For those who have thruhiked both, which did you enjoy the most, the AT or the PCT.
And … WHY???
I"m not looking for anything scientific here, just … which did you like best and why.
Boulder
PCT or ACT? - Appalachian Trail
system
#2
It’s no secret that my favorite of the big 3 is the PCT. The scenery is constant. It rarely rains. There are enough other thru-hikers that the sense of community is there, but it’s not over-crowded. Mostly, though, it’s because of the amazing scenery.
yogi
yogi
system
#3
pct over at mainly because the scenery is outstanding and constant thru the entire hike. enough other hikers to share the experience without overwhelming the trail or your ability for solitude. also trail magic superb. both are physically and mentally demanding. overall better experience on pct.
pineneedle
pineneedle
system
#4
I know it doesn’t usually rain much on the PCT, but in '04 it rained A LOT. We got a fair amount of rain in the Sierras (daily thunderstorms), and then we walked in rain almost every day from Mt. Hood north to Manning Park. Jeff and I got about 4 days that were completely rain free during the last few weeks of our hike.
Not that it’s not a good trail, just don’t decide to hike it based on the normal lack of rain. Nothing is written in stone.
Some poor folks last year got caught in MAJOR storms with neither rain gear nor shelter. Sleeping under the stars is cool, but being unprepared is dangerous. The first rains to hit us in Oregon were serious, record-breaking downpours and it was very cold - hypothermia weather.
Be prepared.
Chipper
system
#5
I could never pick one trail over the other. The two experiences are totally different in almost every way.
I will say this: Walking other long trails after the AT has really made me appreciate the status of the AT as a “foot trail”. A narrow path made just for walking is amazing. there is nothing in the world like the AT. Then again, there’s nothing in the world like the PCT either.
The most fun I ever had in my life was hiking the American West Coast Trail.
Tha Wookie
system
#6
Both will provide the experience of a lifetime. But they are different - the AT will be remembered mainly as a social experience; the PCT as a wilderness experience.
booger
system
#7
Both are great experiences. I section hiked the At 3 times end to end but thruhiked the PCT in 85. I rehike many sections of the PCT and enjoy the solitude. I think that the social aspects of the AT are appealing but too many folks start the AT as their first distance hike. The PCT has many more views per mi and is easier on your body. Just start the PCT alittle bit early,do the hot sections, and take time off if you need to or skip up north. Being a steady hiker has alot of merits-if you start in early April and hike 20mi a day,you can easily finish the PCT in a season. This past year, a number of hikers hiked into October before completing their trip and throughly enjoyed the early Fall season snow. Recent publications have been real adamant about completing your hike before late Sept. I have hiked the last section, Rainy Pass to Manning many times and rarely encountered snow as late as the first week in October. Perhaps so many hikers hike the AT first is because of location, most of the population is on the East Coast. Why not do both in 2 seasons? Part of the AT, then sections of the PCT,then return to do the remaining sections next year or insubsequent years? You get to pick the best time to be trail bound. Happy Trails,Mike
mike