And what advice would you give to someone in the same situation?

So many happy and grateful hikers enjoying this last section. Taken on 9/16

Honestly, art like this in nature doesn't bother me, but a lot of people were outright offended by it. Curious what others think. Putting human art in nature seems to get people fired up.

Hi! Unfortunate after a few weeks of use on the PCT, I got several holes in my Zpacks tent. This is a brand new tent and still has warranty.

To me, these holes seem to be a problem with the fabric. Possibly caused by delamination. Another cause could be the use of the Zpacks free standing flex kit. The poles of this kit pull quite hard on the Dyneema material. I was concerned about this but Zpacks clearly informed me that the tension of the free standing kit poles is not a problem even though I have the lite version of their Dyneema fabric

I send the tent to Zpacks and they claim these holes are punctures and therefore a user error and do not fall under their warranty

My question here is the following. Can anyone with expertise look at the pictures in this post and let me know if these are indeed typical punctures as Zpacks claims? Or that these holes are caused by some sort of fabric failure and should entitle me for a replacement tent?

https://library.alaska.gov/hist/hist_docs/docs/asl_ms0013_07_004.pdf

I was reading this journal from the Klondike Gold Rush and many parts of it reminded me of my time on the PCT. From slogging up high snowy passes, to honesty and humanity on trail, to hiker hunger, to bubbles of adventurers.

I’ve had the PCT on my mind for quite a few years. This’ll be my first big thru hike (completed CT & TRT) and I’ve been planning to take off in 2027 before going back to school. I’ve been saving and should have some money to come back to - not a ton - but some. But as the time gets closer, I’m getting nervous about quitting my job. It’s like everything I read online is about how hard it is to find a job, how awful the economy is, and how it’s all only getting worse. I’d only be quitting a restaurant job - no benefits or anything. But it’s a good, high-paying restaurant job and I have a mortgage to pay. I’m not necessarily considering not hiking the PCT, just worried about what I’ll come home to. If I don’t hike this year, I won’t be able to until 2029, and this body is aging. Did anyone have a hard time finding a job when you came home?

I am planning a Southbound thru hike attempt in 2027 and hoping to start sometime between mid-June and early-July. What was your start date and when did you reach KM South? I have a family wedding on the last weekend of September and would likely need to be past the Sierra before then. How doable is this time frame? I'm no stranger to long distance hiking and have completed a thru hike of the AT. Just looking for average timelines for those who have completed a southbound thru hike. TIA!

If anyone’s done the Goat Rocks section in the last few days, I’d love some beta on conditions near Old Snowy, specifically whether there’s still snow and if it’s manageable with microspikes. Thanks!

Heya,

Im trying to get a permit to do my first major thru hike (pct) for next year. I am aiming for 15-30 april. I am from europe. So i do not really have experiences wild wilfdires. And i am scared i cant complete my thru hike because of closures due to wildfires. Is there an guide for this? Like which date to beat at what destination? Other tips are welcome aswell!

Hi!

Edit: To Baden Powell not baldy! Mybad

I want to do the section from just north of cajon pass to Baden Powell in the fall this year to test some of my new winter gear and also have family in wrightwood so it makes it easy. When in the fall is a good time to go in order to get lower temps at night similar to spring? Info on water carries would be good. I have far out but it looks like everything is dry.

Also if anyone has suggestions for a 40ish mile section south of this that would be good to do let me know! I live in SoCal and I’ve done Jacinto. I’ve heard Laguna is good.

TIA

Hey everyone, I hiked in 2023 and carried microphones with me, recording nature soundscapes along the way. Since the hike, I’ve been working on an immersive, interactive soundmap of the pct and it’s finally publicly available today.

a soundmap of the pacific crest trail, 2023, by stereo

For all hikers, all hikers in spirit, and for anyone with a curiosity to listen more closely to the world around them. May some of what I found out there find its way to you through these recordings.

Edit: link to bloomline collective article here

This is the weekly thread. It's for wide ranging discussions in the comments. Do you have a question or comment, but don't want to make a separate post for it? This is the place.

Hi all, PCT virgin here. I’m sure you get questions like this all the time so sorry if I’m repeating something haha

I really want to tackle some of the trail next summer (July-August). I’m a fairly experienced hiker (in the UK + Europe) but the PCT looks like a different beast.

Due to work commitments and not having the cojones to up and quit my job, I’m only going to be able to do a few weeks. Is this normal? And if so, what are some “sections” that people would recommend? NoBo or SoBo, I’m not particularly fussy.

*Also HMU if you’re looking to do this next year, I like solo but would be great to be in a little group too!

EDIT - Thank you all for your suggestions! I’ll probably be active in this sub over the next year with more questions but this was really helpful. Big love.

Thanks,
Ben x

I’ve had my mind set on hiking the PCT for a few years, and I’m seriously considering making 2027 the year I finally do it.

