Speed hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, or the PCT, is a feat suited for those hikers in extreme physical condition with a drive for an adventure in endurance, especially for those hikers whose intention is to complete a thru-hike of the entire trail. The PCT spans the length of the entire west coast of the United States. From the border of Mexico, it winds its way through deserts, forests and high elevation mountain ranges to ultimately end just inside the Canadian border.
Planning
Consider how many miles you can expect to hike per day based on your training and experience and how many calories you will need to take in each day. Plan your meals, determine where your resupply points will be and pack your supply boxes prior to leaving. You may want to consider preparing by speed hiking sections of the PCT that will require at least one restock stop. A handy trip calculator is available at www.pcta.org.
Gear
Speed hiking the PCT almost demands using ultra-light equipment designed specifically for long-haul hiking trips where speed is a motivating factor. Talk with other thru-hikers, speed hikers and check product reviews to decide on what equipment will work best for you. Traveling with too much weight on your back will not only slow you down, but also put extra stress on your body that will make the entire trip more trying.
Conditioning
You should be conditioned for the type of physical punishment that will be put on your body while speed hiking on the PCT. Your conditioning will directly correlate to your end goals. For example, some speed hikers have averaged between 20 and 45 miles per day on the PCT. Any distance within that range will be demanding, but of course the higher your mileage, the more conditioning you will need. Fill your pack with the amount of weight you expect to carry while on the PCT and hike as much as possible prior to starting your trip. Make sure you have a rest period between training and beginning the PCT to rehabilitate your muscles and rest any injuries.
Challenges on the Trail
There will be many challenges while speed hiking the PCT beyond the physical endurance. You will likely have to face extreme weather--both freezing temperatures as well as suffocating heat. You may have to avoid potentially dangerous wildlife such as mountain lions, bears and rattlesnakes, not to mention the simply aggravating presence of mosquitoes and sand flies. Despite the possibility of injury and likelihood of exhaustion, the PCT attracts many hikers for a reason. It also provides an opportunity to be within stunning scenery.
Speed Records
A new speed record of the PCT was completed on August 12, 2009, when according to the San Francisco Examiner, Scott Williamson and Adam Bradley completed the trail--a total of 2,655 miles--in 65 days, nine hours, and 58 minutes. The team averaged 40.5 miles per day and ended up beating the previous record by almost an entire day.
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