r/PacificCrestTrail

• PCTA trail closures page: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/oHAAQNBkfvMebLBAJaiP

• Reroute map: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/oHAAQNBkfvMebLBAJaiP/map/0

The northern end is a few miles west of Skykomish. Hitch on Hwy 2 east to get back to the PCT at Stevens Pass.

Excerpt:

>A potential 39-mile detour is available using the Snow Lake, Rock Creek, Middle Fork, Snoqualmie Lake, and Dorothy Lake trails that route around the closure, and gets hikers to Highway 2, but not all the way to Stevens Pass.

The reroute section also includes disclaimers, with a note that the reroute has not been ground truthed by PCTA or USFS staff. The route will be unavailable Sept. 14-25 due to planned work on Snow Lake Trail. Full text is available at the above link.

My girlfriend has known that the PCT has been a dream and something I want to do before kids within the next 1-3 years; however as it's getting closer I'm finding out she went from anxious thoughts to possibly just plain out not okay with me being gone for that long. This is a dream that I can't imagine being on my deathbed without having attempted so I know I'm going to sooner than later. Has anyone else had difficulty navigating this tricky situation with their partner? Advice? AITA?

Hi. I was planning a 3-week, 240mi section hike in Oregon in September, but with the wildfires I'm wondering if I should scrap that and do something else. The original plan was to start at Cascade Locks and go South to Shelter Cove.

My concerns are being physically close to a fire, bad air quality, no views due to smoke.

Some questions I have are:

- Would you recommend sticking with the plan or going somewhere else? It's hard for me to tell how serious the fire conditions are right now (I live in Arizona). If it's actually looking okay, it would be a relief to stick with the original plan and not have to re-plan the trip.
- Do you think fire conditions are likely to get better or worse between now and Sept 3 (intended start date)
- Do you have recommendations for a different hike that's similar? (250ish miles of trail, resupplies relatively close together, terrain not very difficult, logistically easy-ish to get to/from the trail, green trees/moss?) Some options I have considered are Southern OR, Northern CA, part of the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail, the Benton Mackaye Trail ... all with pros/cons and I getting logistics fatigue.
- Is central or Northern California any better for fires at this time of year or would I be taking a similar risk if I went there?

Thanks in advance for any insight/advice!

How do you all use your garmin watch on a thru hike? I’m tracking my miles and elevation but what am I missing?

Hey thinking of trying the PCT next season from Mexico to Canada. Anyone around the Portland area thinking of doing the same?

I've read the guide from last year, the official instructions, and watched the PCTAs video.

As I understand it, it does not matter who registers first during the registration window in October. You could register on the first day, or the last day, and it makes no difference. As long as you register anytime in that window, you will receive a randomized time to access the application portal in November. It seems that that randomized time is the primary source of competition in this entire process, which users have no control over.

Beyond that, I'm trying to understand what I as a user can actually do to maximize my chances of getting a favorable start date. If I understand correctly, the only thing that I need to make sure I do is:

1. Monitor my email inbox on November 13 (starting at a specific time?) so that I don't miss an email containing my randomized access time

2. get on the portal the very second that my access time arrives

Once I'm in, do I need to move very quickly? Will the calendar be updating in real time? Presumably other people will have overlapping registration times, and dates can fill up during the application window? Or are you safe to take your time once you get into the portal?

I heard that some friend of a friend "used multiple laptops" in order to increase their chances of getting the date that they wanted, but I don't at all see how that would help given the logistics here. Unless they are talking about some bygone era that used a true lottery system.

This is the weekly thread. It's for wide ranging discussions in the comments. Do you have a question or comment, but don't want to make a separate post for it? This is the place.

Hiked in 2022, reading this reddit a bit to reminiscence and noticed multiple posts about trail angels.

Thinking about I never stayed at one in 22. I always camped or booked a hotel or hostel. I did get some trail magic ofcourse and lots of rides from all of kind of people.

Actually I might be wrong, I remember staying at "the bud pharm" and at the Lion's denn but those didn't feel like trail angels, more like trail entrepeneurs that managed a campground.

Hi,

Planning on doing some hiking next year along the PCT in Oregon, around 3-4 days.

My dad was going to see if we could hire a car, drive to a trail start, hike part of it, then loop around and go back on ourselves (in a cricle/rectangular route) back to the car.

OR take public transport to a trail start, hike/camp for 3-4 days along the trail, and take public transport back. Or any other options, I'm from the UK so not at all familiar with what's available in the area.

I was also wondering what time of year would be best/safest for this?

Attached a photo for reference.

https://preview.redd.it/ujsu2200mpjh1.png?width=301&format=png&auto=webp&s=e81aeab7df758b8c9e60eb7adbfd43bf242536fa

Thanks!

If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, we lose the last untouched places that still exist in this country. Educate yourself and contact your representatives, or every last corner of forest gets logged.

As of 8/15/26 the Miners Fire is 4 acres, 0% contained. It was first reported by WildCAD on Aug 14 at 3:21 pm. VIIRS shows hotspots 0.35 miles from mm2,544.5.

Mile 2,524 (PCTA mileage) is Mica Lake. Mile 2,555 is near Suiattle Pass. See below for a summary of the current Washington closures.

Thanks to u/Cornboyyyyyy for first posting this here.

