Here I attempt to distill what differentiates a PCT thru-hike from typical 1-5 night backpacking trips.
General
The 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail runs north-south through the states of Washington, Oregon, and California, touching the borders of Canada and Mexico. Most people complete it in 4.5-5 months, giving an average mileage somewhere around 18-20 miles/day. As of this writing, slightly more people have climbed Mt. Everest (4,093) than have thru-hiked the PCT (4,018).
North or South?
The vast majority (90% or more) of hikers tackle the PCT heading north (north-bound/NOBO). This is the less strenuous approach, as it starts in the flat desert of southern California before hitting the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. The elevation gain in this direction is about 490,000 ft, giving an average grade of 3.5% or 2°. While an average, this is much lower than the typical grade of hiking trails up to major peaks in the southern California Transverse Ranges, which I've found to be around 10%. Any training for the PCT should probably emphasize distance over elevation gain. The highest point is Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada at 13,153 ft.
In the rest of this article, a northbound direction is assumed.
Timeframe & Weather
The usual timeframe for the trail is starting in late April and finishing in August. This is due to weather. A spring-summer hike avoids most of the snow in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades, which can transform an extended wilderneress walk into treacherous, technical mountaineering (only two people have completed the PCT in winter). The temperature range across the entire trail during this time, ignoring windchill, appears to be around 25-95 °F. Precipitation is generally infrequent due to mild Pacific weather, but snow and rain have occurred in every section of the trail (including the desert ones) and rain gear is always carried.
Food Resupply
Resupply is done in towns and post offices along the trail, about every 3-5 days. Generally you must hitch-hike in and out of these places, which is safe and easy (drivers are accustomed to thru-hikers). If a resupply point has a post office but no store, hikers will mail packages to said point by addressing them for general delivery. Many other commercial venues (some lodging, stores) will also receive and hold packages for hikers for a small fee. For any package pickup, it's important to confirm operating hours of the venue and to try to arrive there on time. More recently, some hikers have used Amazon Prime to reduce dependence on whatever is in-stock in a given town.
The hike is often described as a series of 3-5 day trips, and planning is usually only done for the next few days at a time. Day-by-day resupply planning months in advance is unnecessary, and probably futile. A resupply person off-trail is helpful but not necessary (international thru-hikers usually avoid it due to shipping costs).
Water
The only portions requiring special attention is the desert. Water reports must be consulted. Most people treat their water with a Sawyer filter; Aquamira drops are also popular. The desert and Oregon parts of the trail are known for turbid standing water.
Gear
Gear on the PCT is generally standard 3-season ultralight backpacking gear. The typical PCT outfit might be a ULA Circuit backpack, Brooks Cascadia shoes, and a TarpTent ProTrail shelter. Better-heeled hikers go for cuben fiber gear, notably from Zpacks and Hyperlite Mountain Gear.
You must like your gear enough to use it for 100+ (mostly) consecutive nights. This is a lot of use; many non-thru-hiking backpackers will not spend this many nights in the backcountry in their entire lives. Extra attention paid to reducing weight is warranted given the length of this trip, as a small excess encumbrance may accumulate a large cost as the miles reach into the hundreds. One might also consider placing extra importance on usability of gear. A cramped tent or temperamental water filter could be maddening on day 68 on the trail.
PCT-Specific Gear (Stuff Thru-hikers Like)
A few items have a disproportionate presence on the PCT. Short running gaiters, particularly Dirty Girl, keep pebbles out of shoes and prevent blisters. Lightweight trekking umbrellas reduce dehydration in the desert, substantially increase hiking comfort, and block precipitation in the northern parts of the trail. Some type of rechargeable battery pack is often used with electronics. These seem to work out better than solar panels, which are among the most frequently discarded items. SmartWater bottles are preferred over Nalgenes, weighing several ounces less as well as having threads compatible with the screw-in Sawyer filters.
Gear changes
As the biome changes, hikers switch out various pieces of gear. Many carry an ice axe when entering the Sierra Nevada, and a bear canister (required by law). Some ditch the umbrella after the desert, others keep it for precipitation in the northern part of the trail. Warm clothing is usually sent home after the Sierra Nevada.
Resources
The most popular PCT references are Yogi's PCT Handbook, Halfmile's maps, the PCT Water Report, and Craig's PCT Planner. Yogi's is part an intro to backpacking, and part a guide to resupplying in the towns along on the trail. It contains little narrative information about the trail itself.
