The Pacific Crest Path (PCT) spans 2,650 miles (4,265 kilometers) from Mexico to Canada by means of California, Oregon, and Washington.
This long-distance mountain climbing path takes most walkers 4-6 months to complete.
One of many greatest planning duties for PCT hikers is establishing a very good resupply system.
Hikers can not carry meals for the entire path directly.
Most must get extra meals each 3-7 days.
This information will discover the other ways to resupply well whereas going by means of the Pacific Crest Path.
By the tip, you’ll have the know-how wanted to plan your PCT meals technique, even in case you are a first-timer or an previous professional trying to make your subsequent hike higher.
Why PCT Resupply Planning Issues?
The Pacific Crest Path (PCT) crosses Southern California’s sizzling deserts, the excessive Sierra Nevada mountains, and the forests of Oregon and Washington.
Hikers take care of excessive warmth, rocky paths, and snowy mountain passes.
They must be robust, in a position to find, and all the time prepared for sudden climate adjustments.
Resupply factors, that are present in cities or shops like Kennedy Meadows and Mammoth Lakes, are spaced about 30 to 100 miles (48 to 161 km) aside.
These are some stops the place hikers can get extra meals and equipment, whereas there is usually a lengthy distance between every cease.
Some spots supply simply the fundamentals, whereas others have every little thing a hiker may want.
In distant areas just like the Excessive Sierra, hikers might carry as much as 10 days of meals.
As a result of some areas are restricted or onerous to achieve, many hikers plan their resupply stops fastidiously.
How you can Plan Your PCT Resupply Schedule?
Planning your resupply schedule on the Pacific Crest Path (PCT) is vital to staying well-fed and energized all through your hike.
Listed below are three widespread methods to handle your meals and provides effectively.
1. Purchase as You Go
You should purchase meals and provides at cities alongside the path, the place supermarkets and shops are extra widespread now.
This technique permits you to carry much less weight and alter your wants as you go.
2. Ship Resupply Containers
Mail packages with meals and equipment to submit places of work or particular places on the path.
This helps when cities have restricted or costly choices, guaranteeing you’ve got what you want.
3. Mix Each Methods
Combine shopping for regionally with sending containers for distant sections or particular gadgets.
This versatile strategy balances comfort and preparedness in your hike.
Steps to Plan Earlier than Getting ready for Resupply
Earlier than resupply, know methods to attain cities. You may hitchhike, trip a shuttle, or get a pickup from a hiker-friendly hostel.
Use useful path apps like FarOut (Guthook), Gaia GPS, or PCT Planner.
These apps present cities, miles, and the place to resupply.
Verify if shops are open and the way far they’re from the path. Good planning retains you from operating out of meals or strolling too far with out realizing the place to go subsequent.
The place to Resupply on The PCT: Regional Breakdown
Understanding the place to resupply is vital to planning a profitable PCT hike.
The path passes close to many cities and repair factors the place hikers can restock.
1. Southern California Area
These resupply factors assist hikers by means of the recent, dry desert part firstly of the PCT.
- Mount Laguna (Mile 42): Small retailer with fundamentals however expensive.
- Idyllwild (Mile 179): Full grocery retailer, gear store, and submit workplace.
- Huge Bear Metropolis (Mile 266): Giant supermarkets and all providers.
- Wrightwood (Mile 369): Good grocery retailer and hiker-friendly city.
- Agua Dulce/Acton (Mile 454): Grocery retailer in Agua Dulce.
2. Sierra Nevada Area
These stops assist hikers by means of the best and most difficult terrain on the PCT.
- Kennedy Meadows (Mile 702): Well-known cease earlier than the Sierra, however has restricted provides.
- Independence/Bishop (Mile 789): Attain from Kearsarge Go.
Bishop has all of the providers. - Mammoth Lakes (Mile 907): Full providers, giant shops.
- South Lake Tahoe (Mile 1092): All providers and huge shops.
3. Northern California Area
These resupply factors assist hikers by means of the forested mountains of Northern California.
- Sierra Metropolis (Mile 1198): Small retailer with fundamentals.
- Belden (Mile 1289): Very small resupply at resort.
- Chester (Mile 1333): Good-sized grocery retailer.
- Mount Shasta (Mile 1501): Full grocery store and providers.
4. Oregon Area
These stops provide hikers by means of Oregon’s volcanic landscapes and forests.
- Ashland (Mile 1727): Giant shops and full providers.
- Crater Lake (Mile 1830): Small retailer at Mazama Village.
- Bend/Sisters (Mile 2000): Full providers, reached by hitchhike.
- Cascade Locks (Mile 2155): Small grocery and bridge to Washington.
5. Washington Area
These closing resupply factors assist hikers by means of Washington’s difficult mountain terrain.
- Trout Lake (Mile 2234): Small retailer with fundamentals.
- White Go (Mile 2303): Small retailer with hiker fundamentals.
- Snoqualmie Go (Mile 2402): Small grocery at fuel station.
- Stehekin (Mile 2580): Restricted retailer, well-known bakery, final cease earlier than Canada.
Most hikers use 25-30 resupply stops throughout a whole thru-hike, averaging one cease each 4-5 days, relying on mountain climbing pace and private wants.
How you can Mail Resupply Containers for the PCT?
