Campo (on the Calafornia/Mexico border) to Manning Park (just inside Canada)
Length: 2,653 mi (4,270 km)
Time: 6 to 8 months
We've had requests for some longer walks, so hopefully, this will fit the bill! This walk follows the Pacifc Crest Trail through a series of national and forest parks and across the USA from the southern Mexico border to just inside Canada in the north. Longer than our usual walks at 2,653 mi (4,270 km) with 421,000 ft (128 km !) of ascent, it should take 6 to 8 months to complete. Not as tough as it sounds - it sticks to valleys and cols rather than ridges. As we're starting early, the Sierra snowpack might not have melted by the time we arrive, so we might have to flip-flop (travel to the north, and walk south to the middle). Also, unusually for our walks, there is small but real danger fron wild animals - snakes, cougars, and bears. We aim to cover 20 to 30 miles a day. The trail was popularised by the film 'Wild', the true story of an ill-prepared thru-hiker who still managed a respectful 1,100 miles
Thru hike video, 1 selfie per mile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWKrBaeGrd8
This walk requires a permit - https://permit.pcta.org/
Be at the start for 7am to avoid the mid-day desert sun.
16 comments:
I presume I’ll have to bring a couple of packed lunches. Are we allowed Ito feed the bears or is that frowned on? (Health and safety gone mad, if you ask me).
Will it be muddy? Are there lots of stiles?
@Mr M Tiger. You're thinking of the Continental Divide Trail - Yellowstone & Yogi Bears. These are black bears, not so friendly.
This seems a bit long for me. Are there any shortcuts?
You may be able to get “public transportation” (whatever that is:something used by poor saps who don’t have an automobile, I think) from some points along the trail.
https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/backcountry-basics/pct-transportation/
Mr M Tiger: By all means bring a packed lunch but it could attract dangerous wildlife. My advice wolf it down quickly
🐻 Bear necessities
As ever you can get these from Amazon ...
https://www.amazon.com/Safety-Orange-Spray-Plastic-Holster/dp/B07FQWMKVK/ref=sr_1_2
https://www.amazon.com/Coghlans-Bear-Magnetic-Silencer-Black/dp/B000E3FNAA/ref=sr_1_2
Apparently item 2 is not terribly useful and clapping/bellowing "whoop whoop" could be more effective.
If you are OK with the bears there's a few more hazards that might give you the heebie-jeebies. Take a look at https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/17-things-scarier-than-bears-on-the-pacific-crest-trail/
Not much to faze SWC regulars then! 🐻
Blimey! Sounds like the whole trail needs a good spraying. With everything.
Under the constitution you also have the right to bear arms (possibly also to bare arms, though in that case I would bring mozzie repellent)….
For those who don't want to picnic, do we need to make reservations at the pubs ?
This looks like a spurious walk.
I need to know otherwise i might be jazzing at the Crypt Camberwell instead.
For those who are would not be satisfied by such a
short walk might consider this walk from
Cape Town, South Africa to Magadan, Russia.
https://brilliantmaps.com/longest-walk/
Mile 0 / 2653 : We were up at the crack of dawn to get our permits validated before we set off. Have to remember, if we see white (polar) bears, we've gone to far north.
Must admit, I got sidetracked by the “diet breakfast” at the local diner (three eggs any way you like, full stack of pancakes, maple syrup, fried potatoes, unlimited toast, bottomless coffee and low-calorie creamer): count me as a late starter - I will have to catch you up.
Does anyone else think it is too hot for hiking today?
Just 1 at the station - where was everybody? Later, 2 bears joined. They must have heard the runours about bear food. No sign of the others but I’d better give them the benefit of the doubt. So n=5 The bear food was soon finished and it became apparent that they still wanted more. Readers, that ‘more’ was me!
I have to say, I walked faster than Ive ever walked before - even faster than on one of Thomas' walks. It became obvious I wasn’t going to finish before nightfall so I got the community bus to Acapulco and home. (Was I going the right way?) Bit shorter next time please.
The weather was w=hot-with-occasional-snow.
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