General
The 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail runs north-south through the states of Washington, Oregon, and California, touching the borders of Canada and Mexico. Most people complete it in 4.5-5 months, giving an average mileage somewhere around 18-20 miles/day. As of this writing, slightly more people have climbed Mt. Everest (4,093) than have thru-hiked the PCT (4,018).
North or South?
The vast majority (90% or more) of hikers tackle the PCT heading north (north-bound/NOBO). This is the less strenuous approach, as it starts in the flat desert of southern California before hitting the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. The elevation gain in this direction is about 490,000 ft, giving an average grade of 3.5% or 2°. While an average, this is much lower than the typical grade of hiking trails up to major peaks in the southern California Transverse Ranges, which I've found to be around 10%. Any training for the PCT should probably emphasize distance over elevation gain. The highest point is Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada at 13,153 ft.
In the rest of this article, a northbound direction is assumed.
Timeframe & Weather
The usual timeframe for the trail is starting in late April and finishing in August. This is due to weather. A spring-summer hike avoids most of the snow in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades, which can transform an extended wilderneress walk into treacherous, technical mountaineering (only two people have completed the PCT in winter). The temperature range across the entire trail during this time, ignoring windchill, appears to be around 25-95 °F. Precipitation is generally infrequent due to mild Pacific weather, but snow and rain have occurred in every section of the trail (including the desert ones) and rain gear is always carried.
Food Resupply
Resupply is done in towns and post offices along the trail, about every 3-5 days. Generally you must hitch-hike in and out of these places, which is safe and easy (drivers are accustomed to thru-hikers). If a resupply point has a post office but no store, hikers will mail packages to said point by addressing them for general delivery. Many other commercial venues (some lodging, stores) will also receive and hold packages for hikers for a small fee. For any package pickup, it's important to confirm operating hours of the venue and to try to arrive there on time. More recently, some hikers have used Amazon Prime to reduce dependence on whatever is in-stock in a given town.
The hike is often described as a series of 3-5 day trips, and planning is usually only done for the next few days at a time. Day-by-day resupply planning months in advance is unnecessary, and probably futile. A resupply person off-trail is helpful but not necessary (international thru-hikers usually avoid it due to shipping costs).
Water
The only portions requiring special attention is the desert. Water reports must be consulted. Most people treat their water with a Sawyer filter; Aquamira drops are also popular. The desert and Oregon parts of the trail are known for turbid standing water.
Gear
Gear on the PCT is generally standard 3-season ultralight backpacking gear. The typical PCT outfit might be a ULA Circuit backpack, Brooks Cascadia shoes, and a TarpTent ProTrail shelter. Better-heeled hikers go for cuben fiber gear, notably from Zpacks and Hyperlite Mountain Gear.
You must like your gear enough to use it for 100+ (mostly) consecutive nights. This is a lot of use; many non-thru-hiking backpackers will not spend this many nights in the backcountry in their entire lives. Extra attention paid to reducing weight is warranted given the length of this trip, as a small excess encumbrance may accumulate a large cost as the miles reach into the hundreds. One might also consider placing extra importance on usability of gear. A cramped tent or temperamental water filter could be maddening on day 68 on the trail.
PCT-Specific Gear (Stuff Thru-hikers Like)
A few items have a disproportionate presence on the PCT. Short running gaiters, particularly Dirty Girl, keep pebbles out of shoes and prevent blisters. Lightweight trekking umbrellas reduce dehydration in the desert, substantially increase hiking comfort, and block precipitation in the northern parts of the trail. Some type of rechargeable battery pack is often used with electronics. These seem to work out better than solar panels, which are among the most frequently discarded items. SmartWater bottles are preferred over Nalgenes, weighing several ounces less as well as having threads compatible with the screw-in Sawyer filters.
Gear changes
As the biome changes, hikers switch out various pieces of gear. Many carry an ice axe when entering the Sierra Nevada, and a bear canister (required by law). Some ditch the umbrella after the desert, others keep it for precipitation in the northern part of the trail. Warm clothing is usually sent home after the Sierra Nevada.
Resources
The most popular PCT references are Yogi's PCT Handbook, Halfmile's maps, the PCT Water Report, and Craig's PCT Planner. Yogi's is part an intro to backpacking, and part a guide to resupplying in the towns along on the trail. It contains little narrative information about the trail itself.