• PCTA trail closures page: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/NgvIf45UYT24AtUZQlo4

• Closure map: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/NgvIf45UYT24AtUZQlo4/map/0

• Watch Duty : https://app.watchduty.org/i/114870

• PCTA trail map: https://arcg.is/C98HD1

• MBSNP closure order: https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/org-pcta-closures.appspot.com/o/files%2Fu6ejg_20260815_MinersFireClosure_ORDER.pdf?alt=media&token=aed40dd5-7558-416b-a4f3-666c777d94c6

Excerpt from the closure order:

>Pacific Crest Trail #2000 from Mica Lake in T31N, R14E, S19, extending through T31N, R14E, S20, 21, 28, 27, 22, 23, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 3, and 2; T31N, R15E, S18, 17, 16, 15, and 10; to the boundary with the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest in T31N, R15E, S11. (See Exhibit A)

To summarize, as of 8/15/26:

• Open: South of 2,396.5
• Three Queens closure: 2,396.5 to 2,446
• Open: 2,446 to 2,524
• Miners Fire closure: 2,524 to Suiattle Pass 2,555
• Open: 2,555 to 2,612.7
• Ptarmigan Fire closure: 2612.7 to northern terminus

Before anybody gets overly excited Dirty Girl gaiters aren't a thing in New Zealand. No local supplier and they aren't shipped here.

So I'm left with Altra or OR.

Altra

Positives: Altra had the rear "trap" with both sides of the hook and loop used. Light and breathable.

Negatives: Potential durability issues?

OR

Positives: Greater durability and better weather resistance?

Negatives: Single hook and loop attachment.

I know they're not an expensive purchase and like everything are eventually gonna fail but I'm interested to hear what people have to say.

Hey all,

Apologies if this is already discussed, I did a brief search and couldn't find exactly what I'm curious about.

I am someone who obsessively wears sunscreen and UPF clothing on a daily basis. My bare skin has probably not seen the sun in like 5 years. When I hike, I do facial sunscreen, a hat, a sun hoodie with hood up, sunglasses, pants, sun gloves, and neck buff occasionally. All of the backpacking trips I've been on so far I have brought sunscreen and more or less done my usual thing because nothing has been long enough to be that concerned about weight. I'm thinking about doing the PCT next year and am going through some logistics.

How bad is indirect sun exposure on my face with a setup like I've described when hiking all day, especially at elevation? I know if I skip facial sunscreen and rely on clothing only I'm going to be getting some level of incidental UV damage, but like, how much? I would really like to be able to skip sunscreen on a thru-hike because it's such a pain in the ass but I don't want to accept 4+ months of irreparable skin damage, obviously. Anyone forgone sunscreen?

TIA

Rahhhhhggg Trail closed from 2524 to 2555. Just got lucky getting past the section j closure and now this pops up. Any tips on alternates?

Hi y'all,

I made it to Ashland from Campo and trying to figure out what the move is. I don't have much Wildfire/ smoke experience and really didn't enjoy the bit of smoke I had to deal with already. I was considering skipping/flip flopping up to Washington, but from what I can gather, the fires are just as bad up there. I am currently leaning towards jumping on the Colorado Trail and maybe doing Washington after if it gets better or come back and do Oregon/Washington another year in June.

What would y’all do/have any advice?

Thanks!!

Looking for some emotional support. (That’s likely the first time I’ve ever used that phrase in my life…and I’m not happy about it. LOL!). I’m in the best position career-wise I’ve been in since I started working, but my boss can be a real d*ck at times and I’m under appreciated, in my opinion. I’m thinking about quitting (semi-retiring) and hiking the PCT next year. Tell me why I should or shouldn’t. I’m in pretty good shape financially and may not have to work a corporate job ever again if I quit. In fact, if I work, it’ll likely be non-corporate and ideally for myself.

However, it’s not easy to walk away from a pretty easy job, even if it does get miserable at times, that earns me $150k+ per year. (Includes salary, bonus, stock, 401k match and free, catered lunches everyday…15 minutes from home working 40 hours per week or less).

I have several health problems (AFib, epilepsy are the worst of them), but am otherwise strong and fit (6’2, 205 lbs. I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro, hiked the W-Trek in Torres del Paine, hiked the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park (Alberta, Canada) last year and, despite being a bit out of shape at the moment, wouldn’t have any strong reservations about physically being able to handle the hike.

However…I’m still in the “not quite sure about it” phase. It’s a big damn step to leave that kind of job, which is good for my area of the country. So, I’m just looking for any feedback I can get from folks who have done it or are thinking a doing it.

I’m considering hiking the PCT next year and am very conflicted. I’ve done two “thru” hikes: the JMT and the West Highland Way and they were both absolutely incredible experiences. I am in love with the community that forms on long trails and the feeling of a zero day after grueling endless days of hiking, but I worry that my love of the community is greater than my love of the trail. I was in awe of the beauty of both the Sierras and the Highlands and spent a fair amount of break time sitting trail side beyond content to be amongst landscapes that I felt I couldn’t get tired of looking at, but when I was hiking, a lot of that was spent with head down and limited introspection, more like “5 miles til camp and hanging out with the people!” Large sections of the Sierras were the absolute hardest thing I’ve ever done and, while I’m proud of myself and wouldn’t trade the experience, I remember being in lone pine and summarizing the experience as “10/10, never again” simply because of how truly beat up I felt.

My big question I keep asking myself is: do I just need to do a medium long hike ever year to scratch this itch, or should I attempt the PCT? Is my experience on these trails comparable to what others feel on the PCT? I know I know that everyone is different and we need to hike our own hikes, but I’m still curious.