The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most daunting hiking trails in North America. It spans 2,700 miles from Mexico to Canada, running through California, Oregon and Washington. Its elevation ranges widely, from 13,200 feet in the High Sierras to virtually sea level when it meets the Columbia River at the Oregon-Washington border. Snow and desert terrain await someone trying to hike this path, and completing it can take four months or more. Because of this extreme challenge, preparation is needed to make sure you are ready both physically and in terms of your equipment.
Step 1
Exercise routinely to prepare for the physical demands of the hike. You will likely want to strength train to prepare for the changes in elevation and the extra work of carrying a hiking pack on your back. Strength training should focus on full-body lifts such as squat and rack clean, which will prepare your muscles for bearing your pack's weight. Aim to do six to 10 repetitions per set, and two to four sets. Lift three times a week to maintain your muscular strength.
Step 2
Use aerobic exercise to prepare your body. This doesn't need to be intense, and even walking -- particularly up hilly terrains -- can be effective. Using a stair-stepper or treadmill set to an incline can help ready you for the challenge of walking repeatedly up hills. An aerobics class can get your heart and body in shape for the hike.
Step 3
Go on preparation hikes of varying lengths; ideally, you will go on a hike lasting two or three days or more to acclimate to the lifestyle of long-term hiking while preparing your body for the constant physical demands. This also will prepare you for circumstances unique to hiking, such as uneven ground, climbing and walking down hills, and carrying a pack on your back.
Step 4
Find a map or guidebook that instructs you on how to prepare for the hike. You will have opportunities throughout the hike to stop and get food and other supplies, but you will need to know where they are, how long you have between the supply points and how much you will need to stock yourself with. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, more experienced hikers, guides or books can instruct you on what you should buy.
Step 5
Ready yourself for unexpected accidents. You will want to know the proper procedures, including where and how to find help, handle basic first-aid needs and protect yourself in various climates. Since the Pacific Crest Trail goes through all but one of the ecosystems in the United States, the diversity of location will require you to be prepared for strandings in both the desert and the snow-capped mountains. A hiking safety course might be advisable if you are inexperienced.
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