u/ultralight59

I am doing a 235-mile section hike of the PCT in Washington in August. I am wondering how necessary it is to wear trail shoes with a rock plate? My most comfortable trail shoes are Topo Mountain Racers, which fit my feet very well, but lack a rock plate. I could also wear Topo Traverse trail shoes, which have a rock plate, but don't fit my feet quite as well as the Mountain Racers (the Traverse has a slightly narrower toe box). How important is it to wear trail shoes with a rock plate? Thanks in advance.

I will be hiking a 235-mile section of the PCT in the State of Washington beginning on August 1st. I am fit, 67M, and plan to average 14 mpd. I would appreciate receiving feedback on what I plan to bring with me. https://lighterpack.com/r/ibzjpf

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

I will be hiking northbound from sixty-six miles south of White Pass to Stevens Pass, a distance of 235 miles. I have resupplies planned for White and Snoqualmie Pass. I am hoping to average 14-ish miles a day over 17 days to cover this distance. My first section should take 5 days, the second section, 7 days, and the final section 5 days at 14 mpd. I am starting the hike on August 1st and finishing on the 17th.

In terms of electronics, I am carrying an iPhone 16 Pro, a Garmin Inreach 3 plus, a RovyVon A8, and an Apple Watch Ultra (3rd generation). I plan to keep the watch and phone in low-power mode throughout. I have two Nitecore 10,000 Generation 4 batteries, but I am wondering if I need both?

For worn clothing, I have the following:

• Visor (1.4 oz)
• Bandana (1 oz)
• Outdoor Research Echo Hoody (6.1 oz)
• Pantagonia Capilene Trail T-Shirt (4.2 oz)
• Sea to Summit Headnet (.8 oz)
• Pantagonia Strider Shorts (3.5 oz)
• New Balance Running/Wind Pants (8.4 oz)
• Ice Breaker Merino Wool Socks (1.8 oz)

For camp, sleeping, and rain, I have the following:

• Gorewear rain pants (7 oz)
• Gorewear Rain/Wind Jacket (8.6 oz)
• Decathlon Down Jacket (12.8 oz)
• Zpacks Octa Fleece Hoody (5.7 oz)
• 1 Pair Underwear (3 oz)
• Helly Hansen Long Underwear - for sleeping (4.3 oz)
• Pantagonia Capilene Trail T-Shirt - for sleeping (4.2 oz)
• Ice Breaker Merino Wool Socks 2 pair (1 for sleeping, second pair to swap with my hiking pair as my feet perspire a lot and I want to avoid blisters, if possible (3.6 oz)
• Smartwool Gloves (1 oz)
• Zpacks Octa Fleece Hat (.6 oz)
• Zpacks Camp Shoes (4.9 oz)

I would appreciate feedback on my clothing choices for that time of the year. I tend to be hot when hiking, but cold when at camp. ChatGPT suggests that most nights will be 40-45F (4-7 C), and several are likely to be 35-40F (2-4 C), with the possibility of one or two nights of 30F (-1 C). Thanks in advance for your feedback.

I have a total of 16 days if I don't take a rest day to hike from where Highway 23 intersects the PCT south of White Pass to Stevens Pass, a distance of 227 miles. This averages to just over 14 miles a day. This is my first longer hike, and I am wondering if it is reasonable to average 14 miles a day? I am a 67M and relatively fit. In addition to playing competitive tennis three times a week, to get ready for the section hike, I am running 10K twice a week and doing one 10-mile hike a week with my pack fully loaded (I'm also doing strength and mobility training). Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

I have a total of 16 days if I don't take a rest day to hike from where Highway 23 intersects the PCT south of White Pass to Stevens Pass, a distance of 227 miles. This averages to just over 14 miles a day. This is my first longer hike, and I am wondering if it is reasonable to average 14 miles a day? I am a 67M and relatively fit. In addition to playing competitive tennis three times a week, to get ready for the section hike, I am running 10K twice a week and doing one 10-mile hike a week with my pack fully loaded (I'm also doing strength and mobility training). Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Hi. I am doing a section hike this August. I'll be starting south of White Pass and hiking through the Goat Rocks to White Pass (a friend is dropping me off where Forest Service Road 23 crosses the PCT south of White Pass. I was then hoping to hike from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass, but I would have to get there from White Pass. Does anyone know of transportation I could arrange to get me from White Pass to Snoqualmie? If I were younger (67M), I would do the whole section, but I only have two weeks, and at 67, 20-25 mile days are not going to happen! Thanks in advance, Doug

I have a 25-inch wide, regular inflatable sleeping pad. I would like to get a Thermarest-equivalent folding pad for under it and for stretching and naps while section-hiking the PCT this summer that is the same width. Virtually all of the pads that I have seen are 20 or 22 inches wide. Anyone found a wider pad that they are happy with? Thanks in advance.

I am going to be doing a section hike from just south of Goat Rocks to Stevens Pass in early August. What recommendations do folks have regarding safely storing food during this section? I have a Dynema food bag that I can hang, but have heard that the type of trees found in this part of the State of Washington are not that conducive to tree hanging (short limbs). I am wondering about potentially getting a Ursack or equivalent. Thanks in advance for any advice about this.

I am doing a two-week section hike on the PCT northbound from White Pass to Stevens Pass. This is my first longer hike. I would like (understandably) to keep my pack weight as light as possible and am wondering about resupplying along this section of the PCT. The trail crosses highways at Chinook Pass and Snoqualmie Pass. From what I gleaned online, Snoqualmie Pass has stores, but Chinook does not. For Chinook, I would need to hitchhike to Greenwater (about 12 miles west of the pass). How difficult is it to get from the pass to Greenwater to resupply? Also, am I missing any other resupply possibilities along this section of the PCT? Thanks in advance!

This August, I will be section-hiking the PCT solo from White Pass to Stevens Pass in the State of Washington. I've never taken a wilderness first aid course, and I am wondering if there are any recommendations for online courses I could take before the trip. Thanks in advance.