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
Trail Angels and Trail Magic
If you're planning on setting off on a thru-hike, you may encounter the terms trail angel and trail magic as you scour the internet for information to better prepare you for the journey ahead. So what are trail angels and trail magic? Trail angels are people who go out of their ways to make life a
I Quit the Pacific Crest Trail – Best Decision Ever?
Earlier this year, I began my second thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Earlier this year, I prematurely ended my second thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail after nearly 1,000 mi / 1,600 km of walking northbound through California from the US-Mexico border. And if I'm being honest, I am quite
Why I’m Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail Again
My decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail for the first time (in 2013) was rather spontaneous. Without getting existential, I can trace this decision back to a chance encounter I had with a man in New Hampshire. It's one of a handful of moments I can honestly say forever changed the course of
How To Get Your Trail Name On The PCT
So you know what a "thru-hike" is, you know that it's the Pacific Crest Trail (not the Pacific Coast Trail), and think you have what it takes to tackle the 2,650 mi / 4,265 km without dying. Good for you. But if you really want to be a thru-hiker, there's one thing you need above all else - a
PCT, AT, and CDT Illustrations by First Row
So you've completed your life's greatest accomplishment and, being that we live in the future, you have been forever immortalized via photo at the end of your grand adventure. But what's that? Your hiking partner and trusted companion sucks at taking pictures? Did you finally make it to the other
Horror & Heartbreak On The Pacific Crest Trail (2018 Edition)
Is the Pacific Crest Trail a fantastic adventure that you should most definitely set out on? Yes. Is the Pacific Crest Trail a never-ending ride of epic views, happy times, and rainbow-farting trail angels? Not really. Is the Pacific Crest Trail a place where you could end up dead at the
Fear And Sadness On The Pacific Crest Trail (2017 Edition)
Unfortunately, there's often a log of fearmongering that goes on surrounding a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike. Many would-be mongerers of fear have never hiked the PCT (or maybe at all) before and are largely afraid of irrational things (like murderers in the woods). As a former PCT thru-hiker,
110 Things To Know Before Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail
Planning for a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike can seem like an impossible and insurmountable task, especially if you've never done anything on this scale before. Trying to stuff your head full of plans, strategies, and information about the trail is, in all honesty, probably a waste of your time.