On Saturday 12th July 2025 I will commence walking southbound along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) from Harts Pass, Washington, heading to California. Having been on my wish list for many years I am thrilled to finally get the opportunity to embark on this new adventure.

The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles (160 to 240 km) east of the U.S. Pacific coast.

PCT Facts

  • Received National Scenic Trail designation: 1968
  • Construction officially completed: 1993
  • Northern Terminus: Canada-US border, Washington
  • Southern Terminus: Mexico-US border, just south of Campo, California
  • Typical walking direction: Mexico-Canada, northbound (NOBO)
  • States passed through: California, Oregon, Washington
  • Length: 2,653 mi / 4,270 km
  • Lowest elevation: 110 feet (34 m) above sea level near the Bridge of the Gods (Oregon–Washington border)
  • Highest elevation: 13,153 feet (4,009 m) at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada (California)
  • Easiest sections (as rated by previous hikers): Oregon: 40%, the desert (South California) 25%, Sierra Nevada mountains 18.8%, Northern California 9.4%, Washington 6.3%.
  • Hardest sections (as rated by previous hikers): Sierra Nevada mountains 59.4%, Washington 25%, Oregon: 12.5%, Northern California 3.1%, the desert (South California) 0%.

Easiest/Hardest section statistics courtesy of the Halfway Anywhere 2024 Pacific Crest Trail 2024 survey (https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-hiker-survey-2024).

The Plan
A full thru-hike (completing the whole trail) typically takes 4-5 months, but I only have 10 weeks available, so I will be walking a shortened version. Two possible plans are under consideration, with a final decision to be made whimsically at a later date:

Option 1: Start near the Canada-US border and walk southbound until I run out of time. This should allow me to reach Northern California.

Option 2: Start near the Canada-US border and walk southbound for approximately seven weeks. Skip south using public transport to Sonora Pass, California (trail mile 1016.9), which represents the end of the Sierra Nevada mountains for northbound hikers, but would be my ingress point to the high Sierras. This should allow 3 weeks to complete the Sierra Nevada mountains, finishing with an off-trail ascent of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States (14,505 feet / 4,421 m), and exiting the trail at Kennedy Meadows South (trail mile 702).

Route Maps