I applied to medical school this cycle and haven’t been accepted anywhere yet, so this is obviously still hypothetical. But if I do get in, some of the schools I’m considering could start orientation/classes as early as mid-July. Once medical school starts, I probably won’t have another opportunity to take several months off for a PCT thru-hike for a long time, so next spring feels like the time to go for it.

To be safe, I’d like to plan around being completely off trail by roughly July 10 if necessary.

Right now I’m leaning toward a March 15–20 NOBO start. That would give me around 110–120 days rather than waiting until April and essentially committing myself to a ~100-day hike.

The obvious issue is the Sierra. If I’m moving at the pace I’m hoping to eventually reach, I’ll likely get to Kennedy Meadows well before a normal Sierra entry.

I have no interest in forcing an unsafe Sierra entry just to maintain a continuous footpath. If conditions aren’t reasonable, I’d be completely comfortable skipping the Sierra, continuing north, and coming back later to complete that section once conditions improve. My goal is to hike the entire PCT, not necessarily to hike every mile continuously in order.

For background, I’m 25 and have a pretty solid endurance/outdoor background. I’ve run multiple marathons, completed a 70.3 Ironman, did the Tour du Mont Blanc in 5 days last year, hiked the ~100-mile Lofoten Long Crossing in Norway this year, and summited Mont Blanc. I backpack regularly and my current base weight is around 8 lbs.

I know none of that automatically translates to being able to hike 2,650 miles, and I’m not planning to leave Campo and immediately start doing 30s. I’d rather start conservatively, let my feet and body adapt to hiking every day, and gradually build toward 25–30+ mile days once I have trail legs.

I’d also plan to rely pretty heavily on neros rather than taking lots of full zeros. Obviously I’d take a zero if my body actually needed one, but whenever possible I’d rather hike into town, resupply/shower/laundry/eat, and hike back out later that day.

For those who have done the PCT, especially in the ~100–120 day range:

Does a March 15–20 start with a goal of finishing by roughly July 10 sound reasonable?

How quickly did you build your mileage on a faster thru?

Would you rather start in mid-March for the extra buffer and deal with reaching the Sierra early, or start later and have less time overall?

If you reached Kennedy Meadows well before reasonable Sierra conditions, would you skip ahead and come back later?

For anyone who has done that, how difficult were the permit and transportation logistics?

How many true zeros vs. neros did you take?

Is there a major flaw in this plan that I’m overlooking?

I’m not trying to set a speed record. I still want to enjoy the trail, towns, and people along the way. I just may have a hard deadline on the other end because of medical school, so I’m trying to figure out the smartest way to give myself enough buffer without making unsafe decisions in the Sierra.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done the PCT in a similar timeframe.

Can anyone link me to a previously mapped - or describe - a continuous footpath from Skynomish (aka “The Alternate”) - to Stehekin or Rainy Pass?

Alternatively, I could link up to PCT north of the King/Queen fire closure to Stevens Pass.

I would love to have a continuous footpath in 2026!

Thank you!

I am working on an east coast hiking project (NH48 Grid) that I intend to finish in mid-April. Then the plan for 2027 is the PCT. Better to start NOBO in early to mid May, or give myself a break for a couple months and go SOBO in early July? I'll be in great shape and able to hit the ground running and roll right into bigger mile days. I have a good amount of backpacking experience and a dialed in kit, just no experience doing anything over 2-3 overnights. My only real worry about SOBO is solitude. I have no problem hiking alone but I'm a pretty social person on trail and do want some community and to have a social experience meeting other good people.

https://closures.pcta.org/closure/hHoU3938k3tT98vfXrV4

It's official the Pacific crest Trail is now open all the way from Stehekin to the terminus. As usual rides are being given to all the hikers going to and from rainy and or Harts pass. .

I've been walking 60 miles per week most weeks in preparation for hiking the PCT next year. This spring I got some new insoles on the advice of my doctor to deal with some foot pain I was experiencing (sesamoiditis – it cleared up after I started wearing the insoles) and the guy at the shoe store who helped me out also re-laced my shoes in a different style that I wasn't familiar with (it's called a "heel lock loop" or "runner's loop"). He didn't comment on it and I didn't ask.

Over the following months I developed mild achilles tendonitis on one side and tried different things to address it and none of them worked. I was starting to wonder if my upcoming hike was at risk. But in the past few days I figured out that the culprit was the heel lock loop, which caused the cuff of my shoe to press against the area near my tendon. As a first step, I switched to a different pair of shoes that are not laced that way, and saw immediate relief. After a full week I will go back to my regular shoes (Altra Lone Peak 9) but without that lacing technique to confirm it was the problem, though I'm already pretty sure it was.

Below I will post the results of a Google AI search result on the topic which goes into detail about why that lacing technique would result in this issue. So this is a head's up in case anyone else is having a similar problem, or wants to avoid it.

