Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail ranks as the single best experience I have had in my life. The 2660 mile (4286km) trail that runs from the Mexico Border to Canada.It traverses dry Californian deserts, high alpine mountains and wet rainforests. There is no other hike like it the entire world. For thru hikers in 2021 this guide should help with information needed to complete the hike.
Table of Contents
- 1 Blogging and Thru Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
- 1.1 Pacific Crest Trail Gear List
- 1.2 Resupply on the PCT
- 1.3 PCT Permits
- 1.4 Pre Hike Information on the Pacific Crest Trail
- 1.5 Pacific Crest Trail Southern Californian Desert
- 1.6 Pacific Crest Trail – The Sierra
- 1.7 Pacific Crest Trail – Northern California
- 1.8 Pacific Crest Trail – Oregon
- 1.9 Pacific Crest Trail – Washington
Blogging and Thru Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
While hiking the Pacific Crest Trail I kept a daily journal. Below are all those entries. Each entry relates my experiences of the day both good and bad. Each entry also contains a selection of photos that I took on the that day. If you are planning on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail then you might find the posts of interest. If you never plan on Thru Hiking the PCT then you might get the feel for what it is like to spend 21 weeks hiking in nature.
Pacific Crest Trail Gear List
Every year thru hiking gear is better. When I hiked the PCT I used quality gear that lasted quite well. I was happy with most of my gear. In recent years I have updated my gear list and compiled a complete guide to the best gear for Thru Hiking.
You need to read about all the best gear available for Thru Hiking:
Best Lightweight Backpacks for 2021
Best Lightweight Tents for 2021
Best Lightweight Sleeping Bags and Quilts for 2021
Lightweight Sleeping Pads 2021
Lightweight Down Jackets 2021
My Current Lightweight Gear List
Resupply on the PCT
Click the link below for a Complete Guide to food and resupply on the PCT.
PCT Permits
Permits for PCT 2021 will be a little more difficult than usual. A decision on permits will not be made until January and maybe even cancelled for the whole year.
- Apply for PCT permit. Check in January 2021 to see if permits will be available.
- If you manage to get the permit then shrink it from A4 to a smaller size and laminate it. The size of a passport of A6 should be perfect.
- Apply for a California Fire Permit to light an open fire in California. This includes the use of a hiking stove. When you get the permit you can also shrink it to A6 and laminate it. Even with the permit there may be Total Fire Bans, including the use of stoves.
- Apply for a PCT Canadian Entry Permit.The PCT crosses the international border into Canada. There is no formal border here and no immigration here. Apply for a Canadian Entry permit prior to setting off on the trail. The application is quick and easy. Hikers with criminal convictions are usually refused entry, that includes driving drunk.
Pre Hike Information on the Pacific Crest Trail
The first thing any hiker will need to do is get hold of some quality maps. Halfmile PCT Maps and Guthook are the two best options for maps.
- Resupply Strategy
- PCT Hiking Gear List with weights
- An Aussie Hiking the PCT
- Training, shakedowns and the PCT
Pacific Crest Trail Southern Californian Desert
- Day 1 – The Beginning (15.3)
- Day 2 – It’s the little things 18.7 miles (33.9)
- Day 3 – Blooming High Desert 18.8 miles (52.7)
- Day 4 – The heat was hot 22.3 miles (75)
- Day 5 – Up to the Water Cache 19.5 miles (94.5)
- Day 6 – Camping Fail 15 miles (109.5)
- Day 7 – It’s called a Zero (109.5)
- Day 8 – It’s Called Nero (118.4)
- Day 9 – Sleep is Good (140)
- Day 10 – To Paradise (161.2)
- Day 11 – Idyllwild (170.2)
- Day 12 – Above 10000 feet (187.6)
- Day 13 – Ziggy and The Bear (210.9)
- Day 14 – My First Marathon Hike (238.1)
- Day 15 – Walking Like a Robot (261.7)
- Day 16 – What Happens in a Trail Town
- Day 17 – Trapped in the Vortex
- Day 18 Back on Track
