The PCT is not a particularly difficult route but it’s probably true that one needs some know-how and experience to do it. Just wanting to do it is not enough, this is not a long stroll in the park.

At the point I decide to hike the PCT I feel I have that experience and I’m confident I can do it. Most probably, I could have done it much before but I wasn’t that sure I could. Now I am. I know there’s people who feel this right away (then, some will be right, some will be wrong), that’s something that depends on each one’s character. I’m of the cautious kind and I need a solid base before attempting something.

I’ve been backpacking for quite a few years now and I’ve basically done before everything I’ll be doing in the PCT. The only new thing will be hiking for such a long time and distance. Only hiking it can let me know how I handle that.

I’ve gone through long distances, big mile days, rough terrain, trail-less sections, snow covered landscape, bad weather (white-outs and everything), big loads, long stretches without ressuply… not all at the same time but I know it all. I’ve also gone through the what-the-hell-am-I-doing here feeling that strikes sometimes and I can be ready for that when I’m so far away from home, alone for such a long time. Or so I expect.

Light is right

I’m into the lightweight thing, maybe ultralight, whatever is the line, doesn’t really matter. Lightweight philosophies seem to make the most sense in a route like the PCT so much that I can’t even think of thru-hiking the PCT in a traditional style of backpacking. I’m sure it can be done but it must be very tough. Light is right not only for the obvious, the weight savings, but also for letting you get somehow closer to the places you traverse, or that’s how I see it at least. Thru-hiking the PCT is a great way to test oneself and see how far this lightweight thing can go or how well it works for the long haul. That’ll be fun by itself.

Strategies

I’m not going that far (to America, from Europe) to try to visit civilization as much as I can during the hike. Long wilderness sections (or what for me is considered wilderness and what is considered long) is where the added value is so it’s my idea to try to take advantage of that. I’m aware I may change my mind after a good reality check though. So I’ll try to stay on the trail as much as I can and whenever I leave the trail I’ll try to not go too far from it. Or, rather, I’ll choose my ressuply-rest stations such that I don’t have to go too far from the trail and such that I don’t have to stop too often.

I like to depend as little as possible from logistics and schedules. I’ll try to be reasonably free of them and if that makes me carry a bit more weight sometimes or taking an odd menu, that’s fine. I appreciate the convenience of a well planned schedule, I’ve done that before too many times but it’d have less sense as the trip gets longer. Besides, I’m positive I can do without that convenience.