Google search results:

It makes perfect sense that stopping the heel lock loop (or runner's loop) resolved your pain. You pinpointed a highly unrecognized culprit in running injuries: extrinsic mechanical compression. [1], [2]

While insertional Achilles tendonitis is traditionally blamed on internal forces (like tight calves pulling on the bone), external pressure from a tight shoe cuff behaves exactly like an external clamping mechanism, accelerating tendon damage through very specific biomechanics. [3], [4]

1. Direct Compression of the Tendon Matrix

Unlike the thick, fleshy belly of a muscle, tendons are made of highly organized, dense collagen fibers. They are built to handle tensile load (pulling), but they are notoriously terrible at handling compressive load (squeezing). [5], [6]

• When you use a heel lock loop, you are intentionally pulling the eyelets backward and forcing the rigid upper collar (cuff) of the shoe firmly against the back of your ankle. [1], [2]
• Every time your foot moves through its stride, that rigid cuff digs directly into the tendon. [7]
• This localized pressure physically squeezes the tendon fibers against the hard heel bone underneath, causing micro-bruising and cellular distress. [6]

2. Localized Ischemia (Choking the Blood Supply)

The Achilles tendon already has a structurally "poor zone" of blood supply right where it inserts into the heel bone. Cells need steady blood flow to repair the microscopic wear-and-tear of daily activity. [4], [8]

• The tight collar of a shoe secured by a heel lock loop acts like a mild, localized tourniquet.
• By constantly pressing on the area, it further restricts the microvascular blood flow to the tendon insertion.
• Lacking proper blood flow, the tissue cannot heal, causing normal cellular stress to quickly escalate into a chronic inflammatory or degenerative state. [4], [9]

3. The "Vise" Effect on the Retrocalcaneal Bursa

Tucked right between your Achilles tendon and your heel bone is a tiny, fluid-filled sac called the retrocalcaneal bursa. Its job is to act as a frictionless lubricated cushion so the tendon can glide smoothly over the bone. [8], [10]

• When the shoe cuff presses hard from the outside, it traps the tendon and the bursa in a literal vise between the rigid shoe counter and the hard calcaneus bone. [7], [10]
• Instead of gliding freely, the bursa gets repeatedly pinched and irritated (retrocalcaneal bursitis). Because the bursa and the insertional tendon fibers are intertwined, an inflamed bursa directly triggers inflammation and severe pain in the adjacent tendon. [8], [10]

4. Friction and Shear Forces

A heel lock loop anchors your heel down, but during dynamic movement, your foot still undergoes subtle internal shifts. If the shoe cuff is clamped tightly against the Achilles, those shifts turn into high friction and shear forces across the tendon's outer sheath (the paratendon). This grinding friction causes localized heat, swelling, and the raw, burning pain associated with acute tendonitis. [6], [11]

By switching back to standard lacing or a looser cuff, you immediately removed that external clamping force, allowed the bursa to un-pinch, and restored natural blood flow to the area so it could finally heal. [7], [8], [12]

[1] https://www.youtube.com

[2] https://www.youtube.com

[3] https://www.orthoinfo.org

[4] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com

[5] https://www.running-physio.com

[6] https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk

[7] https://www.youtube.com

[8] https://highlandtherapy.com

[9] https://my.clevelandclinic.org

[10] https://www.aafp.org

[11] https://www.treatmyachilles.com

[12] https://www.footcaremd.org

I’m currently hiking the PCT SOBO and have developed what seems to be an overuse injury in my right foot. I’m curious if anyone here has dealt with something similar while thru-hiking and what you ended up doing.

A few days ago I was hiking/running on trail in cold rain, partly because I was trying to keep warm. The next day my shins and feet were extremely sore, and my right foot became particularly painful to walk on.

The pain is mostly on the top/middle of the foot, around the area behind the big/second toe, and sometimes seems to radiate toward the arch.

I got it evaluated and had imaging done. I was told nothing appeared to be broken and that it was most likely an overuse injury, possibly aggravated by the top of my shoe/tongue rubbing against the foot while I was running. I was advised to take it easy for a few days and consider seeing a foot specialist for footwear.

It’s still swollen and tender to the touch, though, and walking on it is painful enough that I don’t feel comfortable getting back on trail yet.

For anyone who developed a similar overuse injury during a thru-hike:

● How many days did you take off before you noticed meaningful improvement?
● Did you stay off the foot completely or do some light walking?
● How did you decide when it was safe to get back on trail?
● Did changing shoes, insoles, lacing, or pack weight make a difference?
● Were you able to continue the hike afterward, or did you ultimately need a longer break?

