This Week’s Top Instagram Photos from the #PacificCrestTrail

Ladies, gentlemen, and hiker trash- it has returned.  We are pleased to reintroduce one of our all time favorite series- the top Instagram posts from the Pacific Crest Trail.

Each week, we peruse all of the wonderful pictures from Instagram using the hashtag #TrekthePCT and #PacificCrestTrail and select a few of the best to highlight for your viewing pleasure!

This week we take a look at photos snapped between 09/26/17-10/10/17.

If you would like your picture to be included, be sure to use the hashtag #TrekthePCT and/or tag us. Don’t forget to follow The Trek for all things long-distance backpacking and The Trek: Pacific Crest Trail for even more PCT love.

This Week’s Top Photos from the Pacific Crest Trail

PCT | CALIFORNIA | I accidentally got a job yesterday. But only because I discovered drinking wine is much less fun when you can do it literally any time you want.

A post shared by tosh.a (@theotherforkintheroad) on Oct 12, 2017 at 8:01am PDT

"What are thooose?!?!?" ? * "Look, that guy is wearing Nikes." * Yup, minimalist ✔ Frees. If it ain't broke, don't fix it…no support where you don't need it. One night as a freshman in college, I took my shoes off and ran a few miles barefoot. I was overloaded with sensory information and euphoria pumped through my system like I was on a persistence hunt. I was sore for 1 1/2 weeks, but the rewarding sensation was too great to dismiss the experience. After a fair amount of research and years of self-experimentation, I decided to really push the idea of minimalist footwear on a thru-hike. An abundance of studies and self-experimentation has lead me to believe that we haven't evolved to require a bunch of knick-knacks in our shoes, but we are devolving by thinking we do. Using an array of foot support is like using crutches and braces without an injury to the lower extremities. "But I need this, that, and the other for x,y,z." Ya, if you have an injury; but like any injury, there comes a time to wean yourself off the support and begin the process of restrengthening. To add, many foot injuries derive from the nonsense you put on 'em. Less is more, BUT start slow. It's a rehabilitation process….with all those years of support, your body has to remind itself of itself. Do your homework and then become your own case study. The new sensory information will change your perspective on bodily movement and the terrain around you. The grid system of which you percieve your surroundings will go from blocky and rigid to smooth and fluid, which creates a transition in your movement patterns from animated concrete blocks to flowing like water. Also, less material means less dead weight to drag around, which equates to more energy. Liberate yourself by using yourself – trust the invaluable gift of biomechanics. * Photo Cred: @caitlinsduffy * * #trekthepct#pct2017#pctig#pcta#pctthruhike#thruhiking#selfstudy#hikingadventures#iphone#iphone6#keepitsimple#lessismore#nikefree#backpacking#getlost#ig_shotz#theTrek#thruhike#discoverearth#hikingtrail#getoutside#optoutside#pacificcresttrail#trekking#travelwashington#granitegear#rei1440project#nikeflyknit#minimalist#minimalism

A post shared by Andrew Stevens (@andrews74434) on Oct 11, 2017 at 4:24pm PDT

Roadside cowboy camping. You’d think there are plenty of spots in the desert, but lately we’ve been sleeping in ditches or on old dirt roads. – – – – – – #pct2017 #pctsobo #pctsobo2017 #sobo17 #pct #pacificcresttrail #thruhike #pctig #trekthepct @pacific.crest.trail #hiking #optoutside #gnarbox #rei1440project #liveauthentic #myfujifilm #whereverlitetakesyou

A post shared by Never Not Outside (@nevernotoutside) on Oct 11, 2017 at 11:38am PDT

Day 128 | mile 2592.5 – 2612.7 | It’s evening, it’s uphill the wind is cold but I’m sweating. I’ve set out to do 6 more miles and I’m determined to do them before dark. The warm light of the low sun is perfect on the switchbacks – it makes the fall colors of the hillside light up as I stop for a second and take in the view. I feel so lucky that I’m here at this moment. And at the same time I worry about the smell of frost in the air – am I gonna freeze tonight? I left the others at a water source debating whether they wanted to hike or not. But Canada is calling my name and I want to keep going – I think they’ll come but as I look at the trail now visible behind me and I don’t see them. Or anyone for that matter. I keep climbing and eventually I make it up to a saddle where the wind is stronger and i have to put on my headlamp. I really wish I some gloves because standing still even for a second I’m getting very cold. I drop into the saddle where I look for a tent spot. I want to find one where the sun will hit me in the morning because I need the heat to get me out of my sleeping bag. I see only one other headlamp bobbing in some trees but I pass by not wanting to be shaded. So I keep going. In the darkness everything looks the same so it’s difficult to see if there are any flat spots. Eventually the saddle opens up and there’s a rocky flat stretch. I do some landscaping and once the ground is clear I set up my fly (I sent away my inner tent in a moment of overconfidence: I don’t mind freezing a little it’ll make me get up in the morning and I’ll hike faster…). I arrange myself in the tent and I start to make dinner. Then I worry if the others would be able to find me if they are coming – so I go to put out a hike pole by the trail. I think i see headlamps so I stand there for a while. Yes! It’s headlamps. They are coming. I hike up the trail towards them slowly – my light shining trying to tell them I’m there. They are dropping into the saddle and the headlamps are lower and lower in the horizon. Then I hear voices and my name and soon we headed towards the spot I picked and I can climb back into my sleeping bag.Yay! #switchbacks #winteriscoming #washington

