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Crasher
αἱρετίζω




Registered: 03/13/01
Posts: 6,220
Loc: Tardy to the Party
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The PCT
#9499653 - 12/26/08 10:02 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Who has done it, wants to do it, or thinks it's undoable?
I am beginning to plan for a thru-hike in 2010.
-------------------- Give me silence, water, hope; Give me struggle, iron, volcanoes...
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
Last seen: 2 hours, 31 minutes
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Re: The PCT [Re: Crasher]
#9500233 - 12/27/08 12:07 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've done sections of it while backpacking in the High Sierras. Once I came in from the West and crossed through the Sierras exiting over Mt. Whitney. Another time I went in on the East side of the Sierras, between Independence and Big Pine, and caught the trail southward to once again exit over Mt. Whitney. On both trips I spent my last night on the trail at the summit of Mt. Whitney. The High Sierras are absolutely spectacular!
As for a thru-hike...if I had the time/money I'd love to do it, but only in several sections over the course of a few seasons. Unfortunately I don't have that kind of flexibility in my life. Its a pretty serious commitment to do a thru-hike on the PCT. Not many people pull it off in a single season. The trick is the weather. Many parts of the PCT are impossible to hike at certain times of year, and planning a trip that can cover the entire trail in one season takes meticulous planning, great physical conditioning, and a bit of luck with the weather. Personally, I don't like to hurry much when I hike. I'm much happier with a laid back schedule where I can take my time and do little detours whenever I want to. Thats is definitely not an option in a single-season PCT thru-hike!
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: The PCT [Re: Crasher]
#9501950 - 12/27/08 12:19 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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I wanted to thru-hike the AT for years, but I just couldn't devote the time or resources to taking 6 months off from my life. As I'll be on the west coast soon, this may be something I would consider in the future. From my understanding.. the PCT is much more rugged and covers a much wider range of terrain than the AT, and thus is much more hardcore.
Seems like the adventure of a lifetime. I'm just unsure if I'd be able to commit to such an undertaking.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
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If you're going to be in the PNW, look into doing the PCT from Stevens pass to Snoqualmie pass. It's 75 miles of some really beautiful and rugged terrain. I did it 8 years ago over ten days, but that was really pushing it and I was completely worn out at the end. I was trying to do ten to twenty miles per day on hiking days, and then taking a day off every three to rest my bones and fish, camp, and take short day hikes. Have some really good boots and be in shape for it, because once you get blisters on your feet, the trip becomes pure misery.
Another trip in the PNW that is nice is the Kettle Crest Trail in NE Washington State. The Boulder Creek trailhead to this one is only ten miles from my house. From there, it's a 31 mile hike to Sherman Pass on State highway 20, where you can park a second car. I did this one last summer in one day, trading car keys with my neighbor who was hiking the opposite direction, when we met in the middle. I'd rather do this hike in one day, so I can sit at home and lick my wounds the next day without worrying about breaking camp or gathering firewood,etc. The Kettle Crest trail follows the ridgeline and you have spectacular views nearly the whole way. There's two small springs that feed into cattle troughs for water about two miles from Sherman pass, and another one at about the halfway point. Be sure to bring a filter. There's no creeks or rivers since it's on the ridgeline.
The picture is from the Kettle Crest showing some of the scenery. My dog is the rotty/black lab puppy when she was about 4 months old, and the other dog we found in the mountains up there lost. He had a collar with a phone number, so I brought him home with us and called his owners to come get him. They were sure glad he was OK. RR
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