Desert Shakedown
It’s permit day! I’m counting down the hours until permit release, even though the likelihood of a responsible NOBO hike seems slimmer than ever. To occupy the wait, I thought...
2021 PCT Long-distance Permits Will be Issued; Portal to Open January 19
The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) announced on January 5 that 2021 PCT Long-distance Permits will be issued at normal levels starting January 19th at 10:30 am PT. The decision...
A Complete List of Individual Permits Needed to Hike the PCT
Every (normal) year, prospective PCT thru-hikers queue up in an online waiting room to apply for a PCT Long-distance Permit. This interagency pass is aimed at trail users who plan...
4 Trail Features I Won’t Take for Granted on the PCT
When my life fell apart in 2020, I made some radical changes. One side effect was newfound appreciation for the work required to maintain a hiking trail. Shaking things up...
Possibly Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
I’m Possibly, a 2018 AT thru-hiker, and I’m possibly a 2021 PCT thru-hiker. The trail name “Possibly” was bestowed upon me when I hesitated to claim the title “thru-hiker” only...
Uncertainty and Strife: Thru-Hiking Permits in the Time of COVID-19
As 2020 winds down, a third wave of COVID-19 infections is engulfing the United States, with the number of daily cases more than tripling over the previous August high and...
Thru-hiking Questions that Local Backpacking Helped Me Answer
What do you do when you’ve been anticipating the PCT for 5 years, actively planning for it for two years, and finally had to sit it out (because .... 2020)?...
Which Triple Crown Trail is Right For You? Choosing Between the AT, PCT, and CDT
At almost 8,000 miles, the Triple Crown trails of the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail are some of the best hiking in the world. No matter...
The Great Western Loop
The Seed Planted I first heard about the Great Western Loop (GWL) on my southbound Appalachian Trail thru hike back in 2018. Thinking that it sounded like a cool idea...
A Guide to Volcano Loop Hikes in the Pacific Northwest
Dotted with wildflower-filled meadows, stunning waterfalls, and inviting alpine lakes, these Cascade volcano loop hikes belong on every backpacker’s bucket list.