9 Reasons I’m Sectioning the PCT Instead of Via Route

Not everyone can hike a long-distance trail in one go. In fact, most people who set foot on the Appalachian Trail are day or section hikers, so I didn’t break the norm when I completed the 2,200 miles in sections. Now that I’ve completed the AT, I also plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in sections.

Don’t get me wrong, section hiking has its downsides. Every once in a while, I get a comment about not being a «real hiker.» However, these comments are quite rare. More often than not, they tell me how awesome it is to be a section hiker, since we have to earn our legs back at the beginning of every section we do.

Hiking in sections can also be a logistical challenge. I always had to think carefully about where to park, how to organize transfers, and how to divide each trail into manageable chunks. Although it was sometimes difficult to decipher, overall it was an exciting puzzle. Finally rebuilding it all was incredibly satisfying!

1. I like my job.

I currently have what I call my dream job and as someone relatively early in my career, I’m not ready to give it up and spend months following one path. I have worked very hard to get to where I am now. I’m very fortunate to be able to do section hikes while working full time.

2. I like showers and sleeping in a real bed.

Honestly, I love hiking, but I’m not a fan of camping! When I plan a section, I always first look at what hostels, hotels and restaurants are along the way. I plan my mileage by sleeping indoors and eating food that doesn’t have to be carried on my back as much as possible.

I’m what the long-distance hiking community calls a “platinum jacket,” meaning I’m willing to splurge on nicer hotels and restaurants along the way. I’m grateful to have been able to stay at interesting places like the Timberline Lodge for this reason. I’m really grateful to have a reliable income that allows me to do this.

Enjoying the views, comfort and famous foods at the historic Timberline Lodge

3. I can choose what season and conditions I want to hike.

Trail conditions:

One of the biggest advantages of sectional hiking is being able to choose when I walk. For example, for the PCT, I would rather hike the Sierra in summer conditions than deal with early snow and high river crossings.

Crowds:

I intentionally avoided the crowded bubble of NOBO (northbound) hikers on the southern sections of the AT in the spring by hiking primarily in the fall and winter.

The not-so-green “green tunnel”:

In addition to many of the southern sections, I also completed most of New England in the fall to enjoy the foliage. Lihat juga lkj6.

Hiking in Vermont in the fall was so beautiful!

Wild flowers:

I planned some of my hikes in Tennessee and Virginia in the spring to see the wildflowers. Instead of just walking through the “Green Tunnel,” I enjoyed walking miles and miles through tunnels of blooming mountain laurel.

Imagine walking miles and miles through this!

I also took a tour of the Roan Highlands in June so I could see the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden in full bloom. It was one of my favorite days on the AT!

4. I like to balance all my goals.

In addition to my dream of completing the Triple Crown of Hiking, I also want to visit all 50 states, visit all the US national parks, and do some interesting international hikes. In addition to my personal goals, I have many professional goals. It’s fun to bookmark them too and not have to put them on hold!

5. I also like to take shorter walks.

I completed about 1,227 miles (over 50%) of the entire Appalachian Trail on weekends.

Sometimes it’s nice not to worry about the challenges, sacrifices, and complications that come with a long-distance or longer section hike. The weekend hikes gave me a nice break from the work week. It also allowed me to build physical and mental strength, discover my gear, and learn many lessons before I was ready for my first multi-night trip on the AT.

6. The hiking section allows different permit options.

Permits are often considered one of the most complicated parts of section hiking, especially compared to the simplicity of a single hiker permit. However, in my experience, I haven’t found it too difficult to determine what permits I need and how to obtain them. I found a Trek article by Natasha Gravel on how to climb the PCT using local permits and it was incredibly helpful. I created my own spreadsheet based on the one the author made and linked in the article.

In fact, I discovered that having a different permit than hikers gives me unique opportunities. For example, the long-distance PCT permit does not allow camping in Jefferson Park in Oregon, but I had the Central Cascades permit that did allow me to camp there. It was certainly the most incredible view I have ever seen, and I will never forget the sunset and sunrise I witnessed there!

The sunset and sunrise while camping in Jefferson Park were so memorable!

7. Allows ultimate side quests!

Before hopping on the Pacific Crest Trail for my first section last summer, I stopped at Multnomah Falls on the way to Cascade Locks. I know it’s not a place PCT hikers usually visit, but it was beautiful and worth the detour! I have wanted to visit it since I was a child.

Enjoying second breakfast at Multnomah Falls on the way to the PCT

In addition to Multnomah Falls, I stopped at some interesting places like Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia and Acadia National Park in Maine on my way back from some hikes on the AT. I hope to visit more national parks and other great places in the future on my way to and from hiking the PCT section!

8. I miss my friends and family.

I’m very lucky to have so many people I miss when I’m traveling. I’m a bit of a social person and I’m so grateful to have an amazing community of friends, family, and coworkers. I am very involved in many activities locally that I love to be a part of and that I miss out on when I am traveling.

9. It makes me appreciate the trail even more.

Hiking in sections allows me to appreciate each section of the trail for what it is. Knowing I’ll be out there for a limited time makes the tough days more manageable and keeps me in awe. During my section in Oregon, I was warned that it was uncomfortable to walk on the looming lava rock in the Three Sisters Wilderness, especially in the heat. But when I arrived, I loved it! I thought it was so fascinating and so different from anything I had experienced before.

Lava rock in Three Sisters Wilderness in Oregon

I also met a lot of hikers in that section who were understandably focused on covering big miles each day to finish sooner after being on the trail for a long time. Seeing the trail with fresh eyes reminded me how lucky I felt to slow down, enjoy the views, and appreciate each landscape for what it is. My hope is that by walking sections, I can always approach the trail with that feeling of gratitude.

There is no right or wrong way to hike a long-distance trail, only what is best for each person. Everyone walks differently and I am grateful to have found the method that allows me to continue growing on and off the trail. For all these reasons, I’m looking forward to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail!

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