Tag:

pct

Planning a Thru-Hike Next Year? Here’s What You Need to Know.

by Abby Levene October 21, 2021

written by Abby Levene

Before Mac of Halfway Anywhere thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, he struggled to find useful information about the trail. Sure, he read anecdotal thru-hiking accounts. But what worked one for one person might not work for him. He wanted data. So after completing the trail that year, Mac started a PCT survey to gather that data for himself.

The results somewhat dismayed him.

“I’m a very good representation of just the average hiker,” Mac (whose “real” name is Tyler Fox) says. “I thought I was doing something cool. But I was actually just doing something that all the people who are just like me are also doing.”

In 2019, the last year of robust data from the trail, 60 percent of respondents identified as male. Nearly a whopping third (30 percent) were in their mid to late 20’s. And over a third (37 percent) of PCT hikers did not train before their hike — just like Mac.

But as Mac surmised, the data also proved useful. Mac’s findings suggest hikers wildly underestimate how much a thru-hike costs. The average amount spent on a successful 2020 PCT thru-hike was $8,059 or $58.79 a day.

In fact, underestimating thru-hike finances proves to be one of the primary reasons people abandon the trail.

“Money is a big factor that sneaks up on people,” Mac says. “They don’t realize it is going to be as big of an issue as it ends up being. Before I headed onto the trail, I was like, ‘I’m going to be out there just like five months in the wilderness, whatever. I’m not going to stay in hotels. I’m not going to hang out in town.’ And then in reality you’re out there for like 10 days and it’s been raining for five and all your stuff’s covered in mud and you’re like, ‘Whatever, I’m definitely going to go stay in a hotel.’”

Mac smiles in a selfie while hiking over snow.

After Mac thru-hiked the Continental Divide Trail in 2017, he started a survey for that thru-hike as well. Surprising to many, the CDT mostly sticks to well-defined trail. But unlike other long trails, the CDT provides numerous “alternates” hikers can take to supplement or supplant the official route. Mac found that the majority of thru-hikers take many of the same alternates, including the Gila River alt in New Mexico (96 percent), the Cirque of the Towers alt in Wyoming (84 percent), and the Spotted Bear Pass alt in Montana (82 percent).

A self-proclaimed random guy on the internet, Mac has no proven validity to his findings. But he’s here to help prospective thru-hikers actually glean information that will be useful in their monumental undertaking. Mac may not be a scientist, he thinks with the precision of one, constantly trying to refine and improve the surveys with each iteration.

Half the challenge with these surveys is simply finding people to take them. The key is to loop people in before they start hiking, otherwise Mac ends up with a skewed sample of finishers and doesn’t get that critical data from people who quit the trail along the way. If you’re planning on thru-hiking the PCT or the CDT next year, sign up to take the survey when it becomes available.

Mac sits on the trail while eating a piece of pizza.

You may have noticed the elephant in the room: Mac has not thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and does not conduct an AT survey. In fact, Mac swears he will never hike the east’s longest trail. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to hear AT thru-hike veteran Shanty try and change his mind.

In this episode of Out and Back, Mac weaves his eight years of survey data together with his first hand observations to illuminate how the PCT has evolved over the past decade. Hint: he doesn’t think it’s all been for the better. Mac dishes his controversial view of trail angels and trail magic. Plus, Mac explains why he hates the word “tramly” (aka “trail family”).

Comb through the vast PCT and CDT survey data on Mac’s website, Halfway Anywhere. You’ll also find all types of useful insight and analysis, including gear guides for both the PCT and CDT. Sign u p for Mac’s newsletter, and follow Mac’s adventures on Instagram.

Last episode: A Definitive Guide to the Best Camp Coffee

Heather Anderson sits with a cup of coffee in her tent.

Brewing the perfect cup of coffee in the backcountry can be complicated. A pour-over leaves you with messy grounds to haul out, and instant coffee often falls short on taste. In the last episode of Out and Back, we turned to some of our favorite professional hikers — Heather “Anish” Anderson, the Hiking Viking, Adventure Alan Dixon, and Liz “Snorkel” Thomas — to unmask the secrets to brewing the best cup of coffee in camp.