A post shared by Mette 'Milkshake' Ingeborg (@mette_ingeborg) on Oct 10, 2017 at 8:44pm PDT

this one is titled "suggestive waterfall" • • #pct2017 #oregon #timberlinelodge #timberline #snow #waterfall #fall #suggestive #natureissexy #pacificcresttrail #pacificcresttrials #thetrek #trekthepct #thruhiker #flipflop2017 #soboordie #neverstopexploring #takelessdomore #camping #roosterandwoodchuck #pct #optoutside #wildwomen #womenwhohike #forceofnature #churchofthegreatoutdoors

A post shared by ▵ lauren / woodchuck ▿ (@lauren_again) on Oct 10, 2017 at 4:18pm PDT

Beautiful sunrise this morning just a few miles north of #timberlinelodge . . . #winter #fall #snow #pacificcresttrail #pct #pct2017 #pctsobo2017 #trekthepct #mexicotocanada #thruhiker #flipflop #thruhike2017 #ultralight #ultralightbackpacking #optoutside #camping #rei1440project #roosterandwoodchuck #takelessdomore #hikertrash #camping #hiking #nature #sobobynaturenobobydirection #wilderness #trail #outdoors #bushcraft #churchofthegreatoutdoors

A post shared by Henri (wood) & Lauren (clay) (@hlwoodwork) on Oct 9, 2017 at 11:02am PDT

With a little bit of rest and warmer gear, I am ready to hike as much of Oregon as I can. By the way, it's not totally flat ?. #WithTheWildThings #pct #pct2017 #pcta #pctig #trekthepct #outdoorwomen #womenwhohike #optoutside #sunset

A post shared by Danielle O'Farrell "Giggles" (@withthewildthings) on Oct 8, 2017 at 8:25pm PDT

The whole Sierra range is gorgeous, but Kings Canyon NP was a definite highlight, and some of the most beautiful hiking I've ever done. Meadows? Lakes? Forests? High peaks? Alpine wildlife? They got it all!

A post shared by nadia westenburg • "furball" (@na_diagram) on Oct 7, 2017 at 8:33am PDT

Descending Mt. Whitney… #wanderlust #hiking #ontrail #outdoor #nature #walking #pct #pct2017 #pacificcresttrail #pacificcresttrials #pctsobo #pctsobo2017 #exploremore #wilderness #thegreatoutdoors #natureporn #sobotramp #getoutdoors #travelbug #thetrek #trekthepct #trekking #backpacking #natgeo #traillife #choosemountains #california #californiaadventure, #pctassociation

A post shared by @sobotramp on Oct 7, 2017 at 2:15am PDT

Getting up early and embracing the mew day with a warm cup of coffee….these are the moments!!! #wanderlust #hiking #ontrail #outdoor #nature #walking #pct #pct2017 #pacificcresttrail #pacificcresttrials #pctsobo #pctsobo2017 #exploremore #wilderness #thegreatoutdoors #natureporn #sobotramp #getoutdoors #travelbug #thetrek #trekthepct #trekking #backpacking #natgeo #traillife #choosemountains #california #californiaadventure, #pctassociation

A post shared by @sobotramp on Oct 7, 2017 at 1:06am PDT

Day 144 #mountains and then #moremountains #washington #lovenature #natureaddict #pctig #trekthepct #pacificcresttrail #thetrek #pct2017 #lovenature #thruhike #traillife #in2nature #thatadventurelife #hikingadventures #adventuretime #womenwhohike #gooutside #exploretheworld #damgooddays #lifehappensoutdoors #thruhike #herpnwlife #outdoorresearch #explorewashington #washingtonexplored

A post shared by baileefenton.squirt? (@westcoastgirl_xo) on Oct 6, 2017 at 4:04pm PDT

Get up to the mountains and catch some of that fall color while you can. I formerly believed that the West Coast paled in comparison to the East in Autumn. Nah, #westcoastbestcoast We've got plum purple to fiery red to mustard yellow. | A rare type of conifer, the Alpine Larch sports deciduous needles that turn yellow this time of year. . . #northcascades #cascades #canada #thruhike #pct #pct2017 #pacificcresttrail #pacificcrestrials #pnwonderland #northwest #washington #evergreen #pct17 #wildflowers #wildlife #wildanimals #mountains #mountain #theTrek #TrekthePCT #nature #beer #pnw #naturephotography #wilderness #hikertrash #snow #snowhiking #snowtravel

A post shared by Birdie | Rachel | Seattle (@birdie_hikes) on Oct 5, 2017 at 9:39pm PDT

Sunset over Guitar Lake ?

A post shared by Jordan McKamie (@gypsynursejm) on Oct 5, 2017 at 7:58am PDT