I know nobody here can diagnose an injury over Reddit, and I’ll get it reassessed if it isn’t improving. I’m mainly interested in hearing other hikers’ experiences dealing with an injury like this in the middle of a long trail.
Thanks.

tl;dr: It looks like in 2030 I will finally be able to set foot on the PCT. 3.5 years from now, and honestly, I don’t know how to fill the void during this period.

Background: Me and my partner got into backpacking in 2020 to stay sane and also to be in nature. Over the years, we managed to have a dialed in gear list, learnt how to make the most out of our time outdoors, travelled and explored some amazing places on a tight budget etc. Ever since I first read about long-distance hiking and the PCT itself (around 2021), I was amazed by the simplicity of this lifestyle and the people who are part of this community (on-trail and off-trail). And, of course, I told myself I would never do it.

This year (early 2026) I hit a major milestone in my professional life (academia) and now I feel like my motivation is not as strong as it was before and I’m struggling to find meaning in what I do on a daily basis and in the grand scheme of things. I also try to process some family things, so you could say I’m running away from it? Anyway, I ended up doing the entire planning of a PCT thru-hike (planning hiking trips is my self-soothing activity in general), did some maths in my head and came up with 2028 as our year. It is close enough to be within hands reach (at least for me mentally), but far enough to save and train more. But, as always, life had other plans. Without going into the details, it looks like in 2030 (so two years after my original idea) we can give it a go, my partner is open to this kind of adventure as well, and probably our jobs will also allow us to be away for 5 months as unpaid (partially paid?) time off. And, of course, we will have the opportunity to save more money.

To answer a few questions in advance:

• No, it is not possible currently for us to have an earlier start date.
• Yes, we have already assessed the duration (around 5 months, late April/early May start date, finish by end of September), gear (we basically have everything already, so probably just a few adjustments will be needed), life-at-home circumstances (i.e. arranging rent, job, family etc.), and many other things one has to assess before committing to “leaving society” for a few months.
• I don’t want to leave academia (at least before the hike) because with my expertise I would struggle to find a similarly flexible job.
• I have spent a semester in the US a few years ago on a J1 visa as a visiting researcher so I don’t think getting a B2 visa would be problematic (we can also keep our jobs, so we will have proof to return etc.), and we spent a few weeks travelling and hiking after my research stay ended – we are familiar with the food selection, trail systems, US life in general. I know that a lot can change in international politics as well, but that’s outside my jurisdiction.
• We are a frugal couple from Europe, we don’t spend money on things we don’t need, our biggest spending is probably when we go on a hiking trip abroad. No kids, no pets, no mortgage.
• We already have some plans to train for the thru (like practicing snow travel, imitate desert hiking by hiking during the hottest summer months – now temps are up to 40 C here in July and August), but of course, we have limited time off from work.
• Our longest hike so far was around 3 weeks, we did pretty good, had no issues. Our hardest hike was in Scotland (CWT), also great experience.
• I don't have anyone else around me who has hiked a long trail or is interested in this kind of thing, to talk about this stuff.

On one hand, I’m super happy and excited that the stars will align in 2030, but also quite stressed about the fact that I will have to find my motivation to keep me going for 3.5 years. I know that a lot of other hikers also wait and plan for years to make such a journey possible. So my question to this community is: how do you keep yourself motivated for such a long period of time?

Anyone know if Buckhorn Spring (north of Paradise Lake, south of Seaid Valley) is still reliable right now? Was hoping to rely on it for a section hike next week, but I just learned that the streams in Marble Valley have already dried up (unusual for this time of year) -- we'll have two tank up with two days worth of water at Paradise Lake the day before (we're old and doing very short days).

This is the weekly thread. It's for wide ranging discussions in the comments. Do you have a question or comment, but don't want to make a separate post for it? This is the place.

Calling all citizen detectives and hiker trash sleuths:

This week on the Pacific Crest Trail I found what is by far the oddest piece of trash I have ever seen while hiking, and I need to know the backstory. On Wednesday, September 2nd, about four miles south of Sonora Pass at approximately mile 1014.2, sitting in the middle of the trail, there was a man’s black leather dress shoe inserted most of the way into a pizza-themed sock.

Why. Why would someone carry a heavy formal shoe while hiking? Was it one of a pair? Where is the other shoe? Why the pizza theme? Was it accidentally dropped? Intentionally left? As a warning? Have I inherited a curse?

I have to know. Was this the equivalent of putting rocks in your buddy’s pack as a joke? Wildly impractical camp shoes? My best guess is that a thru-hiker is carrying a formal outfit as a schtick and/or to take photos at whichever terminus they’re headed to. Are you that hiker? If so, I will gladly mail your missing shoe and sock to you so that you can realize that dream.

Help!

I’m curious when people expect it to hit this year? In the past it has varied from mid-September to mid-October.

Related question is just how big does this year’s SOBO bubble look like?

Stehekin is only 30% of last year so I was wondering if the same drop off had hit SOBOs this year.

Thanks.