Learn Anish’s hack to getting in coffee-flavored caffeine and lots of sustaining calories without actually brewing a cup of joe. Get Viking’s hilarious take on why coffee is an essential backcountry tool, even though he doesn’t really care about the taste. A trained barista, Alan provides his meticulously researched lightest and best tasting backcountry coffee setup. And last but not least, Snorkel shares the findings from her scientific, blind study on 14 brands of instant coffee. The testers: a panel of professional coffee connoisseurs.

Follow these four thru-hikers on Instagram: @anishhikes, @therealhikingviking, @1adventurealan,@lizthomashiking.

October 21, 2021

Barney and Scout stand with their arms around each other's shoulders at the pole signifying the southern terminus of the PCT.

Gaia GPS Out and Back Podcast

Meet Scout and Frodo: the Ultimate PCT Trail Angels

by Mary Cochenour April 22, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Since 2006, thousands of Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers have started their 2,660-mile journey from Barney and Sandy Mann’s suburban San Diego home. The ultimate trail angles, the Manns offer to pick up arriving PCT hikers from San Diego’s airport, bring them to their five-bedroom house, feed them dinner, entertain them with music, and teach them the ways of the trail.

The next morning, the Manns shuttle the hopeful thru-hikers some 60 miles to the Mexico border. With a hug and a smile, they send their new hiking friends off to Canada, rested and well prepared for the miles ahead.

A large group of thru-hikers sit in a big circle in Scout's backyward.

Hosting hikers — sometimes 40 per night — gets expensive and takes a lot of time and energy. Yet the Manns don’t charge a penny for their hospitality. Helping hikers start their long, arduous PCT journey is their ultimate joy in life.

Tune in to the next episode of Out and Back for a chat with Barney “Scout” Mann. A triple crown hiker himself, Scout describes how running their famous hiker hostel kept them connected to the PCT even after their own thru-hike in 2007. Learn about the changes Scout has seen as the PCT grew in popularity after the release of Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild.

Cover of Scout's book, "Journey's North: The Pacific Crest Trail." Cover image is a watercolor of a lake with mountains in the background.

Mann discusses the release of his new book, Journeys North, which chronicles the PCT thru-hike he did with Sandy (trail name Frodo). Plus, find out what it’s like to hang out in the Manns’ hostel as hikers prepare for the first miles of their PCT trek.

Scout reflects on how the pandemic forced them to close up shop in 2020 and why they decided not to host PCT hikers in 2021. Listen through to the very end to hear why Scout and Frodo will consider hosting in 2022.

Give Scout a follow on Instagram — he’s on the Arizona Trail right now and posting pictures of his trip along the way. Learn more about Scout and Frodo’s hiker hostel on the Mann’s website. Stay tuned for their announcement about whether they will host hikers in 2022.

Next Episode: How Tragedy Turned Luc Mehl into a Packrafting Expert

Luc smiles for the camera in a portrait.

Adventurer Luc Mehl has spent decades exploring Alaska in the most creative ways. He’s skied from Haines to Juneau; ice-skated a hundred-mile route on frozen lakes and seashores above the Arctic Circle, and bikepacked portions of the Iditarod Trail. In 2006, he discovered a much more efficient way to click off miles in mountains: packrafting. He’s taken floating down Alaskan rivers to a new level ever since.

Don’t miss episode 31 of the Out and Back podcast as Luc takes us on his incredible Alaskan journey, from growing up in a tiny, landlocked village to discovering the freedom of the outdoors later in his life. While Luc’s adventures on foot, bike, ice skates, skis, and packraft, can seem extreme to most people, he rejects being labeled a “thrill seeker.” Taking on new sports is just a way for Luc to master a new craft, and to keep climbing the learning curve.

Luc has used the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic — a punishing adventure race across 100+ miles of rugged terrain — to test his limits and hone his wilderness skills. The race has always felt like a safe place for Luc to experiment with his food choices and sleep deprivation, sometimes staying up all night to make extra miles. The goal was to see just how minimally he could live out there.

Until one day, cutting corners resulted in tragedy.

In 2014, Luc’s friend drowned in a packrafting accident in the middle of the race. Though Luc was not on the scene, the loss of his friend changed his perspective on decision-making in the mountains. Suddenly, his history of many close came into focus.

