There seems to be no discussion of trail markers for the PCT. I thru hiked the AT in 2002 and the trail was so well marked that a blind man also did it. I get the impression that on the PCT everyone uses map and compass. How well is the PCT marked? Do you have to be a decendent of Lewis and Clark to follow this trail?
Two Step
They aren’t as frequent on the PCT, but they are out there. There is usually an obvious foot trail - mostly dug sidehill - so getting lost isn’t that common. In the snow, map and compass are a necessity, but other than a few passes in the Sierras, there was never any question of whether we were on the trail. In ‘civilized’ areas, going under freeways and along roads, there was occasional question, but mostly it only took a minute or two to figure out which way to go. Don’t worry about it.
Spirit Walke
The confusion on the PCT occurs at trail junctions. When you come to a junction oOn the AT, usually one trail has those white blazes, and the other one doesn’t.
On the PCT, a typical trail junction may have a trail sign, it may not. If there is a trail sign, it usually doesn’t indicate “PCT that-a-way”. Instead, it may have John’s Ridge Trail going left and Jane’s trail going right. You have to decide if the PCT is John’s trail or Jane’s trail. That’s why you need to purchase the three PCT Shaffer guidebooks. I wouldn’t hike without them.
As Spirit Walker said, you will not lose the trail. Except when it’s buried in snow, the PCT tread is blatantly obvious.
yogi
yogi
The only place I ever lost the trail was the last mile or two into Agua Dulce. We ended up just going cross country until we hit the main road into town. Never figured out where we went wrong. Did anyone else have trouble there?
Weathercarrot
Several people got lost in that park just before town. We were all right, but I remember a lot of grumbling from folks when we reached the Sauffleys. I know they’ve done some relocations in that area lately, so it may be less of a problem for this year’s hikers. I wonder if they have gotten rid of the roadwalk out of town? One thought I had, watching the Walk video - did anyone but us walk the road from town to the trail? Seems like most people we know got a ride from the Sauffleys out to the trail instead of doing the roadwalk.
Spirit Walker