How To Plan a Thru-Hike - PCT Logistics, Tips and Tricks
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- čas přidán 15. 05. 2024
- How does thru-hiking even work? How do I plan? and how do I keep myself alive out there? I'm sitting down to chat all things thru-hiking and particularly the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Answering questions you asked about gear, planning, international hikers and good old logistics so that you can start planning your next adventure!
Got more questions? comment below to let me know or shoot me a message on Instagram! @courteve_
Music Licensed through @epidemicsound
More info:
- For Permits permit.pcta.org/
- For Planning and places to post www.postholer.com/PCT-Resupply
- FarOut App faroutguides.com/
Want a full gear list? Visit my website www.courtneyevewhite.com
In this Video
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0:00 - Intro
01:24 - B2 Holiday Visa
02:07 - Permit Application
03:24 - Physical Preparation
05:20 - Preventing Injury
07:38 - Gear and keeping a pack light
12:55 - Camera gear, file management and charging
14:55 - Finances
18:47 - Food!
23:20 - Where to find the info
24:45 - Overcoming fear on trail
27:20 - Getting past hard days
29:33 - What I'd do differently
31:30 - Hygiene and girly chats
Listen to your body when you hike is what we hikers call “HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE” and NOT SOMEONE ELSES HIKE. like trying to keep up with another person, group or predetermined schedule
I’m so happy to see your content!
Great video. Super organized and hit all the high points. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent video!!! Thank you very much for taking the time to put this together!
Cool video , I really enjoyed it. I’m going to hike the AT in about 3 months so it getting real . I look forward to your future videos. And Congratulations on finishing such an epic adventure!!
Thank you for sharing these specific information with us. I will use all of them.
Amazing video! Thank you! Planning my first PCT thru hike next year! So excited 🤩
Really appreciate the information in this video! I'm planning on hiking the pct in summer 24 so I'm in the phase of getting all the info I can.
So good to hear an Aussie perspective!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and journey. I hope to hike the PCT when I retire.
Great job of recapping your experience and tips Courtney! I got lost in Oregon on trail last summer for a mile thinking I was on the wrong trail after crossing a few feeder trails. I was actually on the PCT, but no one was coming SOBO or NOBO, and my Far Out app was not syncing. Panic does set in when you don't know! Thanks for sharing that you also were lost for a a mile! It does happen! Thank God for Far Out, right! Happy Trails and I look forward to more of your adventures. I love both yours and Jack's recaps!
yeah!! excited for more of your content 🎉
So great to see another video from you! I hope we get more of these before I start on April 3.
There's no such thing as too many gear videos! I usually get something from every single one I've watched.
I really love this video. My “turn” isn’t for at least a couple years yet, so I am soaking up all the information/tips I can get. This addressed many questions I had! I also loved your documentary of completing the hike itself.
Loved your film!
Great advice. Wipes are a great comfort item to have. I dry them out to save weight and wet them for use when needed.
Oh how I admire you! You should make a food video and a gear video. I think your angle is totally fresh and I love your work and your vibe :) maybe one day I'll actually get out there instead of longingly watching all these videos!
Congrats on your thru-hike!
Thank you …. Wonderful video, info and presentation …
Great informative video! Signed up for a Southbound hike this year. Excited!
woohoo! congratulations and good luck!
Another well thought out and articulated video Courtney. So much useful tips and info there. It's unlikely I'll get to do the PCT but some shorter multi day adventures will also benefit from this. Nice one. I also film my videos with the DJI Pocket 2 but if you get the DJI action 2 or 3 and have it mounted on an extendable handle you may find it more packable and the quality may be slightly better. I always worry about the gimbal head of the pocket seeming fragile on longer treks when it's constantly in and out of the bag. So there's a tip from me. All of my videos since May 2022 have been filmed mostly with that and my drone. But for smooth walking shots and time-lapse I still get out the pocket gimbal from time to time. Feel free to say Hey! On one of my videos if you find the time. I think I've seen all of yours now and enjoyed them all. Looking forward to your next adventure and curious as to where it will be!
badass videos keep up the great content
This is so helpful!!!!
I would love a gear video as a fellow Aussie 🥹
Love you video's and the natural and honest way you present them. Interesting you mention to actually look forward to the possibility of crossing path with dangerous animals on PCT. To me that is one of the main fears. Should read up on the sources you apparently have to get some comfort with that. Open for tips.... thanks.
Thank you Courtney, great stuff! Now I just need to recover from my sprained ankle to get hiking again!
Great video. Would love to see you come back and hike the Appalacian Trail!
It’s a must. 🙂
You need so many more followers. Keep it up (if you like it) you're really good at this. Thank you for your videos!
Awesome content, thanks!
I thru hiked the entire AT and it never once occurred to me to warm up without my pack first thing in the morning. That's such an obvious, but genius thing to do, and would've made those freezing mornings so much easier on my body. Definitely doing this on the PCT!
I don't normally comment but just wanted to say I absolutely love the videos you have put out so far! It's awesome to see such a genuineness in the records of your experiences; your passion for this is contagious. If you ever cross the ditch and hike the TA there will be a warm bed and hot meal waiting for you! See you on the trail.