Looking at his skill level through the lens of tragedy, Luc realized that he was boating on water that was way over his head. It was a tough pill to swallow but he dialed back, and started learning the sport all over again — this time from the very beginning. Seven years later, the result is the release of Luc’s brand new book: The Packraft Handbook — “the definitive instructional resource for packrafting.”

Learn more about Luc Mehl and his Alaskan adventures on his website. Follow him on Instagram. And pick up a copy of The Packraft Handbook to get the best tips for staying safe on moving water.

Last Episode: Ninjasticking Through the Backcountry with Vasu Sojitra

Vasu Sojitra is one of the most accomplished adaptive athletes on Earth. He’s notched first independent adaptive ascents and descents on everything from the Grand Teton in Grand Teton National Park to Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. This winter, he summited Wyoming’s formidable Mount Moran and skied its infamous Skillet Glacier.

He’s done all of this with one leg.

But focusing on Vasu’s leg difference, though, doesn’t do him justice. Rather, Vasu has leveraged his disability to cultivate courage, resiliency, and compassion.

“That’s the thing about disability culture — we are one of the most resilient communities on this [expletive] planet, which is awesome to be a part of,” Vasu recounts on Out and Back. “People think we’re fragile. People think you have to tiptoe around our disability. You don’t. We’re still here. We’re still kicking ass and we’re still making sure our voices are heard no matter what our voices are.”

Go back and listen to the last episode of Out and Back as Vasu recounts going from feeling like an outsider as a kid growing up in Glastonbury, CT and Gujarat, India, to finding belonging on the ski slopes. As Indian immigrants, Vasu’s parents were not entirely sold on their two sons’ newfound passion — or the price to entry. Adaptive ski equipment is particularly expensive. But Vasu and his brother (and number one supporter) Amir found their way to the bunny slopes of CT, and later, the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Appalachians, and beyond.

Vasu’s accomplishments in the mountains are extraordinary. But his story is really one of finding strength within yourself. He’s on a mission to make the outdoors accessible to all, so everyone can experience the liberation of moving their bodies through the landscape.

Follow Vasu on Instagram. Read first-hand accounts of Vasu’s adventures on his website, and watch his film Out on the Limb.

April 22, 2021

Company News Featured Gaia GPS Out and Back Podcast

The Out and Back Podcast Kicks Off with Record-Setting Thru-Hiker Heather Anderson

by Mary Cochenour May 5, 2020

written by Mary Cochenour

The Out and Back podcast debuts today, bringing you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as host and Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin dives in deep with long-distance hikers, record-breaking athletes, and a family of offroad travelers who sold everything to live full-time on the dusty backroads.

The Out and Back podcast drops every other week, featuring guests who have mastered their craft, like backcountry navigation expert Andrew Skurka and pro hiker Thomas Gathman, known on the trail as the Real Hiking Viking. In every show, Shanty goes one-on-one, tapping into each backcountry expert’s superpower so you can take their experience and knowledge with you on your next adventure.

The series launches with Heather “Anish” Anderson who spells out the complex set of factors that drove her to accomplish speed records on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Arizona Trail, as well as become one of a handful of athletes to nab all three of America’s long trails, some 7,500+ miles of hiking, in a single calendar year. In this episode, learn how Anderson faced her fear head-on to finally convince herself that she is indeed an athlete.

Episode 1: Heather “Anish” Anderson on Confronting Fear to Break the PCT and AT Speed Records

Growing up, Heather Anderson harbored a pipe dream to break an athletic record or compete in the Olympics. But as a self-described overweight and un-athletic kid who didn’t do sports, those dreams seemed completely out of reach.

“It was so audaciously outside of my capacity,” Anderson told Shanty in the Out and Back podcast. “It’s the perfect daydream — something I’ll never be able to achieve.”

Yet fueled by a powerful mix of self-doubt and something to prove, Anderson submitted herself to unimaginable sufferfests, handily smashing speed records on two of America’s iconic long trails. In 2013, Anderson completed the 2,660-mile Pacific Crest Trail in an impressive 60 days — outpacing the previous record-holder by four days. Two years later she set a new record on the Appalachian Trail, walking 2,189 miles in 54 days. Anderson’s success championed ordinary people everywhere by daring to transform herself from an academically inclined bookworm into an elite athlete, seemingly overnight.

