Trail budget
I keep coming back to the same truth: the Pacific Crest Trail is “free,” but the decisions you make in the city are not.
Budgeting starts before Campo: The easiest way to stay on track is to decide your city’s rules ahead of time.
I’ll be posting this on January 18, 2026, my birthday, which means I’m allowed a cheeky move: politely yogi the tip link guilt-free.
A little nod to «yogi-ing» (slang for the polite art of asking questions).
If you’re a «I don’t do Venmo» type, your comments, shares, and route information are equally appreciated.
Anyway, I’ll document the hike either way and the trail budget will already be covered. If these posts help you plan, entertain you, or make you feel a little more prepared for your own “someday,” I would appreciate a little advice. No subscription, no pressure – just a digital tip jar for work.
Think of it like a young saxophonist selling a record after the set: the music still happens anyway, but the support buys a little more creative freedom.
Main objective: Save $10,000, but try to spend only $5,000.
Comfort sometimes. Discipline by default.
Budget at a glance
To make $5,000 plausible, I’m dividing my time in the city into two categories: 10 days zero waste (cheap, low friction, gas station tall cabinet) and 10 zero days suitable (a real bed, city food and some beers).
The $5,000 model
This model is intentionally slim. I’m supposed to already own most of the important equipment and keep the city’s spending disciplined.
The two swing factors are (1) how expensive “proper zeros” are and (2) how often I pay for accommodation when I’m not taking a zero. Below is a table of planned resupply locations.
Planned replenishment stops: the more predictable the pace, the easier it is to control spending.
Proper zero: the rules
To keep proper zeros around $150 a day, I need a hard roof and a simple structure: split accommodations, limit restaurant dining, and cover ice-cold beers.
Where budgets really fail
- Accommodation reduction: a “quick room” turns into two nights.
- Restaurant stacking: breakfast + coffee + dinner becomes automatic.
- Paid trips: Small ferries are quickly accumulating in many cities.
- Unplanned extras: equipment upgrades disguised as «needs».
Reality check
This $5,000 plan works only if I stay disciplined: cheap food for trail day, really cheap zeros, and good zeros that are shared and capped.
If the appropriate zeros are between $200 and $250 a day, the budget increases quickly.
If I end up close to $7,000, it probably means one of three things happened: I took more paid accommodations than planned, the city’s food and beer became the default options, or the replacements piled up.
My rule for 2026: Spend money where it improves safety and recovery, and throw away the rest.
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