Preparing for the Pacific Crest Trail Thru Hike

The Pacific Crest Trail, also known as the PCT, is a thru-hike that goes from the Mexico border to the Canada border, running along the high crests of the Sierra and Cascades mountain ranges in California, Oregon, and Washington. The trail is about 2,650 miles and typically takes about 5 months for a hiker to complete. Because the U.S. Forest Service wants to protect fragile wild areas and protect the solitude that most hikers are seeking, there is a limited number of permits given out each year. 

To learn more about the PCT, visit https://www.pcta.org/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/pct/home/?cid=stelprdb5310782

While I personally don't see a PCT thru hike in my future, I love seeing other people's journeys on the PCT! There are a few TikTokers that I follow who did the hike, and it was so cool to see their vlogs on the trail. My parents will be starting the PCT next month, and I am so excited to follow along on their adventure.

Liberty Mountain's own, Jon Allen, is also thru hiking the PCT this year! He is currently on the Buying Team, and you can learn more about who is he by reading his employee spotlight. We asked him all about how he is training for this epic journey that's ahead of him, how excited he is, and what gear from Liberty Mountain he'll be taking on the trail!

When are you starting the Pacific Crest Trail?

In the beginning of May this year, I'll begin my thru hiking journey on the PCT. Prospective hikers are required to apply for a specific date, and only a few dozen permits are available for each day! Luckily, I secured a permit for May 7th, and I couldn't be more excited!

How did you hear about the PCT? How long have you been wanting to hike it?

I was aware of the existence of the trail from an early age, but didn't realize it went the entire length of the country until my dad told me about thru hiking when I was about 14 years old. I lived in San Diego during my Boy Scout years, and all of the backpacking trips we went on took place on the beginning section of the PCT. A lot of people express trepidation regarding the first 700 or so miles of the trail as they are the driest and most xerothermic of the whole trail. I personally can't wait to get back out there and see the desert I grew up hiking and off roading in.

Back in high school, I thought thru hiking would be a fun experience, but I wasn't sure it was actually something I was willing or capable of completing. As the years went on and I got more and more interested in outdoor endurance pursuits, thru hiking the PCT started to make more and more sense. I had a permit for the summer of 2020 as well, but as it did with many things, COVID threw a massive wrench into my plans.

What backpacking experience do you have? Will the PCT be your first thru hike?

I've been on numerous backpacking trips! It all started when I was a Boy Scout, and that quickly evolved into planning my own trips. One such outing was a 50 mile route in the remote Santa Barbara mountains. At the time, 50 miles seemed like quite the undertaking, but in comparison to the enormity of the PCT, it feels insignificant. I have done a few short trips in the Wasatch here and there, but nothing too huge.

How are you feeling about hiking the PCT? 

I am definitely excited! It will be cool to experience a totally different lifestyle for an extended period of time. Waking up and falling asleep in accordance with the rising and setting of the sun while making constant bite-sized progress towards a massive goal is all very appealing to me. Meeting cool, like-minded folks is also a big plus. I'm sure it's going to be quite the party out there!

There isn't really anything I can say I'm too nervous about. I have some concerns for sure, but everything is manageable. Getting injured early on is maybe my biggest worry. But it is avoidable -- I just need to be smart about easing into the milage. Oh yeah, and I am definitely going to miss the hell out of my dog.

How are you preparing for the hike?

I'm not exactly doing anything beyond my regular routine to prepare. Which lately  has consisted of a sporadic assortment of activities including skate skiing, split boarding, and odd road run. Maybe I should start to incorporate some strength work to ward off the possibility of overuse injuries. I do feel like I am already active enough and have enough experience doing long-ish distance activities that there isn't much I need to change to prepare, at least physically.

Of course, there is the question of gear/food prep. My gear is basically all dialed in now thanks to the advice of my great friend and fellow buyer here at Liberty Mountain, David Mitchell. He is a veteran thru hiker and has been instrumental in my choices of gear in addition to being a driving force in convincing me that doing something insane like this is, in fact, a great idea.

I'll be going as light as possible, foregoing some luxuries like a stove, a real tent, and a traditional sleeping bag. Instead I'll be cold soaking most of my meals, setting up a tarp on rare occasions when the weather requires it, and sleeping in a lightweight quilt. I'm convinced I won't be missing too much by going the lightweight route. On the contrary, having a simpler setup should make the journey easier, physically and mentally.

Is there any gear from Liberty Mountain that you're bringing?

There are a few things I'm taking that we do carry at Liberty Mountain. For instance, I will be using a Platypus Quickdraw filter which is an item we added for 2023. I will also bring along a 2L Platypus bottle for extra water capacity during extended water carries. One item I'm bringing which has limited use but I'm sure I'll be glad to have as I get further north is a Ben's mosquito head net. And I think the final item I'll be bringing is the Vargo Titanium Long Handle Spoon which will be my one and only cooking/eating utensil. Its long handle make stirring and scooping food in deep containers a breeze, and the titanium construction makes for a very durable and lightweight piece of gear. Liberty Mountain also stock an Olicamp equivalent if you are so inclined.

Everyone at Liberty Mountain is so excited for Jon to start his adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail this May!

Be sure to follow Jon (@jonwynnallen) to see what he shares from the journey!