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The Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,660 miles miles from the Mexican border near Campo, California (about 50 miles east of San Diego) to the Canadian border, near Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia (about 125 miles east of Vancouver). The PCT traverses 24 national forests, 37 wilderness areas and 7 national parks. It offers some the wildest backcountry terrain to be found in the lower 48 states.
See Discover the trail | Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA)

Source: delnorteresort.com
See also: postholer.com
  • History:
    1932 - Clinton Clarke, the "father of the PCT," begins promoting the trail
    1968 - President Lyndon Johnson defined the PCT and the Appalachian Trail with the National Trails System Act.
    1971 - Warren Rogers, Clinton Clarke's protégée, founds the Pacific Crest Trail Club
    1973 - first Wilderness Press PCT guidebook is released
    1993 - Golden Spike "completion" ceremony, PCTA hires first paid staff
     See History | Pacific Crest Trail Association
  • Length - Elevations:
    It is 2,660 miles long with a total elevation gain of 128 miles.
    The highest point is Forester Pass, 13,153 ft. at the boundary between Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks.
  • Thru Hikers:
    The south to north route is the most common.
    Most northbounders start in late April or early May.
    It generally takes 5 months finishing late September or early October.
    The PCTA says "Perhaps 500-800 people head out intending to hike the whole trail in a year. Perhaps 60 percent finish."
    See: Thru-hiker FAQ | Pacific Crest Trail Association
Links:
Pacific Crest Trail Assn
Pacific Crest Trail FAQ at Postholer.com
Witherspoon's WILD movie, featuring the Pacific Crest Trail, explores the transformative power of wilderness | Wilderness.org

About Me:
I am a Sierra Club National Outings Leader who has lead trips which covered parts of the PCT

last updated 24 July 2013