Thank you so much Andrew, I’m really glad you think so! And I might just have to take you up on that offer..
Thank you so much for this, Courtney. As someone from outside of the US it’s stressing me out more thinking about Embassy interviews and booking flights than what gear to take 😂. If it’s ok I’ll DM you a question or 2? Congratulations on completing the PCT, I can’t wait for my journey to start
thanks, that was very helpful
Yess keep making videos🤍
Really great info and we'll done.
Could you explain what backpack you started with and which one you ended up with and why the original backpack didn't work out. I find it interesting because you found out quite early on in the trip that the original backpack wasn't working for you...and clearly the issues(s) didn't show up in your shakedown trips.
I can’t even walk alone in the city during night . But watching this video just for you ❤
awesome video. thank you. i’d love that gear video, if you feel like making it 😁
You should make a video that’s just the admin & logistic side of planning the hike. It makes the content more palatable than sorting through a 40 min video with snippets about morning routines etc etc etc. thanks 😊
I would strongly suggest a shake down hike for sure. This shake down hike should be at least one week. During my shake down hike I learned so much. Especially needing my shoes to he one size up. Also I started my hike as a light weight hiker and ended as an UL hiker.
Less is truly more.
Absolutely true Scott, I was personally working full time and finishing my uni degree in the lead up to my hike, so a week wasn’t really possible but would definitely be the best option. I’d do just about anything for a light pack now 😂😂
Toaks titanium wood burning stoves are extremely light.
They aren't super convenient like a gas stove, but if you plan to cold soak and want the option of every once in a while having a hot meal, it's a nice option.
One of the things I noticed in multiple edits of your hike is how often members of the group not filming were holding their poles (in one hand) instead of using them even along some seemingly treacherous portions of the trail.. just an observation 😊
If I lived in Australia I’d just hike there and in New Zealand. Seems beautiful.
I know a number of thru-hikers that have done the triple crown and more (Dixie, Jennifer Pharr-Davis, etc.). They have lovely books and yet somehow you make it seem more fun. I look forward to hearing about your next thru-hike plans. Because you know you can't do just one... I have an Australian friend hiking Te Araroa right now. A different sort of experience. But easier for you. No visa! Short flight! I'm looking forward to meeting her towards the middle of her hike in February.
czcams.com/video/uzDdKbjto_8/video.html
www.youtube.com/@HomemadeWanderlust/videos
I’m planning to hike the pct this March with a 28LT pack n 6 pound base weight
I only recently discovered this trial by reading this incredible book "wild" a true story how she hiked it in 90s and now im obsessed with these videos, now one day i really want to do it, even tho im so so far from America or budget, one day, but what you said about - you won't eat all the food, thrust me, i eat a lot, i would more likely run out of food too fast
I live on the other side of the world too! You can get there for sure :) Happy trails
Hi, have you ever thought about the Greater Patagonia Trail?
Hi Courtney! Love your video ☺️ what brand is the cute yellow striped shirt you wore on the trail?
Can you just take me with you on your next journey that’s just amazing that you did something only a handful of people have done
Haha you can do it!!
Thinking one can mitigate the pain of a through hike by static stretching, LOL! Diet can cause a lot of inflammation, so be mindful of the foods you consume. Mental strength is the only thing that will get you through!
Nice and informative Video. my boyfriend and i got inspired by your videos to walk the trail. We were wondering if you had break days and how often. or would you actually walk at least a mile every day.
thanks for your inspiration 👌
Hey thanks for watching. Absolutely, we call them "zero days" and that just means zero miles walked. I had a few of these throughout the hike
I am super curious what the average amount of daily steps was that you got! Also, did you go with people or go on your own and happened to meet people?
@ 24:52 Courtney = impressive. Jack = hero. 🙂
Hi Courtney!
I was wondering if you know how much your pack weighted throughout the hike? If you have estimates for your start, mid and end I would highly appriciate that! :)
How easy is it just to get permits as you go...I want to start early.
What size of bear can did you use? Saw you could fit it in your pack.
how did you film yourself... bcz it was amazing
Hey love the video. With the bounce boxes and posted supplies, will the place you send them to hold them indefinitely until you pick them up?
Thanks! Some of them will hold it for a long time but it's worth checking in the FarOut app, there will be comments that let you know for each place
@@courtneyevewhite thank you 😁
Gosh... you're so sweet. Can I say that? :)
Thanks for that video. Was fun watching.
Watched this a while back and can’t remember what app or guide book you used?
