The Pacific Crest Trail

After accidentally stumbling upon a YouTube video made by Darwin onthetrail about his journey of the Pacific Crest Trail (AKA the PCT), I became immediately obsessed. I think it is amazing that people are dedicated enough to hike for months with immensely different terrain and I have promised myself that I am going to hike the entirety of this trail, one day.

For those of you who have no knowledge of the Pacific Crest Trail, it is 2,650 miles that usually takes hikers about 5 months to complete. The trail stretches from the border of Mexico going through California, Orogen, and Washington ending at the Canadian border. Some people start in Canada and go southbound, however, this very uncommon. According to The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, “The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) is a treasured pathway through some of the most outstanding scenic terrains in the United States.” Along the trail, hikers will cross through 26 National Forests, 7 National Parks, and 4 National Monuments. Although some hikers thru-hike the entire trail in one season, some hikes decide to hike only a portion for the day or weekend.

Throughout the trail, there are towns in California, Oregon, and Washington to stop and restock on supplies, spend a night or two in a hotel, and get a chance to actually get to know the area.

Being one of the first designated National Scenic Trails, thousands of people are dedicated to protecting the PCT. There are thousands of volunteers and donators who work to preserve the trail and make it the best experience for the hikers. With that being said, feel free to donate or volunteer at www.pcta.org.

Sources

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2019, from https://www.fs.usda.gov/pct/

Photos

(n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2019, from https://klipy.org/pacific-crest-trail-map-southern- california/pct-overview-new-maps-of-pacific-crest-trail-map-southern-california/