Minimize your risks on the trail by being knowledgeable, prepared, and alert. There is not space in this book for a general treatise on safety in the mountains. Fortunately, there are many good books and courses on the subject: use them to increase your knowledge. Just as important, take note of your own limitations and familiarize yourself in advance about what conditions you may face when and where you want to hike. If conditions are dangerous, or if you’re not prepared to deal with them safely, choose a different hike! It’s better to have wasted a drive than to be the subject of a mountain rescue.
Millions of people have safe and enjoyable hikes every year. However, one element of the beauty, freedom, and excitement of the wilderness is the presence of risks that do not confront us at home. When you hike, you assume those risks. They can be met safely, but only if you take time to inform yourself, then exercise your independent judgment and common sense while hiking or backpacking along any trail.
Contents
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS
Chapter 1: The PCT, Its History and Use
Chapter 2: Planning Your PCT Hike
Trekking Days or Weeks versus Trekking Months
Organizations Relevant to the Pacific Crest Trail
Mailing Tips (including post offices along or near route)
Federal Government Agencies (with south-to-north listing)
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail—Dayhiking/Backpacking
Animal and Plant Problems on the PCT
Chapter 3: PCT Natural History
Plant Communities of California’s Pacific Crest Trail
Our Route Description
Following the Trail
The Maps
California PCT Mileage Table
TRAIL SECTIONS
Section I: Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass
Section J: Sonora Pass to Echo Lake Resort
Section K: Echo Lake Resort to Interstate 80
Section L: Interstate 80 to Highway 49
Section M: Highway 49 to Highway 70
Section N: Highway 70 to Burney Falls
Section O: Burney Falls to Castle Crags
Section P: Castle Crags to Etna Summit
Section Q: Etna Summit to Seiad Valley
Section R: Seiad Valley to Interstate 5 in Oregon
Recommended Reading and Source Books
Acknowledgments
In addition to those whom I have acknowledged in previous editions of The Pacific Crest Trail (single volume on) California, I would like to mention a few people who were particularly helpful when preparing this new edition. They include William M. Lane, William McCanna, Jr., Bruce Ohlson, David Shimek, and Thomas Zurr, who provided me with detailed notes. Thanks to Ray Jardine, as well, for his comments on various parts of the book.
Others who offered useful information include Scott Anderson, Bob Ellinwood, Bruce and Sharon Gilbert, John Olley, Steve Queen, Linda Spaulding, Jeff Stone, Gary Suttle, Taylor Wind Set, and Ben York. Although I have not had the time to check every detail that all these fine folks brought to my attention, I have found that where I have checked, their notes have been quite accurate. Useful bits of information, in the form of letters to the publisher, were forwarded to me as well. I want to thank anyone who took the time to send me constructive comments but whose name is not acknowledged here.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those at Wilderness Press who have been instrumental in creating this new edition. Paul Backhurst, editor, did a great job of splitting the original single volume of The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume 1, California into two more manageable volumes: Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California and Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California, which I co-authored with Ben Schifrin, Thomas Winnett and Ruby Johnson Jenkins. Kris Kaiyala and Jessica Lage pulled together the final Word file, proofread, and identified photos for the text. Jannie Dresser coordinated the project and worked to find solutions to the arduous and costly task of transforming an old book into new production technology. Jaan Hitt created the much more readable design of the book, and designed the front and back cover.
The photograph on the front cover by Londie G. Padelsky adds aesthetic appeal to this most practical of guidebooks. A number of individuals helped us explore options for producing the maps in digital format: Glenn M. Bock, Tom Ekman of TOPO! National Geographic, Ben Pease, and Tom Reynolds.
Finally, Mike Jones, as publisher of Wilderness Press and