Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#191629 - 08/14/15 07:09 PM Easiest section PCT?
alph2294 Offline
member

Registered: 08/14/15
Posts: 30
Loc: NorCal
Hello to all. What a great forum!

Here's my question: I have experience day hiking in CA and US/Canadian Rockies and lots of camping but no thru-hiking. I am itching to do some of the PCT and wondered where people would send me to get an auspicious and not too painful beginning. I've heard Oregon is the way to go, but something in Northern CA would be more convenient for me.

Also, how would you recommend I spend my limited budget for ultralight equipment? Tent first? Pack? Boots?

Thanks for the help.

Top
#191630 - 08/15/15 12:39 PM Re: Easiest section PCT? [Re: alph2294]
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
I suggest that you download the PCT maps for northern CA from Halfmile's site. http://www.pctmap.net/
Look at the last page or two for each section's pdf file --- at the elevation profiles. That will give you a good read on one of the elements of what makes a trail easier or harder. Then among those that look easier, consider also your logistics of getting to and from the trail, and also think of water sources and possibly bail-out points (places that significant roads cross the trail or where a side trail can get to a reasonably well-trafficked road).

If you were looking to hike several hundred miles in one go, I would indeed suggest Oregon as a great option. For doing a first section, I agree with you that "closer to home" makes a lot of sense.

Limited budget for lighter gear --- I think that PMags has a good summary of a lot of discussion by various folks over the years:
http://www.pmags.com/300-gear-challenge

Lightening up is approached in different ways; go lighter on the big stuff ("big three": tent, sleeping bag, backpack), go lighter on the other stuff, and --- importantly --- carry less of the stuff you don't really need in the first place. Going lighter means not just lighter weight gear, but sometimes a shift in hiking "style". It's a potentially lengthy topic, and one about which almost everyone has an opinion (and typically is happy to share it). The one thing I feel strongly about is that there isn't a single "correct" way.

Boots vs. shoes is a whole other discussion, and another one that many people are passionate about. I'm a shoe guy, but again, I'm also a "find your own way and your own personal wisdom" guy.

Best of luck!


Edited by BrianLe (08/15/15 12:40 PM)
_________________________
Brian Lewis
http://postholer.com/brianle

Top
#191631 - 08/15/15 01:53 PM Re: Easiest section PCT? [Re: BrianLe]
aimless Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
It should be noted that the hiking style that is most widely adopted by thru-hikers, who must emphasize making their miles above all else, and who generally start the trail only after many months of pre-conditioning exercise, may not be the hiking style required for a successful section hike.

Section hikers can choose the best days of the year for more water availability, fewer bugs and better weather. They can get away with a slightly more leisurely pace and somewhat fewer daily miles, and may be able to adopt a resupply strategy that doesn't scale up to a thru-hike's length, but works out fine when you are only hiking 150 miles or so.

Oregon is indeed the most popular part of the PCT for easier section hiking. Ashland to Cascade Locks (either nobo or sobo) is extremely popular, but it's about 400 miles and may be more than you're looking for as a start.

Without a lot more information about what you already have in the way of gear, making specific recommendations on how to upgrade it on a limited budget is too much like shooting in the dark. Weighing all the minutiae of gear selection isn't exactly a deep subject, but it is a very broad one. grin

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
MSR Recall
by balzaccom
02/24/24 11:13 AM
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Yosemite Winter Rangers
by balzaccom
12/21/23 09:35 AM
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 65 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum