PCT thru hikers have rich parents
*this post contains irony, consume content at your own risk and with a grain of salt
“How do you afford this?”
“You must have rich parents”
“I wish I had money for this but I have to work”
Rumours are right: all thru hikers have rich parents who will give them thousands of dollars to disappear into the woods, so that they don’t have to see their feral children for a bit.
For total transparency, I am giving you an overview how I spent every single dime that my parents had to work hard for while all I did was watch hiking documentaries and read gear reviews. In case you’re wondering which trail the actual upper class is hiking, PCT or CDT, fear not: I got the answer to that too.
Town food
CDT: 431$
PCT: 1381$
(includes restaurant visits, take out and fast food, basically any food that I didn’t prepare myself. I got lots of coffees on both thru hikes, but I didn’t drink any alcohol on the CDT)
Why did I spend so much less on the CDT?
The CDT surely has some great culinary food stops. I guess I just missed them all. After a number of disappointing restaurant meals (looking at your, Lima) and being more conscious about my macro nutrient deficiencies while hiking (fiber and protein), I ate out way less and bought fresh veggies and protein sources (like roast chicken or cottage cheese) from the supermarkets in towns.
But the biggest cost factor was going sober and skipping alcohol (I also don’t smoke or consume any other drugs).
Resupply
CDT: 1788$
PCT: 1758$
(resupply means groceries I will take out on trail, including electrolytes, first aid replacements like painkillers, gauze, tape. I don’t carry a stove, so I didn’t pay for fuel or gas)
Almost the same
While I bought way more food in supermarkets quantity wise on the CDT, the resupply costs stayed almost the same. Truthfully, along the CDT you will find a lot of Walmarts or dollar stores where you can resupply on a budget. While low cost supermarkets on the PCT are a bit rare.
Mailing services
CDT: 337$
PCT: 197$
I sent 6 resupply boxes on the CDT, compared to 3 on the PCT. Additionally, I changed my gear way more frequently by bouncing boxes around post offices since there was a chance it would get super cold again in the San Juans, Colorado. I’ve definitely send my stuff more around than I should have.
In hindsight, I would only send resupply boxes to East Glacier, MT, Yellowstone NP (but you could even skip that if you go into West Yellowstone) and Pie Town, NM.
Gear changes
CDT: 404$
PCT: 941$
Pinecone, why did you break your stuff?
Actually, I didn’t really have gear failures. On the PCT I had to buy my entire gear for the Sierra: spikes, ice axe plus leash, fleece, gloves, bear can. Plus, I got a warmer quilt in Washington and of course a few pairs of socks before I switched to Darn Toughs (lifetime warranty). I bought 3 pairs of shoes on the PCT.
On the CDT I replaced my head lamp, bought a micro fleece plus a Melanzana later on (actually, I bought two Melanzanas, one for my friend – which was THROWN AWAY by some dude. I am still mad about that), new socks, 3 pairs of shoes.
Laundry and showers
CDT: 40$
PCT: 45$
Stay feral and stinky.
Accommodation
CDT: 774$
PCT: 333$
Gimme a mattress
This includes campgrounds, hostels, trail angel donations and hotels. I can without a doubt say: I had the need to shut a door behind me and curl up in a bed more often on the CDT than on the PCT.
Yet, I think 30% of my hotel stays were influenced by friends getting one and offering to split. Go back to trail solo and sleep in the dirt or stack 4 feral creatures in one motel room? That’s not a question.
This is just my subjective impression, but it seems rooms were way more affordable on the CDT (Colorado excluded) than on the PCT.
Transport
CDT: 190$
PCT: 97$
What can I say, sometimes I get tired and hungry and I just pay a trail angel rather than hope for a hitch.
Sim Card
CDT: 135$
PCT: 100$
Gotta upload on instagram and call my friends sometimes.
Satellite subscription
CDT: 100$
PCT: 0$
Don’t be like me and hike the PCT without a satellite communication device.
Fun activities
CDT: 20$ (for ammo)
PCT: 293$ (sky diving and half dome permits)
Off trail expenses
The next three are rather individual and won’t apply to many of you, dear readers.
Gear pre hike
CDT: 1260$
PCT: 1170$
I bought all of my backpacking gear new for the PCT (yes, I went backpacking before but I didn’t know about ultra light back then. My old tent weighed 2.2 lbs, my sleeping bag had a 20 liter volume). But my PCT backpack (Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor) broke after mid thru hike, I knew I needed a warmer quilt for the CDT, an InReach and different rain gear for my second thru hike. So unfortunately, I had to spend money on gear for my second thru hike too.
International flights
CDT: 895$
PCT: 938$
Insurance
CDT: 380$
PCT: 490$
I just broke my arm while abroad – non hiking related – and that incident has been a painful (both physical and financial) reminder that insurance is REALLY important (rolls eyes in grown up).
Total expenses – which thru hike is cheaper?
