10 Tips I Would Give to Someone Planning to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail

Dear aspiring hiker,

If you’re here, it’s probably because you’ve heard of the Pacific Crest Trail or another hike and are wondering if you’re intrepid and foolish enough to do it yourself. I have good news for you: there are many hikers who are happy to share their experiences and hopefully get you on the right path. Before starting I was in the same situation as you. This is a list of 10 tips I wish I had before starting my own journey.

1. Learn to prioritize your needs and recognize what is good for your own hike.

This is the most important advice you will receive from me. Before starting the PCT, I heard a lot of advice on how to walk correctly. “Wait until June to enter the Sierra!” “Do 10 miles before 10am!” “Bring only high-calorie foods!” The truth is that everyone is different and the PCT is the time to find out what will work for you specifically. For example, after a couple of weeks on the trail, I discovered that I hated waking up before dawn, eating tortillas, or using trail runners—all habits that most hikers pick up. I highly recommend you find your own way to walk. The PCT is a time to learn more about yourself, not a time to follow arbitrary instructions.

2. Adapting to situations is more important than planning everything in detail.

I absolutely do not want to discourage you from meticulously organizing your hiking program. If you love Excel spreadsheets, use them. I have seen wonderful examples of engineers and accountants using their best professional skills and knowledge to plan their PCT journey. While this step is completely optional, being able to quickly adapt to unforeseen situations clearly is not. Most of the decisions you will make along the way are based on factors that are completely outside of your control. I’m talking heat waves that force you to slow down, wildfires that throw you off course, resupply packages lost in the mail, and so much more. It’s important to accept that there are many things you can control and that’s exactly what makes the PCT so beautiful.

3. My coldest nights were in the desert. These were the windiest days.

This depends a lot on the start date and the specific year, but keep in mind that unless you start in late May, you will most likely face cold temperatures at least a couple of times in Southern California. I started in mid-April and encountered snow and hail, and was so happy to have all my warm layers with me.

4. There is no need to fear the Sierra Nevada at all.

There is a lot of fear about the Sierra Nevada section. I heard horror stories about river crossings, altitude sickness, bear encounters, and many more. I want to reassure you: it is important that you exercise some caution and wear the appropriate equipment for the season, but you should not be afraid of the Sierra Nevada. It’s actually a beautiful section, by far my favorite of the entire route.

5. The weight of the backpack depends not only on the equipment you carry, but also on the food you carry.

This tip is especially helpful for those who can’t afford the latest ultralight gear. You can save a lot of pounds by making smarter decisions about exactly how much and what type of food you carry. Because upgrading your next store model to save 10.58 ounces (300 g) isn’t helpful when you bring a 17.63 ounce (500 g) container of honey to use just a couple of drops.

6. All levels of outdoor experience and most levels of physical fitness are welcome along the trail.

I met several PCT hikers who were on their first multi-day hike and they absolutely rocked it. You’ll learn so much in your first few weeks on the trail that you won’t need to start with much outdoor knowledge and experience. The best way to train for a hike is to start a hike. You don’t have to be an athlete at all to do the PCT, but I would recommend being at least in good physical shape, to make the start a little more pleasant and avoid injuries.

7. Most people who leave the trail do so because of injuries that occur in the first few weeks.

Again, I’m not here to tell everyone how to walk, but keep this in mind when deciding your mileage, especially at first. Hiking the PCT is a multi-month journey, so finding a hiking pace that can be sustainable long-term is a must.

8. Most likely, you will spend more than expected.

The equipment will break and you may have to spend an extra day in the city to fully recover. If you’re on a tight budget, make sure you have at least an emergency fund. The PCTA indicates that it takes between $8,000 and $12,000 to complete the PCT, which I found to be a realistic estimate.

9. It’s quite common for people who menstruate to have lighter periods or skip them altogether, but normalizing a problem doesn’t make it normal.

There is nothing more annoying than having your period on its way. Imagine walking through cramps, changing a tampon with dirty hands, or lugging around all your used products for maybe a couple of days before finding the next trash can. Skipping periods can be a relief, but it shouldn’t be, especially when it happens for months. Our bodies often adapt to increased physical efforts by “turning off” some functions that are not necessary at that moment. In most cases, periods return shortly after the end of the walk, but missing a period is never healthy and is a sign that something might not be working on our walk. I encourage everyone facing this problem to consider what its causes might be and take steps to prevent it.

10. Remember that at the end of the day you are on vacation, or if that seems too hard to believe, at least remember that you are working towards one of your dreams.

I know, when I set my alarm for 3.30am to get to the top of Mount Whitney, when I was trapped under a terrible hailstorm, when I was tormented by mosquitoes, I wasn’t having a very good time. Now, a couple of months after the end of my hike, I can confidently say that hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was the most magical and otherworldly experience of my life. My last piece of advice would be to try to do everything possible to fully enjoy this trip, because most likely you will never have the opportunity to experience something like this again. Swim in that lake, camp in a beautiful place, look at the stars and enjoy every moment.

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.