AT or PCT?

[Spirit Walker]

Is your time window set in stone? If you have to start March 1, then the western trails aren't going to be possible. If you can start in late April or early May, then the PCT NOBO is possible, but you won't be likely to finish by August. If you need to finish a semester, you could do a SOBO starting in late June.

The PCT has become much more crowded in recent years, and due to publicity from Wild, is likely to be more so in the next few years. Camping won't be much affected (no shelters) but hostels and supplies in town may be limited and water caches will definitely feel the impact. The problem on the PCT is that everyone starts at the same time, so as to arrive in the Sierras in mid-June. Any earlier means dealing with a lot of snow and dangerous river crossings, later means reaching the Cascades after the onset of winter, which can be as early as mid-September some years, but usually is early October.

This year's drought and resulting fires along the trail will likely affect next year's hikers as well. It takes a few years for the brush to grow up again. It may be another el Nino year, so expect a lot of snow in the Sierras next year. Get ice axe training before you go.

Generally the trail is very easy to follow. It's not blazed like the AT, but there is a clear and obvious footpath - except in snow.

[Venchka]

Hike the John Muir Trail as a warm up for long distance hiking. After you complete that hike, if you want to do a multi-month hike, then flip a coin for your next, longer adventure.
Include the CDT in your coin flipping.

Wayne

Changed my mind.
Test your long distance hiking mettle on the Colorado Trail. It is closer to you. Getting to/from each end seems to be relatively easy. August is good. September is better. One month and a bit. Give or take a zero or two. Durango to Denver.

This will get you started...
http://www.pmags.com/colorado-trail-...from%20Durango

After you finish The Colorado Trail, you can decide your next move. The CDT. NOBO or SOBO. Sections or The Whole Thing in One Chunk.

Wayne

[2NewKnees]

I've talked to a few friends who live out there and have hiked parts of the PCT and the AT. They all say do the PCT first if possible if you want a solitary experience with awesome views, tough terrain and more difficult conditions. Such as finding shade and water in the desert. If you want a wilderness experience with more fellowship, water, shelter, re supply points, etc. Do the AT first. After watching Tell it on the Mountain, I really want to do the PCT then the AT. I've lived here in NC my whole life and can't imagine the views out west of the Sierra's. Whatever you choose you'll have a wonderful lifetime experience.

[garlic08]

I hiked the PCT before the AT, but it certainly wasn't my first long hike. I'd had over twenty years of fairly serious backpacking and mountaineering experience in Colorado, including the Colorado Trail, before attempting a PCT hike. (And it was because of all the mountain hiking that I was not at all interested in the AT, but when I hiked the AT years later, I loved it.)

It's hard, and maybe stupid, to give advice to someone without knowing their experience or skills. It's best to keep in mind all those great PCT views aren't free--there can be some pretty harsh conditions out there above tree line, and up to a week away from the next resupply.

If you are 16 and living in Indiana per your profile, keep in mind the AT is comparatively in your backyard. If you have time and money constraints, as I did as a teenager struggling to get going in Chicago, the Appalachians are a fine place to start a long distance hiking career. It was a trip to the Smokies in the late 60's that first got me thinking....

[Ricky&Jack]

lasnight i watched "as it happens: the pacific crest trail" on youtube.

just to be sure, that was waaay more snow than usual, in 2011 right? because i knew to expect to walk in some snow, but when they walked it on the side of mountains it looked more like an Everest decent or something from cliffhanger.

[postholer.com]

So here are some resources that will answer some of your questions.

Use this siimple synopsis for what a PCT hike requires. This table will show the average length of time hikers take (including zero days) between town stops. Use the resupply page for overall distances, distance to town and map links. For a geographic view of resupply locations use the google map.

The old online data book with 2,000 locations has detailed information about the trail, but not as detailed or current as the new printed data book with 4,000 locations.

Elevation profiles for each section can be viewed by themselves and/or in the data books.

Finally, if you want to see what type of gear PCT hikers carry, check out the gear lists.

Good grief. If this doesn't border on spam I don't know what does!

-postholer

[Malto]

lasnight i watched "as it happens: the pacific crest trail" on youtube.

just to be sure, that was waaay more snow than usual, in 2011 right? because i knew to expect to walk in some snow, but when they walked it on the side of mountains it looked more like an Everest decent or something from cliffhanger.

Yes 2011 was an abnormally high snow year.

[cthomasy]

Thank you all for your help! I think I'm going to stick with doing the AT for next year and then maybe take a gap year between high school and college and hike the PCT. I'm taking a half a semester off next year so I can start in March and finish late July early August so I can start my senior year on time. Knowing now that starting so early on the PCT and finishing by August would almost be impossible it would be much better for me to hike the AT and get done on time. Thanks again! If you guys have any more comments or tips feel free to keep on commenting!

