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The Pacific Crest Trail

Hiking the PCT from Mexico to Canada

Guidebook to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), an epic 2650 mile hike from California's Mexican border to Canada's British Columbia. One of the world's best hikes, the route passes through California, Oregon and Washington State, taking in the Mojave desert, High Sierras, Cascades and countless more wild mountains.

Seasons

The PCT is designed to be hiked when it is free of snow; Southern California is best in the spring or autumn and the High Sierra, Northern California, Oregon and Washington are best from late June to early October. Through-hikers need to start in mid-May.

Centres

Most hikers access the PCT from San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle or Vancouver, all of which are about 50 miles west of the trail.

Difficulty

The PCT is a well-engineered trail taking the hiker easily through the mountains but it is a 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 bivouac.

Must See

The High Sierra of California with Mount Whitney, the John Muir Trail and Yosemite National Park; 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 Peak.
ISBN
9781852849207
Availability
Published
Published
10 May 2017
Reprinted
28 Sept 2022
Edition
Second
Pages
352
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.90cm
Weight
400g
Overview
A comprehensive guidebook to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), an epic 2650 mile trek through the USA from the Mexican border to British Columbia in Canada. One of the world's best hikes, the route passes through California, Oregon and Washington State, taking in the Mojave desert, High Sierras, Cascades and countless more wild mountains of America's west coast. The guidebook is divided into 101 sections of 2 to 3 days, which can be combined into longer days according to ability and preference.
This comprehensive guide provides all the information and maps hikers will need. Alongside the notes and route descriptions, there are overview maps for the entire trail, and a detailed introduction that provides essential advice for planning and completing the route. From information on packing, supplies, water and bears, to details on the mountains, wildlife and regions encountered, this is an essential companion to taking on - and completing - this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
The PCT boasts breathtaking scenery and varied landscapes, through deserts and forests, and over snow-covered passes and along alpine ridges. This is a long wilderness trek of true adventure and exploration through diverse and stunning mountain scenery.
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Brian Johnson Cicerone author Johnson

By Brian Johnson

After taking early retirement from his career as a physics and sports teacher, Brian Johnson found time for three thru'-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2700-mile round-Britain walk and a single summer completion of the Munros (Scotland's 3000ft mountains), as well as climbing all of the Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) and Grahams (Scotland's 2000-2500ft mountains). He also completed a 2200-mile cycle tour of Spain and France and multi-week canoe tours in Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal. A keen climber and hiker, he led school groups in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California and completed ten traverses from Atlantic to Mediterranean on the Pyrenean Haute Route, GR11 and GR10. As a fanatical sportsman and games player, he competed to a high standard at cricket, hockey, bridge and chess. His crowning achievement was winning the 1995/96 World Amateur Chess Championships. Sadly, Brian passed away in 2021.

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