I love statistics, and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail has provided me with plenty of data to sift through.
Previously, I reported my PCT statistics in five different progress reports: The Desert, The Sierra, NorCal, Oregon, and Washington.
The following is a compilation of all the statistical information found in the aforementioned reports and some additional information regarding overall trail data. Alternatively, if you would like to view the results of the most recent PCT Hiker Survey (averaged stats from hundreds of PCT hikers), those numbers can be found here.
- Favorite section: Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks
- Least favorite section: Oregon (except the Eagle Creek Detour)
- Pairs of shoes used: 4
- Total days: 142
- Miles hiked: 2,500 (4,023 km)
- Days camped: 97
- Days camped alone: 22
- Resupply stops: 39
- Resupply boxes sent: 10
- Longest resupply gap: 8.5 days (Kennedy Meadows – VVR)
- Zero days: 28
- Trail zero days: 1
- Double zeros: 7
- Triple zeros: 2
- Near-o days: 8 (fewer than 10 mi / 16 km)
- Days slept off trail: 44
- Miles per day: 21.93 (35.29 km)
- Miles per day (including zero days): 17.61 (28.34 km)
- Longest day: 43 mi / 69.2 km
- 20-30 mile (32-46 km) days: 45
- 30-40 mile (46-64 km) days: 18
- 40+ mile (64+ km) days: 3
- Times thrown up: 2
- Hospital visits: 1
- Hitches solicited: 34
PCT Section Stats
| Desert | Sierra | NorCal | Oregon | Washington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 40 | 28 | 33 | 18 | 23 |
| Miles | 700 | 395 | 604 | 456 | 340 |
| Resupply stops | 11 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| Days camped | 28 | 22 | 21 | 13 | 9 |
| Camped alone | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Zero days | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Near-o days | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Days slept off trail | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Miles/day | 19.36 | 17.95 | 22.37 | 28.5 | 22.66 |
| Miles/day (+ zero days) | 16.46 | 14.12 | 18.3 | 25.33 | 18.89 |
| Longest day | 33 | 29 | 41 | 43 | 32 |
Cumulative PCT Stats
| Desert | Sierra | NorCal | Oregon | Washington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 40 | 68 | 101 | 119 | 142 |
| Miles | 700 | 1095 | 1699 | 2155 | 2500 |
| Resupply stops | 11 | 16 | 23 | 32 | 39 |
| Days camped | 28 | 53 | 74 | 87 | 97 |
| Campes alone | 5 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 22 |
| Zero days | 6 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 28 |
| Near-o days | 3 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Days slept off trail | 12 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 44 |
| Miles/day | 19.36 | 19.55 | 20.47 | 21.77 | 21.93 |
| Miles/day (+ zero days) | 16.46 | 16.1 | 16.82 | 18.11 | 17.61 |
| Longest day | 33 | 33 | 41 | 43 | 43 |
And that’s it!
Goodbye PCT, hello flushing toilets and the expectation of bathing regularly.
Somehow that sounds less exciting than I thought it would.