Long before hikers begin long distance treks across the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), each hiker receives education from Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) to prepare them for the journey. PCTA focuses on educating hikers on safety and responsible use of the trail. Throughout their journeys, PCTA connects with these hikers on social media, via email, at trailheads, and in the backcountry. With the wildfire crisis, educating hikers about fire safety is one of PCTA’s highest priorities. They promote a full spectrum of fire education, beginning with the importance of respecting campfire restrictions, and always putting out fires with lots of water. When fire season is underway, PCTA plays a critical role in educating trail users about area closures, and what to do if they see a fire. PCTA also educates hikers about the hazardous conditions that remain long after fires are out. The comprehensive education provided by PCTA is a key part of ensuring the Pacific Crest Trail experience is the best it can be.
This spring, hundreds of long-distance hikers have left the Mexican border heading north on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The USDA Forest Service limits the number of PCT Long-distance Permits to 8,000 people spread across the whole trail. Four thousand six hundred of those people may hike north from the Mexican border, while thousands more will hike long sections crisscrossing throughout California’s Eastern rural counties. Later in the year, a few hundred southbound thru-hikers will pass through as they head down to Mexico in the fall. These hikers come from all 50 states and nearly 50 countries. Their hikes take an average of 150 days.
For more information about the Pacific Crest Trail, visit the PCTA website at www.pcta.org.