The PCT crosses several unique regions and landscapes that each have their own unique challenges and require different gear.
Starting from the southern terminus in Campo, California, on the Mexican border, the trail leads north through roughly 700 miles of high desert. Characterized by daytime temperatures that can reach triple digits and nighttime temperatures that typically dip below freezing early in the season, this portion of the trail includes a little bit of everything. The trail can be treacherous with snow and ice in the higher elevations between 5000 and 9000 feet, and sometimes even lower than that earlier in the season. There are also several long, dry sections of trail in this region that require longer water carries. I will be starting the trail on March 29th, which is considered a little early compared to the standard start date of mid-April. Because of this, I will need to be prepared for the typical long water carries along with lower temperatures and more snow than many thru-hikers who start later typically encounter. Click the link below to see what gear I will be starting out with.
The next 400 miles of trail passes through the Sierra Nevada – the highest mountain range of the trail and the highest in the continental United States. In this region, I will climb passes in excess of 12000 feet, and the trail will rarely dip below 7000 feet. Notable landmarks in this region include traveling through Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks, along with reaching the highest point on the PCT at Forester Pass (13,153 feet) and a side-trip to the highest point in the continental United States at the peak of Mt. Whitney (14,505 feet). I will be passing through this region in mid to late May, which means that much of the landscape will still be covered in many feet of snow. Late-season snowstorms have also been known to occur. The primary hazards in this section include falls on snow covered slopes, cold exposure, and fording swollen creeks due to snowmelt. Extra safety gear will make my pack the heaviest during this section. Click the link below to view my full gear list for this section.
North of Lake Tahoe, the trail changes drastically, crossing much lower elevations with fewer hazards. The northern portion of California is sometimes regarded as the driest section of trail and will likely be the hottest, both due to the time of year (June and July) and the lower elevation. Water can become an issue later in the season. Moving further north, Oregon is considered the easiest section of trail, characterized by long, relatively flat terrain. Washington brings more rugged mountains upon reaching the Cascades, which are substantially lower than the Sierras but many consider them to be more rugged. Snow shouldn’t be an issue this late in the year (August into early September) with the exception of an early-season storm. I will be starting out slightly earlier than average, so I anticipate having warmer than average weather through Oregon and Washington. Water is also no issue in the Cascades, as they bring the most lush environments seen along the trail. Because I won’t need as much cold-weather or safety gear, My pack will be the lightest during this long, third region of trail. Click the link below to see what I will be carrying on the final leg of my journey.