Heather Anderson hiking in through a leaf covered forest.

And she didn’t stop there. After claiming the PCT and AT records, Anderson went on to set the speed record for the 800-mile Arizona Trail and continued to lay down a series of “firsts” in the thru-hiking arena. In 2018, Anderson became the first woman to complete the Triple Triple Crown, meaning she hiked the AT, PCT, and the Continental Divide Trail three times each. She also grabbed the title of the first woman to hike those trails in a single calendar year, earning the coveted Calendar Year Triple Crown, a feat previously accomplished by a handful of male athletes.

In Out and Back’s premiere episode, Anderson explains what inspired her in her journey from her first overnight backpack trip in 2001 to thru-hiking some 30,000 miles over the last 19 years. Anderson talks about the very real post-hike depression that she and other thru-hikers experience after re-entering society following months on the trail. She describes how journaling helped her process the grief that overcame her after claiming the fastest known time on the PCT, and how those journals formed the basis of her book Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, (Mountaineers Books).

Anderson also spills the beans on the one luxury item she added to her backpack in recent years, the “sappy” thing that colored her Calendar Year Triple Crown hike, and her new book Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail (Mountaineers Books) about her fastest known time hike on the AT in 2015. Her new book is scheduled to print in 2021.

Check out Anderson’s website for an autographed copy of her book Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home, which chronicles her record-setting accomplishment on the PCT. Inspiring and authentic, the book highlights Anderson’s background as an un-coordinated kid with big athletic dreams, and how she immersed herself in nature to fill a void of self-doubt within her.

Find and follow Heather “Anish” Anderson on Instagram.
Get her gear lists for all of her famous trips here.

Episode 1 Highlights

2:25: Anderson’s list of accomplishments
7:35: Different categories of fastest known times
9:35: Anderson discusses the writing process for her book Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home
12:09: Anderson talks about post-hike depression and the COVID-19 lockdown
18:10: Anderson reveals her offseason training routine and taking up a new sport
24:40: Anderson talks about her route plan on the Calendar Year Triple Crown
27:20: How Flyin’ Brian Robinson inspired her to do the Calendar Year Triple Crown
29:00: Anderson’s super sappy yet sweet story on the very first day of the Calendar Year Triple Crown trip
32:20: The unique Barkley Marathons, and Anderson’s four attempts
42:57: Don’t let fear stand in the way of following your dreams
51:47: Anderson’s all-time favorite trail food
52:46: The one luxury item that Anderson recently added to her pack

Next on Episode 2: From Sniper to Professional Hiker, the Real Hiking Viking, Thomas Gathman

Thomas Gathman, known on the trail as the Real Hiking Viking, is so much more than his iconic, long-flowing beard. Viking served two combat tours in Iraq, one as a Marine Scout Sniper, before inadvertently stumbling into full-time hiking on America’s long trails.

*The Real Hiking Viking on top of the Forester Pass trail sign on the Pacific Crest Trail.*

You won’t want to miss Out and Back’s Episode 2 as Viking talks about his transition from sniper to pro hiker. Viking also recounts his recent hiking efforts, including a trip to the Middle East to thru-hike Jordan, a bailout on Andrew Skurka’s burly Wind River High Route, and recovery from a recent knee injury.

Viking, in usual gregarious and fun-loving style, reminds us why hiking is so much fun, and why there can never be too much trail time for all of us.

Follow the Real Hiking Viking on Instagram.

May 5, 2020

Hikes New Maps

Complete National Geographic Pacific Crest Trail Maps Now Available in Gaia GPS

by Julien Friedland November 22, 2019

written by Julien Friedland

Now, you can hike the Pacific Crest Trail with digital maps born of a partnership between National Geographic Maps and Halfmile.

In 2017, National Geographic teamed up with thru-hiker and mapmaker Lon “Halfmile” Cooper to produce maps that included both NatGeo’s meticulous cartography and Halfmile’s firsthand notes and insider information. The result contains careful annotations about trail mileages, official and unofficial campsites, water sources, and other points of interest.

