About the PCT

I am putting together an educational program on the Pacific Crest Trail to share with the 5th through 8th graders from our local country school, Silver Crest Elementary.  Silver Crest is situated in the foothills of the Cascades between the town of Silverton, Oregon (where I live) and Silver Falls State Park (where I work).  Between being playing Park Ranger for these kids during their field trips and playing Volunteer EMT at Drakes Crossing Rural Fire Department with many of these kids' dads, I know or know of many of them and vice versa.  The plan is to catch up with these students both before and after the trail, hopefully inspiring some of them to check my blog a handful of times throughout the summer.  Since I am doing background research anyway, I thought I would include it here for your reading pleasure.  Be forewarned that I might have a slightly Oregon bias. . .

A Brief History


The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, often just called the Pacific Crest Trail (or, more often, the PCT), is a 2,650-mile (give or take) trail that runs the Pacific mountain ranges in the United States from Mexico to Canada.  Its origin, at least in these eyes, is an Oregonian one -- for it is from Oregon's Skyline Trail that the Pacific Crest Trail was born.

The Oregon Skyline Trail near Jefferson Park, Oregon.

The Oregon Skyline Trail was routed and marked by the U.S. Forest Service in 1920.  This trail did not cross the entire state, but connected Crater Lake to Mt. Hood.  It was not much of a “trail” in the modern sense—it was a steep, sometimes dangerous route consisting of a hodgepodge of pioneer wagon roads, Indian trails, old logging paths, and joining segments.  Although the Oregon Skyline Trail is scarcely known today, it still exists in bits and pieces.  I ran into my first official marker of it on a hike to Mt. Jefferson's Jefferson Park.  (And after this adventure, I might just be tempted look up the old route.)

The Pacific Crest Trail concept was initiated by a Catherine Montgomery from Washington who brought the idea to a Joseph Hazard in 1926.  According to his recollection in Pacific Crest Trails, she suggested "a high trail winding down the heights of our western mountains . . . from the Canadian Border to the Mexican Boundary Line!”  Hazard took it the idea to Bellingham, Washington’s Mt. Baker Club, and it took off.  With the support of various clubs and organizations, in 1928, Washington’s Cascade Crest Trail (running from the Columbia River to Canada) was developed by Fred Cleator of the U.S. Forest Service.  Cleator oversaw the Washington and Oregon regions and eventually extended the Oregon Skyline Trail to that state’s borders, too.  So, by the late 1930s, Washington and Oregon had PCT trail markers designed and posted from California to Canada.

The California region of the U.S. Forest Service, however, was not so quick to do the same.  It was in 1932 that chairman of the Executive Committee of the Mountain League of Los Angeles County, Clinton C. Clarke, proposed what would become the PCT—“a continuous wilderness trail across the United States from Canada to Mexico . . . a trail along the summit divides of the mountain ranges of these states, traversing the best scenic areas and maintaining an absolute wilderness character.”  Included in the proposal was the creation of additional Mountain Leagues in all three states.  Both these and a conference were formed.

By 1935, Clarke had developed a rough guide to the PCT, and during the summers from 1935 through 1938, groups of boys from the YMCA scouted PCT routes in relays from Mexico to Canada.  This work was overseen by the YMCA’s secretary, Warren L. Rogers, who kept the momentum for the PCT plan going until the 1960s when such trails hit the national radar.

The Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail (the "AT" -- a similar trail on the East Coast) were designated as the country’s first two National Scenic trails in 1968 as a part of the National Trails System Act.  Although designated in 1968, the actual formal routing of the PCT would not be completed until many years later—private property negotiations being the major hold up.

Finally, on a cold, wet, and windy June 5, 1993 (National Trails Day) the PCT was dedicated with a “Golden Spike” Completion Ceremony in Southern California near Soledad Canyon.  At the time, the trail was documented as 2638 miles.  (With reroutes and further measurements, the current distance is closer to 2650 miles.)  Thru-hiking, although it had been done before, began in earnest.

