Am I the only one who thinks the Pacific Crest Trail is overrated for beginners?

I spent a week near the Sierras last June and the crowds were insane, like 30 people at one campsite. Everyone raves about the views but nobody talks about the constant noise and trash buildup. Has anyone else found a less popular stretch that's actually worth the hike?

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.kim2d ago

Give the PCT some credit for being well marked and maintained, that alone saves beginners from getting lost or hurt. Those crowds mean there's always someone around to help if you run into trouble.

susan_adams1d ago

Last summer on the JMT I twisted my ankle pretty bad near Muir Trail Ranch. I was kicking myself for not bringing a proper first aid kit but three different hikers stopped to help me within 10 minutes. Totally agree with you @ward.kim, having that backup around makes a huge difference when you're out there alone. The trail markers saved me more than once too when I was too tired to pay attention to my map. That kind of support system is honestly underrated for new hikers.

valc911d ago

Oh man, "well marked and maintained" is kinda stretching it depending on which section you hit. I hiked a stretch near Crater Lake and the trail markers were super inconsistent, almost got turned around twice.