The Pacific Crest Trail
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The Pacific Crest Trail
by Brian Johnson
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail runs for 2650 miles from the Mexican border to Canada through the mountains of California, Oregon and Washington. This book contains a complete set of detailed maps and route description divided into 101 sections. With information for planning a short hike or a thru'-hike. More...
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Seasons
The PCT is designed to be hiked when it is free of snow; Southern California is best in the Spring Read More... or Autumn and the High Sierra, Northern California, Oregon and Washington are best from late June to early OctoberCentres
Most hikers access the PCT from San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle or Read More... Vancouver, all of which are about 50 miles west of the trailDifficulty
The PCT is a well-engineered trail taking the hiker easily through the mountains but it is a Read More... wilderness trail, often a long way from road access, and you will need to carry food for several days; there is little accommodation so you will need to camp or bivouacMust See
The High Sierra of California with Mount Whitney, the John Muir Trail and Yosemite National Park; Read More... Crater Lake in Oregon; the towering volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains: Lassen Peak, Mount Shasta, The Three Sisters, Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier and Glacier PeakOther guidebooks and handbooks
The John Muir Trail Guide, Alan Castle (Cicerone, 2004, updated 2010)
Covers Yosemite Valley to Whitney Portal.
www.cicerone.co.uk
The Pacific Crest Trail (three volumes), Ben Schirfin, Thomas Winnett, Jeffrey Schaffer, Ruby Johnson Jenkins and Andy Selters (Wilderness Press, 1973, updated 2003)
A comprehensive guidebook in three heavy volumes with black and white 1:50,000 maps.
Pacific Crest Trail Data Book, Benedict ‘Gentle Ben’ Go (Wilderness Press, 1997, updated 2005)
Summarises the information in the guidebooks.
www.wildernesspress.com
The PCT Hiker’s Handbook, Ray Jardine (AdventureLore Press, 1992)
Advice on hiking the PCT with an emphasis on ultra-lightweight hiking and high daily mileages.
Trail Life: Ray Jardine’s Lightweight Backpacking, Ray Jardine (AdventureLore, 2009)
The latest incarnation of Jardine’s PCT Hiker’s Handbook benefits from the experience of thousands of additional trail miles.
www.adventurelore.com
Yogi’s PCT Handbook, Jackie ‘Yogi’ McDonnell (self-published)
Provides the most comprehensive information on towns as well as other trail information (no maps).
www.pcthandbook.com
Pacific Crest Trail Atlas, Erik Asorson (Blackwoods Press, second edition, 2010)
A set of PCT maps in five expensive volumes with brief notes on the route.
www.pctatlas.com
Pocket PCT, Paul Bodnar (self-published, 2009)
Elevation guide to the PCT in three small volumes, with limited water and resupply information.
http://hikethru.com
Natural History
The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada, John Muir Laws (Heyday Books, 2007)
A superb guide to the fauna and flora of the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide, John Muir Laws (Heyday Books, 2004)
www.johnmuirlaws.com
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer (National Geographic Society, 2006)
National Geographic Field Guide to the Trees of North America, Charles Hollis and Keith Rushforth (National Geographic Society, 2006)
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com
Books by PCT hikers
A Thru-Hiker’s Heart, ‘No Way Ray’ Echols (Tuolumne Press, 2009)
A collection of tales from the PCT.
Zero Days, Barbara Egbert (Wilderness Press, 2008)
Tells the story of the thru’-hike by 10-year-old Mary ‘Scrambler’ Chambers, with her parents Barbara Egbert and Gary Chambers
Soul, Sweat and Survival on the Pacific Crest Trail, Bob Holtel (Bittersweet Publishing Co, 1994, Essence Publishing, 2007)
Tells the story of his solo run of the PCT, over three summers.
Along the Pacific Crest Trail, Karen Berger and Bart Smith (Westcliffe Publishers, 1998)
A coffee-table book with superb photographs from a PCT hike.
A Blistered Kind of Love: One Couple’s Trial by Trail, Angela and Duffy Ballard (Mountaineers Books, 2003)
A humorous account of a young couple’s PCT hike.
Walking Down a Dream: Mexico to Canada on Foot, Natasha Carver (self-published, 2003)
A humorous account of a PCT thru’-hike.
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