- Day 19 The Springs are Hot
- Day 20 Camping Fail 2
- Day 21 The McStorm
- Day 22 Hiking in a Snowstorm
- Day 23 Climbing Mt Baden-Powell
- Day 24 A Day of Trail Angels
- Day 25 Pushing through the Pain
- Day 26 Bobcats and Hot Tubs
- Day 27 Geographically Misplaced
- Day 28 Desert Rain
- Day 29 Miles and Smiles
- Day 30 Pain and Trail Magic
- Day 31 Fatigue Sets In
- Day 32 Chillaxing
- Day 33 Mobil Blogging and Recharging
- Day 34 Do More With Less
- Day 35 Return to the Desert
- Day 36 Emotional Rollercoaster
- Day 37 Cloudforests and Rattlesnakes
- Day 38 Happy Endings
- Day 39 Milestones
- Day 40 Bears in the Desert
- Day 41 Californian Deserts
- Day 42 The Vortex
Pacific Crest Trail – The Sierra
- Day 43 Into the Sierras
- Day 44 Above 10000 feet
- Day 45 Running Out of Food
- Day 46 Mountains and Meadows
- Day 47 Climbing Mt Whitney (14505 feet)
- Day 48 Forester Pass (13098ft)
- Day 49 Kearsarge Pass (11760ft)
- Day 50 Lone Pine
- Day 51 Thunderstorms, Bears and 2 Cubs
- Day 52 Hardest Day Yet
- Day 53 Mather Pass
- Day 54 Muir Pass
- Day 55 Rain but Pain Free
- Day 56 Seldon Pass and Bear Creek
- Day 57 Thunderstorms and Mountain Passes
- Day 58 Run to Town
- Day 59 Mammoth Zero Day
- Day 60 S’mores and Lakes
- Day 61 The Lakes
- Day 62 Tuolumne Meadows
- Day 63 The John Muir Trail
- Day 64 Back on the PCT
- Day 65 It’s Harder than it looks
- Day 66 Hike Naked Day
- Day 67 1000 miles
- Day 68 Sonora Pass
- Day 69 The Lone Bear Cub
- Day 70 Smoke and Magic
- Day 71 Weight Loss
- Day 72 To Echo Lake
Pacific Crest Trail – Northern California
- Day 73 South Lake Tahoe
- Day 74 Double Zero
- Day 75 Desolation Wilderness
- Day 76 Another Marathon
- Day 77 The Thunder Rolls
- Day 78 Blooming Storms
- Day 79 4th July Fireworks
- Day 80 Northern California Blues
- Day 81 Going Solo
- Day 82 Warm Water Swimming
- Day 83 Lightning Strikes
- Day 84 The Climb
- Day 85 Halfway to Canada
- Day 86 Chester
- Day 87 The Reunion
- Day 88 Old Station
- Day 89 The Virtues of Thru Hiking
- Day 90 The Call of the Wild
- Day 91 It’s Getting Hot
- Day 92 Ridgetop Hiking
- Day 93 Stunning Views
- Day 94 Exhaustion Sets in
- Day 95 The Castle Crags Vortex
- Day 96 Tropic Thunder
- Day 97 One of the best days yet
- Day 98 Trinity Alps Wilderness
- Day 99 Loving Northern California
- Day 100 Chill and Karma
- Day 101-103 A rest for my Birthday
- Day 104 The Wonders of Night Hiking
- Day 105 Hottest Day so far
- Day 106 The Magic of The Trail
- Day 107 Goodbye California, Hello Oregon
Pacific Crest Trail – Oregon
- Day 108 Onwards in Oregon
- Day 109 All you can eat = Bad day of Hiking
- Day 110 The Oregon PCT Superhighway
- Day 111 Lava, Hucklberries and Blueberries
- Day 112 Smashing Miles
- Day 113 To Crater Lake
- Day 114 Magical Trail
- Day 115 The Enchanted Forest
- Day 116 Oregon Lakes
- Day 117 A Long Day
- Day 118 The Lava Fields
- Day 119 I Just Hiked 2000 Miles
- Day 120 Mt Jefferson
- Day 121 40 Miles
- Day 122 To Timberline Lodge
- Day 123 No sleep makes for a slow day
- Day 124 Eagle Creek Trail
- Day 125 Threatened by fire
Pacific Crest Trail – Washington
- Day 126 Entering Washington
- Day 127 Reunions on Trail
- Day 128 Mimosas
- Day 129 Is this the end of the trail?
- Day 130 Mt Adams fire detour
- Day 131 Goat Rocks Wilderness
- Day 132 White Pass
- Day 133 Rain and Mountain
- Day 134 The Calm before the storm
- Day 135 Hiking in Rainstorms
- Day 136 Reminds me of Tasmania
- Day 137 More Wet Weather
- Day 138 Lovely Washington
- Day 139 Camping in Snow
- Day 140 The PCT Has Reopened
- Day 141 Simply Stunning Scenery
- Day 142 Hardest Day on the PCT
- Day 143 A day with no rain!
- Day 144 Into and out of Stehiken
- Day 145 Blue Sky at Rainy Pass
- Day 146 Harts Pass
- Day 147 I just hiked from Mexico to Canada on the PCT
After the Pacific Crest Trail
Are you Interested in hiking other long distance thru hikes:
Te Araroa Trail
Continental Divide Trail
Appalachian Trail
Are you planning on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail? What are your biggest fears?
Leave me a message in the comments section below.