How many miles did y'all walk per water refill? You mentioned hiker hunger, I'm wondering if water consumption follows a similar pattern. Thanks, I love your journey! 💚
I haven’t done the PCT but I think I could help answer this. How far you will walk between water refills really depends on what you’re doing and also what Nature is doing. So for example: Hiking through flat, hot land (like the desert section of the PCT) will require a bit more water because of the sweat. However, you will not be sweating from physical exertion as much. So, you can potentially make your water last for somewhere around an entire hiking day, especially if you hike in the colder times of the day/night in these flat areas. With regards to mountainous terrain, water is abundant. After all, rivers are what carve the valleys that you will be hiking through! In fact, there’s such an abundance of water through the mountainous areas, that a lot of times people stop to bathe and play in the water without even drinking it because they are not short on drinking water at all. When going down mountains, you will require significantly less water per mile. I have found that I can do 5 miles of downhill trail comfortably in 80° weather on only a gulp or two of water, if necessary. Going uphill is more water-demanding, and you should plan to drink about 1.5 liters of water per 4-5 miles of uphill hiking, depending on the weather conditions. Again, water is not a concern in the mountains because you know that you can get to it eventually. However, mountains themselves don’t always have water on them. So with that being said, use your intuition to determine how much water you need to pack up before attempting a summit, knowing that there will be water once you reach the other side and descend back into the valley. Overall, to answer your question in a more definitive way, I typically shoot for about .3L of water per mile in relatively strenuous conditions. With that being said, 2L of water should be more than enough to get you between any 2 given water sources, generally speaking. Hope that helps!
It is said to carry 6 liters in the desert areas. Don't relay on water caches or trail angels. The group in front of you may have already emptied the caches. Especially depending on the time of year.
Can u avoid thr ice and snow in the sereras
Cool 😎🥾⛰🎒
Great video! How old are you?
Greetings from Austria!
I gotta ask, what size pack did you use and what size is your torso?
I have a 17” torso and i was looking at getting a Hyperlite Southwest pack in medium.
I have a Waymark 38L and I’m thinking I should’ve bought the 35L.
I believe she used the Hyperlite 40L.
Is that internal frame?
What was your trail name? Enjoy your videos
Some more add on advice …. Powerbanks and other powered equipment - like with water carried, when it gets cold try to keep the power bank close to your body and at night sleep with it. Cold negatively effects power banks and power equipment depleting the power charge so keeping it warm helps to stop or limit the negative impact of cold. Hitching - I would never never hitch alone. Never. Even if you have a tracker. Trail angels you have contacted for rides I would out in a different category but even as a woman try not to ride alone.
*Skips the visa application part in Canadian* 😂
We weren’t able to cross the border into Canada last year as they still hadn’t opened it after Covid ☺️
Already I learned something. Australians need a visa to come to the USA and hike. As a Canadian this never occurred to me.
Yeah Rob! We can come over for 3 months on an ESTA but most people take 4-6 for the PCT so we usually need a holiday visa 😊
Do Canadians need a visa?
@@rachaelthorpe4465 Canadians don't need a visa for up to 6 months in the USA without doing anything. If you want to extend that there is a form to fill out. I don't know any details, though, as I have dual citizenship.
@@courtneyevewhite It only makes sense. I just never thought about it. Australia is similar for Canadians/Americans. 90 days no problem. One can apply for a new ETA before the current one expires, but you have to leave for 2 weeks. Or just apply for a 6 or 12 month visa from the start.
@@rbphilip There is no 12 month B2 visa, it is 6 month, and reentry directly after you left isn't guaranteed (while no minimum stay is guaranteed at all, not for B2 visa nor for ESTA). - ETA: this does expire after 5 years. You didn't mean "apply for a new ETA before the current one expires" but reentry the country after leaving it, based on a valid ETA.
Thank you for your awesome videos :)
I was wondering: It doesn't look like your body weight changed too much during your hike, so were you able to maintain your weight? I hope this is okay to ask, I know weight can be a very sensitive topic for a lot of people, it's only that I read online that some hikers were struggling with massive weight loss and a lot of videos are talking about insane calorie needs per day while on the trail. Did you calculate your calorie needs before (re)supplying?
Hey! What a great question and actually an interesting answer I think. I did think about this before starting trail but what I found was that men often lose a lot of weight on the trail, it’s important for them to think about calories but for most women we stay pretty steady. Now obviously that’s a big generalisation and it will depend on you prior to the trail as well but hiker hunger should for the most part make sure that you don’t fade away. I was eating two breakfasts in one sitting pretty much every town stop!
Which month did you start?
I started May 4th! It was a low snow year though, I should mention that 😊
@@courtneyevewhite No one mentions start dates which of course can make for very different experiences as well as gear.
planned mine in 10 days (didn't need visa). XD hope i dont die
She sort looks like that actress sariose Ronan
You're awesome smarts delightful amazing beautiful 🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️ wows girl thank you sos much darlins
Who enforces you to actually start the official day of your permit?
Hitchhiking for every resupply sounds like a pain & not very practical for a middle aged male lion. A 25 year old woman is going to get a ride a lot faster.
It's definitely not every single resupply but unfortunately there isn't always an option, some of the towns are quite far off trail and may not have reception at the trail head. Sometimes it's easier to get a hitch if you can find a buddy near the trail head, and as long as you take off your sunnies and smile, most of the time, the people in the area know about the trail and are happy to help!
If you'd like an American boyfriend who enjoys through hiking lmk
beasts of burden have a hoop in their noses to be led around ! just sayin'
Hey , you have a easy smile ,