About the PCT

The PCT is a long distance route beginning at the border between California and Mexico, near a little place called Campo, about 12 miles south of San Diego. It winds it way north through the States of California, Oregon and Washington and finishes in Manning Park, about 9 miles over the border into Canada.

It boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and artic-alpine country. The PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience.

As the crow flies, the distance from start to finish is about 1000 miles. However, due to the PCT weaving east and west, the total distance is some 2650 miles. The ‘average’ thru-hiker (a person who completes the PCT in one attempt) takes around 6 months to undertake the trail and walks around 15 to 20 miles each day. ‘Zero’ days (rest days where no walking is done) happen about once a week. I’ll be posting some ‘Fun Facts’ about the PCT every few days. Here’s the first one:

• It passes through three states (California, Oregon and Washington)
• Climbs nearly 60 major mountain passes
• Descends into 19 major canyons and
• Ambles past more than 1,000 lakes and tarns.

The preparation.

It's February 27th 2010, 2 months before I make my first steps on the Pacific Crest Trail. There is gear strewn around my spare room, boxes opened with boots hanging out, lists of things to do, stuff to buy, arrangements to be made and bits to organise. This is the part I don't relish, I just want to get out there and start walking, the mechanics and organisation, whilst necessary, annoy me.

I doze off every night imagining the first few weeks walking through the southern Californian desert. Daytime temperatures in the 90's and the nights dipping to below freezing. I think this will be the hardest section of the whole hike. Unrelenting temperatures, gear being worn in, my body screaming 'What the hell are you doing'? The first 3 weeks in particular will be the sternest test, once I get through that I know it can only get easier. . .