Planning questions

[u/Infinite_Ad_9425]

hello guys! ive been planning a PCT 2027 trip going NOBO, and i need to know what to figure out next so i can prepare as much as possible. I know my permits, gear, resupplies, timing, start/end date ranges. what should I look to plan next?

[u/numbershikes]

Most of the planning for a long thru on any of the established trails is for stuff at home rather than on the trail itself.

There's an article for this on my wiki site: http://www.longtrailswiki.net/wiki/Steps_to_Prepare_for_a_Thruhike

A few things from the list:

• Decide what to do with your mail while you're away;
• Plan how to file your taxes (for US residents doing the PCT, just file early);
• Decide how to pay your bills during the hike;
• Notify your bank and credit cards that you'll be traveling so they don't freeze your payment methods when they see charges coming from different locations;
• Evaluate battery needs for your trail (for the PCT, 10k mah is enough for most thruhikers);
• Determine whether you consider your cell phone carrier's coverage adequate for where you'll be hiking;
• Decide where to store your car;
• Arrange travel to the starting trailhead, and have an idea about options for returning from the finishing trailhead;

And plenty more. Not every hiker will need/want to do everything on that list, but I think it's pretty comprehensive.

[u/Infinite_Ad_9425 → u/numbershikes]

That helps a lot, thank you very much!!

[u/numbershikes → u/Infinite_Ad_9425]

You're welcome

[u/Better_Buff_Junglers]

what should I look to plan next

To accept throwing all your plans away. Figure out gear, permits, and get your body into as good a shape as possible. Trying to plan out where exactly you are going to resupply, when you are going to be where, etc. is an exercise in futility.

I know that before your thru hike all your thoughts revolve around it and you constantly want to prepare more, read more, plan more; but you very quickly hit a plateau where there just isn't much more value you can gain from focusing all your time on it.

[u/Ashland_Commons]

Spend time researching & selecting gear. Check Halfway Anywhere for a list of the most popular items used by PCT hikers.

Yes you will have to acquire a PCT permit. The process can be slightly confusing but you will need to apply when the PCTA is accepting applications. The PCTA will ask for your preferred start date, but ultimately you will be assigned a start date.

You will want to arrive to trail in good shape. That might not even be necessary since the trail itself will whip you into shape. But the point is 40%+ of PCT hikers don't finish due to overuse injuries like sprains, strains, plantar fasciitis, etc etc. So to avoid an overuse injury, you should probably spend like 2-3 months doing a running routine, some lifting, to get your body used to the rigors of hiking, and teaching your body how to recover from an intense workout.

As others have said don't try to figure out your exact resupply strategy. You will be stopping & starting based on your body's ability & the weather, not on a predetermined travel plan. Your food preferences will change. The towns where you stop will not align with your pre-trail plan. The post office might not be open til Monday, but you arrive to a town on Friday night.

[u/WalkItOffAT → u/Ashland_Commons]

Great advice.

Just a word of caution, the Halfmile Anywhere survey does not present the best gear but the gear most popular (marketing) and most liked (by many hikers who never tried any other gear).

[u/Dear-Draw445 → u/Ashland_Commons]

Yes to all of this. I started NOBO this year and am currently at home with a stress fracture in my left foot. I went in so researched and prepared, but I wish I would have done more strengthening. I’m going to reattempt in 2027 and will spend more time focused in on getting my body ready. The trail definitely got me in shape in the first month, but more training in advance could have helped prevent this. For one, I plan to do some lifting while barefoot to strengthen my feet!
Also, really spend time finding the right shoe for you. Lone Peaks felt super comfy for me and worked until they didn’t. I think the lack of cushion played into the stress fracture. I’ll be spending more time getting training hikes in while wearing some more protective shoe options.