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Pros and Cons of hiking the PCT?

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Govygen_gourmet
Posts: 380 - Karma: -477
I want to make the entire trek some point in my life, have any of you done it? Know anybody that has done the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail)? What are the pros and cons of doing so?
I can imagine

Pros:
-Not many can say they have made the entire trek, it is a big accomplishment
- It's such a good feeling to set yourself free and just be a normal human.. surviving on the bare minimum
- It's human nature to long for adventure
- Free Travel and see beautiful sites
- You will come out with a new perspective on life
- Drugs, if you know what to look for in the land.. you can easily get a quick natural high from a variety of cactuses and plants
Cons:
- Will have to take time.. a lot of time off from your profession.. basically seems like you have to go off the grid
- Risk of death? It's not impossible
- Extremely Hot, and can be Extremely Cold
- Will literally have to survive, in a way which modern humans are not adapted to do so
May 23 2018 1:09AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51489 - Karma: 160,483
So you're going to hike a trail that long and eat random things to get high? RIP OP


Might as well send it though. Seems like you want to hike it. Do it?
May 23 2018 2:08AM
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iFlip
Posts: 4543 - Karma: 19,132
It’s not what you think. I’ve hiked parts of the PCT and have thru-hiked the AT. Saying that few have done it is inaccurate. The PCT is so popular now you have to apply for a start-date permit and it’s extremely competitive. You will not be finding solitude and will very rarely be alone.

It’s not a difficult thing to do. It’s just walking. Whether you walk ten miles per day or forty miles per day, it’s just walking. You will go into a town every few days and eat/drink/party. Calling the PCT a wilderness experience is a stretch.

Sure it’s an accomplishment, but so is getting out of bed every morning. Thinking that it will be life changing is naive. I very much enjoyed my time on the AT, and have done quite a bit of other long-distance hiking. Now I make it a point to seek out less-traveled, more wilderness areas.
May 23 2018 5:08AM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3635 - Karma: 8,774
If you are looking for an experience, you could try paddling up the Missouri river in a wooden boat like Lewis & Clark.
May 23 2018 11:55AM
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jca
Posts: 4166 - Karma: 6,300
Pro: get proficient at setting up your tent.
Con: ass chafing
May 27 2018 9:07PM
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nxtyrsfulltilts
Posts: 430 - Karma: 1,533
Start a go found me and say you will be walking to spread love.
May 28 2018 7:55AM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3635 - Karma: 8,774
nxtyrsfulltiltsStart a go found me and say you will be walking to spread love.


BEST IDEA YET!

Hiking the PCT takes the entire hiking season. So you either quit or job or negotiate an extended vacation as part of the contract. This also takes at least 10 grand. Just use other peoples money and have some left over so you don't need to get a job right when you are done
May 28 2018 11:23AM
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