Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - by David Jordan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A comprehensive three-book set providing all the information needed to prepare for and hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2650-mile hike through California, Oregon and Washington. Designed to be compact and lightweight the set is separated into three books, an introduction to the trail (130g) and two map books (200g and 170g).

The introductory book covers all at-home planning and preparation for hiking the PCT.

• Detailed explanation of the trail structure, timings and how to approach the PCT
• Suggested itineraries for 110-, 120-, 130- and 140-day thru-hikes and an easy-going start option to aid with planning
• Advice on equipment and permits required on trail
• A background of the trail's history
• A look at the wildlife, flora and fauna encountered on the trail

The two map books are designed to be used on the trail, one covering the southern stages from the Mexico border to northern California at Interstate 5, the other detailing the northern stages in Oregon and Washington to the Canadian border.

• Presented as 100 1-3-day stages for easy planning of either day, section or thru-hikes
• Where possible stages begin/end at trailheads for easy access to the route
• 1:100,000 topographic maps for the whole trail that can be used to supplement or replace digital mapping apps
• Each stage contains a waymarked route description with mileages, mapping, profiles, and locations of water sources and campsites
• Resupply tables are included detailing where food, mail drops and laundrettes are available close to the trail

About the Author

David has hiked and camped extensively across much of the higher ground of the UK, Europe and Norway, as well as the US. A first taste of long-distance walking started with a circuit of the Tour du Mont Blanc in 1992 and led through sections of the Appalachian Trail to a full thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. Returning to the Alps David spent four years researching and exploring the Grande Traversata Delle Alpe. In 2023 David hiked the PCT for a second time and became one of fewer than 200 people ever to thru-hike the trail more than once.