CDT: 6754$
PCT: 7743$
Edit: seems like my previous research about inflation was incorrect, according to this source, consumer prices have gone up 3%. I wouldn’t say the CDT is generally cheaper than the PCT since skipping alcohol and eating out less had a huge impact on the total expenses of each.
How to thru hike on a budget
I don’t do it. I spoil myself to 5$ ice cream sandwiches, 10$ coffees and high-cost-low-calories salads in town. Each thru hike I am looking at expenses afterwards and think “I can do this cheaper”, I never do, although it’s simple:
Don’t eat in restaurants, don’t sleep in hotels and don’t buy protein bars that cost more than 2$.
Overall, I’d say I’m a pretty bad example of thru hiking costs. I met quite a few hikers who managed to spend half of that or even less.
In the end, how to thru hike on a budget is the same as how to accomplish anything in life: Discipline and not be a little bitch when you haven’t showered in 14 days. And make sure to be born into a wealthy family.
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Comments 20
Speedy Pinecone, I really love your voice. Your observations and humor come through so well.
I hope your arm is healing well.
I also hope to hear more from you in the future.
I won’t shine your cheeks like the last person, instead I commend your honesty that only rich people can live these days. Being someone that from your self description has either worked for a government or fled from one in the past, I’m sure that funding for your hikes has never been a problem.
It was really nice hearing the perspective of a person that couldn’t service without money and assistance.
Thank you, Jenny! I am glad you get me (and my sense of humor 😉 )
The arm is already feeling so much better, happy hiking!
Who did you get insurance through? That seems cheap
Hey Austin, I’ll link them: this is the insurance company I used for the PCT and this on the CDT. I just chose the cheapest tariff that covers the US, includes mountain rescue and transport back to Germany.
Happy hiking!
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience of these trails. It’s been a pleasure to read your prose !
Thank you, Boris! I hope I was able to inspire readers to go on some adventures themselves 🙂
Yes, your writing is most inspiring and I enjoy your style. Will do sections of the HRP this summer and weekend hikes in the Vosges will resume as soon as the weather allows. Adventure can be found close by. A night in the woods is pretty much all it takes to get a taste.
agree! whenever I visit my parents in Bavaria, I sneak in a micro adventure and keep finding new places. HRP is on my bucket list too – have fun!
I have already completed the triple crown and AT and CDT twice now. I would say that not all who hike are rich parents funding but a majority of the Younger hikers like 18-21 maybe so but most of the older folks all seem self funded. I personally just work 6 months or even less sometimes to earn enough but as each year passes everything has doubled for food resupply and gear keeps going up more.
the title and parts of the article are pure irony.
The majority of thru hikers have worked and saved up for their adventures, I only met 3 hikers who admitted to getting financial support from home (nothing wrong with that either. I’m glad they got lucky)
Hi Maga.
Your article was very informative and interesting. I enjoyed reading it. Appreciated the occasional laff and upbeat spirit. I’m compiling information for a book on how to hike the AT…or virtually any trail. So any info that increases my Backpacking IQ is appreciated.
Matt…Growling Bear.
Hi Matt/ Growling Bear (cool trail name btw!), thanks for your comment. Oh that sounds amazing, any idea when you will publish it? Gotta start researching the AT 🙂
Hi Speedy Pinecone,
iam starting in two months the AT and still searching for the best way to use my mobil phone in the US ( also german). simly seems to be an option, but is quite expensive and some people wrote it wouldn´t be good at all. Did you just buy a simcard at the airport, please tell me 🙂
Hey there!
I use e-sims, that’s super easy because you don’t need to buy a physical simcard, I used Airalo and Holafly on the PCT. Holafly was pretty pricey back then and Airalo was buggy, I would have to remove and readd the e sim a few times.
I’ve been using Mint recently and while it didn’t have the best coverage (out west in the mountains, seems Verizon has the best network? But might be different on the east coast). I’d definitely use Mint again though, they had an offer 3 months for 45$ (with a huge data pack).
Good luck on the AT and happy hiking!
Thanks for the answer. I will check them out, unfortunately my mobil is kind of old and doesnt work with e-sims, but maybe its time for a upgrade. Happy hiking also for you 🙂
“I checked inflation and it has actually gone down in the US between my thru hikes.”
This is absolutely 100% false. There is no point in at least the last two decades where inflation has gone down in the United States in the sense that is clearly implied by your post. That would be deflation, meaning costs have decreased. The rate of inflation may be lower, then in previous years, but it is still inflation. Meaning costs have increased between your two hikes.
The fact that you clearly just wrong about this is pretty strong evidence that no one should pay any attention to anything you’re talking about. If you’re not able to realize that prices have gone up, why should anyone believe anything else you have to say about money?
I just googled and that was my first result, thanks for the input, I will adjust my article. Happy hiking!
I loved this so much 😂
I am glad my humor found the right audience 🤓