Planning to hike the Pacific Crest Path? Resupply containers aid you keep prepared, fueled, and targeted.
Right here’s a fast information to maintain issues easy in your enterprise.
Know When & The place to Ship
Some cities don’t have many shops—plan forward.
Ship containers 2–3 weeks early for distant locations; 1–2 weeks is okay for greater cities.
Pack Sensible & Mild
Hold containers beneath 20 kilos to make carrying simpler.
Medium USPS flat-rate containers match 4–7 days of meals excellent.
Gas Your Hike Proper
Purpose for 3,500–5,000 energy a day to maintain your power up.
Add particular meals or gear you’ll want for the subsequent path part.
Label & Monitor Every little thing
Write your identify, “Maintain for PCT Hiker,” and ETA on every field.
Use shiny tape and save monitoring numbers simply in case.
Choose-Up Ideas & Further Charges
At all times carry your ID and verify the submit workplace hours.
Some locations might cost $5–$15 to carry your field—verify earlier than you ship.
NOTE: At all times embody a backup plan for resupply factors – climate delays or closures can occur unexpectedly. Double-check pickup hours and call info earlier than you hit the path.
Budgeting Your PCT Resupply Prices
Understanding the meals prices for a Pacific Crest Path (PCT) hike is essential for efficient budgeting and planning.
| CATEGORY | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Every day Path Meals Value | $10-15 per day, totaling $1,500-2,250 for a 5-month hike (path meals solely). |
| City Meals Bills | Further prices for meals in cities will not be included within the path meals funds. |
| Value Variation by Location | Small path city shops cost 30-40% greater than bigger metropolis shops. |
| Mailing Field Prices | Transport a medium USPS flat-rate field prices $16-20 per field. |
| Field Holding Charges | Some resupply factors cost $5-15 to carry mailed containers. |
| Complete Resupply Funds | Ranges from $2,000 to $3,500 for meals, relying on decisions and methods. |
Tricks to Save Cash on PCT Resupply
These methods can assist stretch your meals funds all through your hike:
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Sensible Procuring Technique: Purchase meals in bulk at giant shops like Walmart or Costco, then use a mail-forward strategy by buying 2-4 weeks value of provides directly and transport containers to approaching resupply factors.
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DIY Meals Preparation: Dehydrate your personal meals as an alternative of buying costly freeze-dried choices, and concentrate on high-calorie meals with one of the best cost-per-calorie ratio like peanut butter, oats, and pasta.
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Maximize Free Assets: Make the most of hiker containers at hostels and path stops without spending a dime donated gadgets, and think about group shopping for with mountain climbing companions to separate bulk buy prices.
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Management City Bills: Restrict restaurant meals since one meal can value as a lot as 2-3 days of path meals, and stick with procuring lists to keep away from impulse purchases if you’re hungry after lengthy path sections.
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Proper-Measurement Your Provides: Keep away from overpacking meals (most hikers carry an excessive amount of initially), and if funds run low, think about choosing up odd jobs in path cities to complement your funds.
With cautious planning and good procuring, you may keep good vitamin whereas preserving your resupply prices manageable all through your PCT trek.
What to Do When Resupply Plans Fail?
Even one of the best plans can collapse on the Pacific Crest Path, so you will need to keep calm and assume clearly.
If a bundle is misplaced, contact the mail provider utilizing your monitoring quantity for assist or redirection to the subsequent cease.
Publish places of work can typically ahead containers, whereas close by fuel stations or campgrounds might have primary meals when shops are closed.
Verify hiker containers at hostels for leftover meals and ask path angels or locals for assist with rides or provides.
The mountain climbing group is supportive, so construct friendships and share helpful info when potential.
At all times carry further meals for one or two days and ration in distant areas if wanted.
Hold an inventory of resupply cities, contact particulars, and carry emergency money in case it’s good to attain greater cities.
Frequent Errors to Keep away from
Many PCT hikers run into the identical resupply issues that may be simply averted with higher planning.
- Not checking path updates: Fires, snow, or path adjustments can block your deliberate resupply cease, leaving you stranded with out meals.
- Poor meals planning: Packing too little selection results in meals fatigue, whereas skipping meals to avoid wasting weight will depart you weak and sluggish on the path.
- Over-relying on know-how: GPS units and apps can fail when batteries die – all the time carry paper maps and backup money since some cities don’t settle for playing cards.
- Skipping apply runs: Check your packing system at dwelling to see what suits and what doesn’t, somewhat than figuring it out on the path.
- Being too inflexible with plans: The path adjustments continuously, so your resupply technique wants flexibility to adapt to new circumstances and your physique’s altering wants.
Being conscious of those widespread pitfalls helps create a resupply technique that helps somewhat than complicates your hike.
Wrapping It Up
Planning your PCT resupply is vital to a very good hike, however it doesn’t must be onerous.
By mixing retailer resupply with some mail drops, you’ll have meals when wanted with out an excessive amount of stress.
Most hikers discover that easy plans work finest: resupply each 4-5 days, ship containers solely to spots with poor choices, and adapt as you go.
Do not forget that your meals wants and tastes will change on the path. What appears scrumptious at dwelling won’t work after weeks of mountain climbing.
With the correct mix of planning and adaptability, your PCT resupply technique will assist your hike with out taking up your journey.
