Bandana
Carabiners
Cellular phone (emergencies only)
Dark chocolate (at least 60% cocoa)
Digital camera
Disinfectant wipes (baby wipes)
Extra batteries
Flashlight
Foam pad (for lightning strikes)
Garbage bag
Gloves (for warmth)
GPS receiver
Hand warmers (air activated)
High-energy food and drinks
Lip balm
Long pants
Plastic bags with zip closure
Rain coat and rain pants
Shorts
Socks
Snakebite kit
Sunglasses
Toilet paper
Watch
General Safety
NO ONE IS TOO YOUNG FOR A HIKE. Be mindful though. Flat, short, and shaded trails are best if you’re carrying an infant. Toddlers who have not quite mastered walking can still tag along, riding on an adult’s back in a child carrier. Use common sense to judge a child’s capacity to hike a particular trail, and always expect that the child will tire quickly and need to be carried.
Hiking is a great way to introduce a child to hands-on lessons beyond the classroom in the natural environment. Check out the top five hikes for children on page.
NEVER RELY ON A CELL PHONE, but bring one just in case. While signals and access are inconsistent, they are also becoming more common. A backcountry equestrian on the PCT turned me on to a very cool technology for keeping his wife informed of his whereabouts. Called SPOT GPS technology, it allows account holders’ friends and family to constantly track carriers’ whereabouts. The device features a help button that immediately sends coordinate locations to search and rescue professionals. Improvements are being made daily to allow users to upload pictures, videos, and so on that are tied to exact locations.
ALWAYS CARRY FOOD AND WATER, whether you plan to go overnight or not. Food will give you energy, help keep you warm, and sustain you in an emergency until help arrives. You never know if you’ll have a stream nearby when you become thirsty. Bring potable water, or treat water before drinking it from a stream. Boil or filter all found water before drinking it.
STAY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS. Most hikers get lost when they leave the path. Even on the most clearly marked trails, there is usually a point where you have to stop and consider which direction to head in. If you become disoriented, don’t panic. As soon as you think you may be off-track, stop, assess your current direction, and then retrace your steps to the point where you went awry. Using a map, a compass, and this book, and keeping in mind what you have passed thus far, reorient yourself and trust your judgment on how best to continue. If you become absolutely unsure of how to do so, return to your vehicle the same way you came in. If you become completely lost and have no idea how to return to the trailhead, stay where you are and wait for help—most often the best option for adults and always the best option for children.
BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WHEN CROSSING STREAMS. Whether you are fording the stream or crossing on a log, make every step count. If you have any doubt about maintaining your balance on a foot log, go ahead and ford the stream instead. When crossing, use a trekking pole or stout stick for balance, and face upstream as you cross. If a stream seems too deep to ford, turn back. Whatever is on the other side is not worth risking your life for.
BE CAREFUL AT OVERLOOKS. They may provide spectacular views, but they’re potentially dangerous. Stay back from the edge of outcrops and be absolutely sure of your footing; a misstep can mean a nasty and possibly fatal fall.
STANDING DEAD TREES and storm-damaged living trees pose a real hazard to hikers and tent campers. These trees may have loose or broken limbs that could fall at any time. When choosing a spot to rest or a backcountry campsite, look up.
TAKE ALONG YOUR BRAIN. A cool, calculating mind is the single most important piece of equipment you can bring with you on the trail. Think before you act. Watch your step. Plan ahead. Avoid accidents before they happen.
Animal, Insect, and Plant Hazards
THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL through Northern California is home to many species of wildlife. Insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies are seasonably common on the trail. The most commonly seen mammals include deer, marmots, and squirrels, but it is not inconceivable to see a California black bear, especially in the Tuolumne Meadows area. You probably won’t see mountain lions, but they are out there. Rattlesnakes are a hazard on sections of the PCT, generally those areas under 6,000 feet. In the plant world, poison oak has a well-deserved nasty reputation and should be avoided at all costs. And possibly the most dangerous things on the trail are microscopic waterborne organisms.
MOSQUITOES, TICKS, AND FLIES
Mosquitoes, ticks, and flies are the most common pitfalls of the PCT hiking experience, mosquitoes being the most plentiful of the three. Fortunately, the populations of these pests thins considerably after most of the standing water in an area has dried up.
Only female mosquitoes draw blood, proving my theory that females tend to work harder than males. The best protection is complete coverage if you’re expecting to travel in mosquito-infested terrain—and on the PCT in the summer, you should expect this.
Bug-net trekking hats are incredibly useful at keeping mosquitoes out of your ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. Plus, nets that are attached to wide-brimmed hats keep the net away from your face and provide a less annoying screen through which you can enjoy the scenery.
When hiking in mosquito territory always carry light, loose, long layers. Zip-off pants are popular with many hikers. Leggings in the case of an emergency cover-up will not do the trick as many mosquitoes and/or flies can bite through leggings. Opt for light, loose-fitting, long layers to stave off itchy bites.
Keep in mind that mosquitoes on the PCT aren’t so much dangerous as they are annoying. Some people choose to carry bug repellent containing DEET as a first-course step of treatment. Not only is DEET harmful to the environment, it’s also harmful to apply directly to the skin and can ruin clothing. I recommend carrying bug dope only as a last resort. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the plant-based repellent lemon eucalyptus oil to be as effective in the same concentrations; plus it smells better and is safe to use on your skin and clothing.
Ticks tend to be most common in the densely forested areas below 4,000 feet north of the Lake Tahoe area on this section of the PCT. Check your clothing and skin after every hike for any hitchhiking ticks you may have acquired along the way. To remove a tick, grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible with tweezers, and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not puncture a tick, as this might release harmful bacteria.
BLACK BEARS IN CALIFORNIA
An estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears call California home. They normally avoid humans, but you should always leave them an escape route if you encounter them. Black bears can sprint up to 35 mph and are strong swimmers and great tree climbers.
While these bears populate most of the area highlighted in this guidebook, the most common place to see bears on this section of the PCT is in the Tuolumne Meadows area in Yosemite National Park. Never leave scented products of any kind—food, beverages, or personal-care products such as lotion and sunscreen—in your vehicle unattended in the park area. The National Park Service provides unlocked communal lockers where hikers can store such items. Additionally, it is illegal to stay overnight in the backcountry in the Tuolumne Meadows area without a regulation bear canister, which you can buy or rent at