First time posting

imported
#1

Hi everyone,
I’ve never attempted a big hike like the PCT and was wondering if you could recommend any websites? I’m looking at starting out of Campo. Thanks!
-Tony

Tony

#2

I’d start with journals on trailjournals.com . Search for “Cloudspotter”, “The Northerner”, “Scout and Frodo”, “Nocona”, or if you’re a real masochist “Cuddles”. Most of those are more social than trail descriptive, but you’ll get many ideas of what to expect.

Then there’s craigs pct planner (google it), postholer.com, and youtube has good videos if you search for Pacific Crest Trail. Lion King and the big “Walking” documentary are especially good.

In the end you might find it’s best to get out on the trail and sample it before you decide on the big hike. I went for a day to a road crossing on the PCT in Oregon and made lunches for hikers coming by. (I had to look at trailjournals.com to figure out where most hikers were at that time.) Then i asked them questions, right there, while they were eating. A couple months later i hiked by myself on the PCT for 3 days, again just to get a sense of it.

Or ask specific questions here. Good luck!

markv

#3

Subscribe to the PCT BB. A great source of information, discussion, advice etc.

http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

Still Lookin’

#4

To get a good idea of what a PCT thru-hike is all about, I highly recommend the video “Wizards of the PCT”. You can find it here: www.wizardsofthepct.com

yogi, www.pcthandbook.com

yogi

#5

Correction: to get a good idea of what THAT ONE GROUP of PCT hikers’ hike was all about, watch the video. Their experience is far from being the only type of experience. Mine, just as one example, wasn’t especially goofy or obnoxious at all.

Your hike doesn’t have to be the same as what any one person or group espouses, be it Wizards, Squatch, PCT-L, or Yogi.

West Coast Steve

#6

Hmmm. I’d like to think that my hike wasn’t especially obnoxious either. But it was probably pretty goofy.

I do agree with Steve’s overall point, though, as (I think) would Yogi – there’s a reason why her (excellent) guide book takes into account the opinions and experiences of many hikers and not just her. And that’s one of the great things about a thru-hike – there are many, many “right” ways to do it. Everyone needs to find that right way for themselves, and that usually happens on trail. But checking out how others have hiked can’t be a bad thing, and at the very least I like to think my film is at least a little bit inspirational, at least for some.

Thanks, Yogi, for the mention, and to contribute an answer to the OP, I’d say to take a look at


which has a lot of good info and links on it. Good luck!

Jester