Last year, I broke down the highest-rated and most-common gear for women on the Pacific Crest Trail as part of the Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide, but this year I've decided to include this information in a separate post since the PCT gear guide is growing fairly long. This year, I am breaking
List of Deaths on the Pacific Crest Trail
Over the years, there have been a number of deaths on the Pacific Crest Trail. With the trail's growing popularity, it's important that people realize that a PCT thru-hike does not take place in a controlled environment and that death on the PCT is an entirely realistic possibility for the
Mac’s Backpacking Gear List 2020 (v1.0)
It's the dawn of a decade and I've made a lot of changes to my three-season backpacking gear list to kick off the twenties. Some of my favorite pieces of gear are still with me and are still going strong (socks and fanny pack) while I'm trying others out for the first time (pillow, anyone?). My
Your Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hike Is Canceled
I tried to break the news gently, but now time for willful ignorance has come to an end. The Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy have all officially requested hikers to postpone or cancel their thru-hikes (in related news,
COVID-19: Time to Cancel Your Thru-hike? (yeah, probably)
Update March 19, 2020: The Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy have all officially requested hikers to postpone or cancel their thru-hikes. A month ago, it may have been difficult to imagine that what you may have thought
Advice for the Continental Divide Trail Class for 2020 (from Class of ’19)
Planning for the Continental Divide Trail can seem overwhelming if you've never done a long-distance hike before. What gear do I get? Where do I resupply? Do I really have to dig a hole and poop in it and then pack out my toilet paper? Yes, you really do. The truth of it is, you don't really need
Advice for the Pacific Crest Trail Class for 2020 (from Class of ’19)
Planning for the Pacific Crest Trail can seem overwhelming if you've never done a long-distance hike before. What gear do I get? Where do I resupply? Do I really have to dig a hole and poop in it and then pack out my toilet paper? Yes, you really do. The truth of it is, you don't really need to
Suffering & Despair on the Continental Divide Trail (Class of 2019)
As part of the Continental Divide Trail Survey, I ask hikers what their lowest moments on the trail were and when, if ever, they encountered a situation where they felt legitimately afraid or in danger. The CDT has a reputation for being more challenging than the Pacific Crest Trail and the
Suffering & Despair on the Pacific Crest Trail (Class of 2019)
As part of the Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey, I ask hikers what their lowest moments on the trail were and when, if ever, they encountered a situation where they felt legitimately afraid or in danger (e.g. when you're about to be eaten by a bear). Sadly, the PCT is more than following a line