I am three months removed from my AT thru-hike and itching to get back on a trail this spring/summer. I’m considering thru hiking the PCT but it intimidates me. I’ve never been to the desert and the highest mountain I’ve ever climbed was Clingman’s Dome. Would I be okay getting by with what I learned on the AT?? If not, what could I do to prepare myself?
Thanks!
KBG
The AT prepared you by teaching you how to take time off work and wake up every day and walk in the correct direction through viewless forests. The PCT is much different there is only a little 100 mile section or so without views, and the general lack of mosquitos and rain may make you uncomfortable. The lack of 100% humidity days may make your skin dry. The AT is everything bad about backpacking and the PCT is everything good about it. HOpe you like great views well graded trails, and no shelters to deal with. Best way to prepare yourself: Don’t listen to anything negative about the trail, you’ll be fine. Super easy.
EZE
Lack of mosquitos??? That’s funny. Ever hike the Sierra in thru hiker season?
Anyway, some major differences are that you have to carry lots of water in the desert and be careful not to get heat exhaustion. Be smart enough not to hike when it’s too hot, listen to your body and you’ll learn how much heat you can take. Drink water/EmergC and eat enough salty foods because you’ll be sweating a lot.
For the high elevations; take it slow to get acclimatised. Again listen to your body. Some people adapt faster than others. When you feel nauseous, have a headache, slow down/camp.
If you have a high snow year you may want to learn how to use an ice axe, maybe do some prep hikes in snowy conditions to practice your route finding skills.
That’s all I can think of right now. Enjoy!!!
apple pie
Navigating the Sierras in Snow may require map/compass/navigation skills. There are almost no blazes and signs are usually only at trail junctions (and some may be missing).
Depending on the amount of snow and the timing of your hike, you may need to know how to travel on snow and use an ice axe for self arrest. You can practice this in winter on a steep snow covered hill.
Crossing the deserts may require different clothing strategies then you are use to. Wear lightweight, light colored clothing (preferably long sleeve) to protect against the sun. The days can be really hot but the nights cold. People often carry 5-8 liters of water in sections of the desert, so make sure your pack can handle the extra weight. Many people travel in the early morning and late afternoon while resting in the middle of the day. Some even night hike.
Miner
Another big difference is in the miles that you do every day. On the AT, when I rumbled along at 20 or 25 miles in a day, I got a lot of surprise from other hikers. Sometimes I got lectured about how I was hiking the trail the wrong way. On the PCT, you’ll find 20 miles in a day to be not especially difficult as:
The trail is actually scenic and you’ll want to see what is over the next rise.
The trail is built well, with pleasant grades and (generally) smooth tread. It contours a lot when nothing would be gained by going up or down, unlike the AT.
Distance between water sources can be long, so you tend to hoof it a bit more.
Distance between resupply points can be long if you don’t like to hitch all the time. The 150 miles or so from Tuolumne to South Lake Tahoe would take 15 days (eek!) at a 10 mpd AT speed.
It can get really hot, so you tend to hike early and late. Very few hikers sleep in and start hiking at 11.
It isn’t that you hike at a faster rate on the PCT. 3 mph is pretty standard. But, you hike longer. 12, 14, 16 hours of movement. It is pretty easy to rack up miles if you do so. And, you might want to, depending on your tolerance for weather: Hikers this year found WA to be rather unpleasant in September and many did not make it to Manning.
Get in shape before hand to help try to prevent injuries, which can be the biggest problem with the PCT miles.
Suge
EXE - It seems like you have something against the AT??? Why? I found the AT to be a thrill to hike - full of views, full of plantlife, full of water, full of fun people, and full of adventure. Both the AT and PCT are very VERY different hikes and I’m glad I was was able to thru hike both.
KBG - if you thru hiked the AT - you’ll be just fine. You’ll figure everything out. After all, everything always works out in the end! So, shine up those hiking poles, buy and read Yogi’s PCT guide (she’ll answer ALL of your questions!), and get out there! You’ll love it! No worries my friend!:cheers
FlowEasy
You sound like wingfoot, who if you dont know is a tool. He speaks as you do about the AT when addressing the PCT. Its odd that anyone would have disdain for any of the long distance trails. whateve
wolfpaw
ANYWAY … getting back to what KBG was asking …
Just do your research and you’ll be fine. Like FlowEasy said “Buy Yogi’s guide (she’ll answer ALL of your questions)”.
Unlike the AT, you do have to do more research and be ready for what the PCT dishes out. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a 32 mile dry spot with no clue where the next water is … and you don’t want to be climbing a pass in the snow with no maps.
Simply do your research and you’ll be fine.
and of course … it doesnt matter what you hike as long as you’re having a BLAST! ENJOY!
Borah
I started mid may and solo. I was intimidated at first but once I was a couple days past the border I felt more comfortable. If you hiked the AT then you will be OK on the PCT. Starting late was HOT HOT HOT. I got blisters by the third day. I thought my feet were tough too. By Warner Springs (mi. 109) I was contemplating buying a plane ticket home to OHIO my feet were in such bad shape. The constant sweating, lack of experience with blisters, hiking alone, heat, and horse crap in my blisters made me nervous about serious infection. So watch your feet in the desert and know how to bandage and care for blisters. I ended up making a irrigation tool with my aquafina waterbottle ( I just poked a small hole in the cap) to rinse the horse crap and gunk out of my blisters everytime I could and I quickly found outhow to keep bandages on while my feet while sweating. Later on the trail I found a liquid adhesive bandage which coated my blisters/hot spots and kept them clean and stopped the painful rubbing. I wish I had that in the desert. My feet toughened up after the first 200 miles and I only had problems later on the trail while breaking in some montrail hardrocks.
Spigot