One of the most beautiful and rewarding hikes in the world is the Pacific Crest Trail running along the border of the United States from Mexico to Canada. This trail has been trending recently due to the novel, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed that will soon be released as a motion picture. For someone interested in taking on the PCT, this novel reveals the challenges and rewards of partaking on this adventure.
At 2,663 miles long, the PCT is one of the longest trails in the United States, and makes for one of the best because it runs through three very scenic states: California, Oregon, and Washington.
Backpacking this terrain would allow you to witness an amazing variety of terrain and wilderness including deserts, ice glaciers, deep forests, snow-capped mountain ranges, sun speckled lakes streams, alpine lakes, volcanic peaks, 25 national forests and seven national parks. Some of the famous scenery along the hike is the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Mojave Desert, the Cascade mountain range, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Crater Lake, and Yosemite National Parks, Lake Tahoe, among many others.
If you plan to journey through the entire PCT it is recommended that you are a very experienced and prepared hiker. The hike reaches an elevation of 13,153 ft at Forester Pass and drops to the lowest point of 140 ft at the Cascade Locks, which conveys the amount of ascending and descending that are a part of this trail. The terrain also includes wildlife and severe weather, so basically it is crucial to be prepared.
Although you do not have to be a professional backpacker to hike the PCT; many people take on smaller sections and walk for a day or two instead of spending months trailblazing. The trail ranges from moderate to strenuous depending on which section you are trekking, so it is very important to research what part of the trail it most fitting for you. There are also specific parts of the trail that are suitable for biking or horse back riding for people who prefer that to trekking.
No matter how far you hike this magnificent trail, it would be an amazing experience to be immersed into nature and to witness such a large variety of geological features.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
