain from the wealth of general trail info already out there. We hope to start on May 30th, 40 days from now. Crater Lake is still covered in snow. Fingers crossed.
a life to wander 