“Hey! You're hiking the PCT too? Cool.”
And a lot of times that is where it ends.
Or so you thought.
Various levels of schmoozing exist on the Pacific Crest Trail, and where your conversation with fellow hikers gets to depends on a number of factors, including the length of time you are together, whether or not you camp together, how annoying the other person is, how annoying you are, and whether or not you wanted to be talking to this person in the first place.
It is true that out on the trail and in towns you share a special bond with fellow PCTers, allowing you to approach and speak with them as if picking up a conversation from earlier. However, some people take said liberty too far and are probably better off not opening their mouths in the first place (you know who you are, and I hate you).
Tiers of conversation topics dictate verbal interaction on the PCT beginning with the necessities and reaching up to levels of genuine interest (quite rare).
THE BARE NECESSITIES
When you encounter a fellow hiker of the PCT, there are some very basic questions which may be asked regardless of circumstance:
- How far until the next water source?
- Where are we on the map?
- What time is it (aka how much daylight is left)?
- Can I have some toilet paper?
These questions take precedence over formalities such as exchanging names, basic information (tier two) and shaking hands (warning: do not shake hikers' hands, chances of fecal contamination = 100%). You may also find yourself asking if your new acquaintance has seen another hiker you are looking for (because chances are this new person is less interesting than your old hiker friend(s)).
As you progress farther into the trail your encounters with other PCT hikers become shorter and shorter (by the end I would simply get their name, give mine (for reference purposes) and move on), but maybe you are different, maybe you enjoy telling your life story to every hiker you meet – I hope that works out for you.
BASIC INFORMATION
Now that the important stuff is out of the way, you may proceed with the always exciting details:
- Name/trail name
- Hometown
- Distance traveled today
- Today's destination/ultimate destination (damn section hikers)
- Fun fact of the day (usually not very fun or even factual).
Often you will come across other hikers on a break (opposed to passing them whilst walking), and what better time to justify a break than when you find someone else doing the same.
This requires a stop and chat minimum, so if you get this far, then you are close to sucked in, but you can still escape before the personal level is reached.
THE PERSONAL LEVEL
If you have gotten this far, then chances are that you are stopped somewhere with this person (which can be dangerous since it allows for you to both start again together).
You are now possibly discussing reasons for having started this trail, plans for after the trail, interesting persons met on the trail, or another trail-related attribute. You had better hope you like this person since now you are possibly stuck with them.
But this is also an opportunity for you to explore the freedom of the PCT. Don't like someone? Hike faster. This person is also fast? Decide to take a ridiculously long break. You do like this person? Hike their pace and stick together. Want to be alone? Sneak off the trail and enjoy the hours of alone time. Don't want to be alone? This can be difficult sometimes, but usually you can find friends should you require them.
END GAME
Ultimately you will end up meeting truly awesome people out on the PCT, and that's whether or not you started the trail with the intention of doing so. The trail attracts all different sorts of people from all over the world (literally, I met people of all ages, and all professions, from every continent (you got me – nobody from Antarctica)), and it forces you to open up to people in a way that only the masochism of long-distance hiking can facilitate.
No matter who you are or how lost a soul you have become – there will be someone out on the PCT just as determined, just as broken, just as adventurous, or just as crazy as you.
My son hiked the PCT last summer, but did not share with me the nuances of small talk. Thank you for detailing the pleasures and pitfalls. I laughed out loud for the first time today. Can i assume you are British since you used the word “whilst”, or just an anglophile?
You have returned the favor, as I too just laughed out loud for the first time today.
I am not British (I am from California), nor an anglophile, I use the word “whilst” ironically because I find it humorous (glad to see you picking up on my careful choice of words).
Enjoy reading about everything your son tried to hide from you!
that’s so cool – someone finally got a clear shot of BIGFOOT. Quite impressed he/she/it is staying en vogue (well trendy anyways) by wearing crocks, shirt & bandana. Even retreated BIGFOOT can’t escape human progress influence.
Trail fashion runs deep in the woods.
I’m just curious – why is it such an offense to section hike? I’m a mother of four, but I want to try this. I can’t be gone 5 months from my kids. I’m thinking section hiking might be the answer until they get older.
It’s not REALLY an offense to section hike, but a lot of times thru-hiking is miserable and thru-hikers can easily become jealous of their section hiking counterparts. And as the great Yoda taught us, jealousy leads to hate (…or something like that).
Perhaps this can shed some light:
https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/pacific-crest-trail/thru-hiker-superiority-complex/
When do you plan to start? I just turned 40 and love hiking the longest hike I’ve ever done was the west coast trail which is only a 7 day hike. I have hiked the Adirondacks half a dozen times going out for 4-5 days at a time. But I want to do this as a thru hike but I’m looking for someone to do it with as my husband rather I don’t hike alone. Thinking within the next year or two to do it. Is this something you would be interested in doing?
Do you really not like section hikers?
I know I give section hikers a hard time here sometimes, but in all honesty I have no problem with section hikers (and was really just jealous of them when I was on the PCT).
hey, so I’m going to do this. i’d love advice among other things… hah
Good thing I have this website with a wealth of PCT-related information 🙂