PCT Basics

I have come to find out that not everyone is as educated on the PCT as we have become in the last year ! (imagine that!!) Many of you are asking so many good questions, so I thought I would go over some of the basics.

• The PCT spans 2, 650 miles from Mexico to Canada, walking through California, Oregon and Washington. One travels through the desert, the enormous expanse of the Sierra Nevada, through deep forests and volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range.
  
• Some walk only a few miles, others a specific “section”, and then there are the thru-­‐hikers (Kevin) completing every mile in a single session.
  
• A “community” of volunteers ties this trail together. Without these “trail angels” this trail could not be completed.
  
• The PCT avoids roads and towns, almost entirely...and aims to stay remote and passes through magnificently untamed country.
  
• Sometimes, there are NO campgrounds and the hikers sleep wherever they can, which may be right on the trail due to water, exhaustion, and weather.
  
• Approximately 200 miles of the trail passes through privately owned lands. Wilderness permits are required for designated wilderness lands, national parks and state parks, which the trail passes through. The PCT Association works with the hikers to obtain all the necessary permits for this and Canada.
  
• Sections will close due to fires, damaged bridges and other reasons
  
• The trail crosses over 57 major mountain passes, 3 Natl’ monuments, 5 State
  parks, 7 Natl’ parks, 24 Natl’ forests and 47 Wilderness areas.
  
• It dips into 19 major canyons and past more than 1,000 lakes.
  
• The PCT is divided into 29 sections of “manageable” length. There are 18
  Sections in CALIFORNIA (Sections A – R). Then when you get to Oregon, the
  labeling starts over with Sections A – L, combining Oregon and Washington.
  
• When planning your thru-­‐hike, you take into consideration your section, the
  trail angels available and your resupply opportunities.
  
• When on the trail, you are only referred to by your TRAIL NAME. Someone on
  the trail gives you your trail name and then you must accept or deny. Shane
  was given “BootCamp” at about Day 2. He accepted!
  
• Do you walk alone? Some do, other’s don’t. You never have to walk alone,
  there seems to be a “group” of hikers that are in the same day or two within Kevin. Sometimes he will walk with another for a some time. They may walk within 4 or 5 miles apart, end up sleeping in the same area, you get the idea.
  
• Zero Days. Just what is sounds like. NO walking. Lots of showers and laundry and lots of FOOD. Kevin has had 2 zero days. First was at mile 178 -­‐ Idyllwild and most recently at mile 266 – Big Bear City.
  
• In every resupply box, I print out the most recent water report and trail angel locations for the specific section Kevin is hiking. http://PCtwater.com
  
• I am currently packing and sending Box #4 to the Best Western Hotel on the Cajon Pass (I-­‐15). They will pick up and drop you off at trail again.
  
• But, most importantly, you must hike your own hike.
  

At mile 109, Warner Springs, I picked up Shane as he had joined Kevin for the first week of hiking from the Mexican border. It was quite an experience for Shane and it was a very emotional day as Kevin was not ready for him to leave. Shane overcome with the magic of the trail and had an amazing week. I am hopeful he will share some of the great stories that he was able to experience first hand. It will surely bring tears of joy when you hear some of the remarkable things people do for the hikers. I will let him share those stories.
Currently, Kevin is at mile 266. Big Bear City. It was a tough week with really hot days and lots of climbing, up and then down and then up and then down again. I zoomed in on the topo map and it was pretty gnarly. Little water. Now the weather has changed. It may snow tonight on them? Crazy. He will walk for 4 days until he reaches Box #4 (Cajon Pass). Then he has 7 days until mile 454 – Aqua Dulce, where I will get to stay at our friends, Jackie and Martin’s Ranch! So excited. Shadow (my horse) is coming along and we will all “walk” together for the day on the PCT.

Jeremy has the URL updating on a periodic basis now, so you should be able to zoom in on the little hiker dude and see where Kevin is. He is feeling good and his feet are coming around. It is just a lot of walking, not just your typical pavement walking. The lack of water has been tough on the feet. The desert is a hot, dry area and you still have to cover those 20 mile days. Got to get to Canada before October!

We are working on a photo map that will give you some pics with certain locations. It’s a work in progress. I will attach some pictures that Kevin has been able to send via his iphone.
The trail is different for everyone. Some hikers are very serious about FINISHING and their daily miles. Some are great at hitchhiking to resupplies and skipping certain parts of the trail. Some just want to have a great time and make the entire experience one big party. Everyone looks out for each other. There is a 21 year old from Washington that Kevin’s little enclave has really taken under their wings. His mom sent 5 dozen cookies to Ziggy and the Bear (81 year old Trail Angels) in Cabazon. Everyone enjoyed Mom’s cookies in the backyard under tarps as Ziggy made them all fresh salad to go with their dinner. At 5am they were off after she fed them all a nice breakfast. Incredible.

It’s a community, for sure.
I feel like Kevin is in good hands.

A friend of ours shared a link from Warner Springs Monty (who I was able to meet at Warner Springs)...I think he does a good job expressing with words what Shane learned about the PCT and what Kevin is surrounded by on a daily basis. http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=12952

Until next week, Maureen