This information is from the following sources:  The Wilderness Press, Pacific Crest Trail:  Southern California by Ben Schifrin, Jeffrey Schaffer, Thomas Winnet, Ruby Johnson Jenkins; the www.oregonphotos.com website, “An Oregon Classic Trail.”

A Few Well-Known PCT Thru-Hikers

When you start reading about the PCT, you find that you bump into a few certain hikers time and time again.  Below are a handful of the ones whose accomplishments and stories have stuck with me.  This list is by no means complete, and it's probably a little biased as well.  But here goes . . .

ERIC RYBACK

About:  18-year-old who hiked the PCT solo from Canada to Mexico in 1970.

Famous For:  Being the first person to claim completing the PCT route in one continuous trek.  He did so in 1970. . . . although, he reportedly accepted rides for portions.  Still, I’ve read his book, The High Adventure of Eric Ryback.  The trail was not as groomed, marked, and “soft” as it is today.  And Eric was a South-Bounder.  And he did this without a guidebook or decent maps and with far less resupply points than almost any of us would dream of contending.  Did I mention he hiked in jeans?  This guy deserves his pat on the back. 

Admirable Traits According to DBK:  Ambitious, adventuresome, confident, down-to-earth, balanced, and capable. 

RAY & JENNY JARDINE

About:  This couple completed the PCT in 1991 in a mere 3 months and 3 weeks.  (For reference, I’m hoping to finish in 5 months.) 

Famous For:  Completely revolutionizing the way people hiked the PCT by introducing a lightweight theory to gear now commonly called “ultralight”—Ray Jardine’s how-to book has been read by countless (including yours truly) and followed to the T by many believers—and successfully so.  (If you’re dreaming of a PCT thru-hike, I recommend getting your hands on an old copy of his book and read the first couple of sections:  Preface, Hapless Hiker, Introduction, Goals, and Training.  If you’re still in, this might be your next adventure!)

Admirable Traits According to DBK:  Inventive, creative, efficient, self-assured, introspective, humorous, and wise

SCOTT WILLIAMSON

About:  Scott Williamson is a Triple Crown Hiker and a yo-yo-ing speedster.

Famous For:  Becoming the first thru-hiker to complete a yo-yo (a round trip—border to border and back) in a single-season trip in 2004.  He’s also holds numerous PCT records.  (I am fairly certain I bumped into him at Jefferson Park in Oregon.  We met the first sobo hiker of the season there on August 24.  Tall, athletic, and polite with his homemade pack and shoes with the tongues cut out.  He was South-Bound in 2011 and in Oregon in August and Erin/Wired met him in the Sisters Wilderness on August 25^th, just south of Mt. Jefferson.  I may never know for sure, but it’s hard to believe it was anyone else!)

Admirable Traits According to DBK:  Driven, humble, quietly assured, no-frills, and athletic

YOGI

About:  Yogi is a Triple Crown Hiker and author.

Famous For:  Her fantastic PCT Planning and Trail Guides.  Yogi’s guides go into every detail you’ve ever wanted to know about anything and everything concerning PCT planning.  As well as everything else that you didn’t know you were wondering about but are so glad when she brought it up.  Her guides will bring confidence to your trip.

Admirable Traits According to DBK:  Down-to-earth, practical, humble, determined, helpful, and confident.  What woman doesn’t want to be like Yogi?!

SUNSHINE

About:  Sunshine completed the PCT in 2011 with her dad.

Famous For:  Breaking the record for the youngest thru-hiker on the PCT.  She started when she was 10.  She finished when she was 11.

Admirable Traits According to DBK:  This young lady is certainly determined.  She’s the sort that you can’t wait to see what kind of woman she’ll turn into.



BILLY GOAT


About:  Billy Goat is a Triple Crown Hiker who has completed the PCT at least 8 times.


Famous For:  Hiking over 32,000 miles—which amounts to around the world plus 1/3 again.  Billy Goat spends around 10 months of the year out under the stars.  He spends 6 months a year on the PCT.


Traits According to DBK:  Frugal, committed, wild, free, paired down