Gaia GPS started converting and uploading those maps this spring, adding first Washington, then Oregon. Now, we’ve reached the finish line with one final push to add the entirety of the trail through California. (National Geographic has also released the PCT California maps in print.)

About the PCT in California

For most thru-hikers, the journey starts in California. North bounders hikers toe the Mexican border, then set off through Campo and into the Laguna Mountains and the stark beauty of the Southern California desert. The following sections of trail contain some of the most iconic landmarks along the entire PCT. Think giant sequoias, the granite monoliths of Yosemite National Park, and 14,491-foot Mount Whitney, the highest point in the Lower 48.

In total, California holds 1,692 miles of the PCT—over half the trail. Whether you’re out to hike the whole thing, hunting for your next big backpacking adventure, or scouting scenic day hikes near Los Angeles or Sacramento, the NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail map layer has everything you need to plan and execute a smooth trip.

How to Use the NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail Map Layer

You can access the NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail map layer—in addition to weather forecasts, wildfire overlays, and other premium maps—with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership.

To access the map layer, follow these steps:

First, download the Gaia GPS app. It’s available on the App Store for iOS devices and on the Google Play Store for Android devices.
Open up the Map Manager. Go to United States > NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail, and tap the green plus-sign to add it to your main map.
Scroll across the main map to find your upcoming section of trail. Then, download maps for offline use.

November 22, 2019

Gaia GPS New Maps

Pacific Crest Trail Maps Available in Gaia GPS, Starting with Washington

by Corey Buhay March 26, 2019

written by Corey Buhay

In 2017, renowned thru-hiker and mapmaker Lon Cooper (Halfmile) partnered with National Geographic to craft meticulously accurate maps of the Pacific Crest Trail. We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve joined that historic partnership to bring you those same PCT maps in Gaia GPS.

We’re rolling out the maps one state at a time, starting with Washington. The NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail map layer currently details a 10-mile-wide trail corridor of the PCT as it stretches from the Canadian border to the Columbia River. In it, you’ll find everything from labeled terrain features and amenities, to points of interest, annotated mileages, and hand-curated notes from Halfmile’s original maps.

What is the Pacific Crest Trail?

The PCT traces the spine of the western coastal ranges, carving out a 2,650-mile trail that winds through some of the most storied landscapes of Washington, Oregon, and California. Traditionally, the trail begins at the California/Mexico border and finds its terminus at the Canadian border. In between, it connects desert, volcanic slopes, temperate rainforest, and the rocky alpine crown of the High Sierra.

The PCT was originally conceived of in the 1920s, and has since become the stuff of both American heritage and recent pop culture. Its length and variety makes it ideal for staging day-hikes and section-hikes of any shape and size, in addition to end-to-end hikes. These full-length hikes, called thru-hikes, take most people four to six months to complete. According to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, just 6,636 people have completed the entire trail.

Why National Geographic Maps?

National Geographic consistently sets the standard for quality and accuracy in outdoor recreation mapping. The NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail map is a perfect example. All information is fact-checked and reviewed by long-distance hikers, local land managers, and NatGeo’s own cartographic editing team. The layer also uses a trail-centered map format specially designed for long trails.

This PCT map stands out for its comprehensive campsite coverage. Unlike other maps, this one labels both official and unofficial campsites, and marks over-camped spots. If land managers report that a campsite is heavily impacted by human traffic and no longer recommended for camping, the NatGeo PCT map uses a grayed-out tent icon to indicate discouraged use.

How to Use the NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail Map

The NatGeo Pacific Crest Trail map source is available to any Gaia GPS user with a Premium Membership. To add, simply open the United States category in the map manager. Then tap the plus sign next to the NatGeo PCT map layer. Because NatGeo maps are extremely detailed, we recommend using this one as a primary base map under any of your favorite weather forecasts or feature overlays.

You can find other tips for using Gaia GPS to navigate on thru-hikes and extended backpacking trips here.

More to Come

Keep an eye out for Oregon and California PCT maps, which we plan to add in the coming months. When complete, this will be the second prong of the Triple Crown to be included in the Gaia GPS map catalog. (We added the full NatGeo Appalachian Trail maps in 2018.)

March 26, 2019

Load More Posts