[Venchka]

Thank you all for your help! I think I'm going to stick with doing the AT for next year and then maybe take a gap year between high school and college and hike the PCT. I'm taking a half a semester off next year so I can start in March and finish late July early August so I can start my senior year on time. Knowing now that starting so early on the PCT and finishing by August would almost be impossible it would be much better for me to hike the AT and get done on time. Thanks again! If you guys have any more comments or tips feel free to keep on commenting!

Be prepared for winter conditions on the AT through April.
Be well funded.
Have fun.

Wayne

[Ricky&Jack]

what was the average cost to hike the PCT?

I hear $4,000-$6,000 is recommended to do the A.T. but I would assume that a big portion goes to hostels/motels etc. And if I understand correct, that since towns are further apart, you star in far fewer hostels/motels. Is it still about $4,000-$6,000 to hike the PCT?

[Coffee]

what was the average cost to hike the PCT?

I hear $4,000-$6,000 is recommended to do the A.T. but I would assume that a big portion goes to hostels/motels etc. And if I understand correct, that since towns are further apart, you star in far fewer hostels/motels. Is it still about $4,000-$6,000 to hike the PCT?

My budget for the PCT is about $1,000 per month on the trail ($5K for five months), $1,000 for transportation including flights to/from east coast, local transport, maybe a few paid shuttles, $1,000 for gear replacement, and a $1,000 (s*** happens reserve). Total $8k budget. Nearly $3K is offset by expenses I won't be paying at home that I normally would pay (groceries, gasoline, recreation, etc), so my net PCT budget is $5K. If I rent out my condo while I'm away, my PCT cost will be less than zero, net.

[Venchka]

My budget for the PCT is about $1,000 per month on the trail ($5K for five months), $1,000 for transportation including flights to/from east coast, local transport, maybe a few paid shuttles, $1,000 for gear replacement, and a $1,000 (s*** happens reserve). Total $8k budget. Nearly $3K is offset by expenses I won't be paying at home that I normally would pay (groceries, gasoline, recreation, etc), so my net PCT budget is $5K. If I rent out my condo while I'm away, my PCT cost will be less than zero, net.

Why didn't I think of renting the house during a thru-hike? Right. Mrs. Wayne might object. That is still a good way to fund a hike if possible.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Coffee]

Why didn't I think of renting the house during a thru-hike? Right. Mrs. Wayne might object. That is still a good way to fund a hike if possible.

I am single so in theory it could work. The main issue is that if an injury ends my hike I would have to figure out a housing solution quickly so I'm not sure it is worth it. It's not a make or break thing where I couldn't afford the hike without the rental income.

[Venchka]

Single opens many options. Grinning.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Ricky&Jack]

its not realistic to use a hammock on a thru of the PCT is it?

I only started to gather PCT info, but im guesing with the dessert, and high mountains that it wouldnt be smart to take a hammock.

[RED-DOG]

For me doing the PCT in 2015 is another chapter in my hiking career and then i will do the CDT 2016 or 2017, but if i could go back before my first thru-hike ( 96 AT Flip-Flop ) i would diffenatly do the PCT first and then the AT, in preparation of my PCT thru i am using Yogi's Guide and PCT maps I already have gotten my entire Resupply Strategy figured out, which towns i am going in and buying food only and which towns i will buy food and also mail myself a mail drop farther up the trail and a bear vault at sauleys that sort of thing.

[Ricky&Jack]

For me doing the PCT in 2015 is another chapter in my hiking career

have you figured out a rough budget? Im seeing 4,000-8,000 as recommendations here

[RED-DOG]

have you figured out a rough budget? Im seeing 4,000-8,000 as recommendations here

I have talked to a couple of people that did the PCT last year and the way i understood it, the PCT costs about the same as the AT or maybe a little less they said their was alot less oppurtunity to go into towns, which i knew that so i am going to budget the same as i did on my 2012 AT thru ( I only spent $5700 in 2012 ) that was $ 7000 dollars with a thounsand in reserve for emergency use and that will cover all the Gear before the trail and Gear replacement on the Trail, Transportation to and from, Trail food, Hostel/Hotel, Resturants, the cost of sending myself Food drops, Cost of Shuttles if i get any, all the permits any side trips ( Half Dome. MT Whitney ) and anything else that might arise

[stillatit]

They are VERY different trails and experiences. A thru-hike on the PCT is not for beginners. Chalk up some serious backpacking experience first. You could always do a few sections of the PCT to get a feel for it before attempting to tackle the whole thing. There are parts of it that are close to civilization (around Big Bear in SoCal, near Tahoe in NoCal, the southern Cascades in Oregon) that would help to give you the feel for it. Meanwhile, if you just need to get experience hiking, the AT is fine---but again a very different from the high western mountains.

[Ricky&Jack]

on the PCT is there an "ultimate weekend spot?" like, if im ahead of schedule, and could easily kill a week, is there a place where people often say "screw it. Im gonna chill here for a few days/week and just relax, buy souvenirs for the family, go to the movies etc?"