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PCT Trail Segment Descriptions
For much more detailed
descriptions
of the Pacific Crest Trail,
click here for RESOURCES. Segment Descriptions: 1 2 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Segment 1: Campo to Scissors Crossing (Hwy 78) This main highlight
of this first segment of the PCT is a
traverse of the
Return to top Segment 2: Scissors Crossing to Palms-to-Pines Hwy (74) This segment promises
more moderate terrain than the
Return to topSegment 3: Rest Day in La Quinta, CA Segment 4: Palms-to-Pines Hwy to Interstate 10 This segment, a
traverse of the
Return to top Segment 5: Interstate 10 to Big Bear City (Hwy 130) This segment
begins a traverse of the
Return to top I am planning to tackle a larger chunk of the PCT in this segment: 9 days and 170.2 miles to traverse first the Return
to top
Segment 8: Rest Day in La Quinta, CA This segment of the PCT is often known as one of the least pleasant of the entire trail. At the same time, a friend of mine who lives in the Los Angeles area tells me that we will be passing through this area at perhaps the most beautiful time of year (another benefit of starting the PCT so early). If our timing is right, we may be treated to some spectacular desert wildflower displays in this segment. The first half (60 miles or so) of the route traverses along the tops of the Sawmill and Return to top I am going to attempt to pick up the mileage through this section, covering just over 20 miles per day. By this point, I will be very much looking forward to the end of the desert and the beginning of a ski traverse of the entire Return to top Segment 11: Walker Pass (Hwy 178) to Kennedy Meadows This segment is a short one: three days of
climbing into the southern end of the Sierra Nevada will bring us to
Kennedy Meadows where we will be able to do a major resupply in
preparation for the next segment's long push into the heart of the High
Sierra. We also plan to begin skiing almost exclusively during
this section, and the skiing will continue for the next 350
miles! The ecological diversity within this short segment
promises to be large, as we will now be climbing away from the lower
treeline of the desert (controlled by moisture) and towards the higher
treeline of the alpine zone (controlled by temperature). Much of
this segment stays close
to the actual Sierra Crest, which makes for spectacular views of the
High Sierra to the north, the Owens Valley to the east, rugged
wilderness to the west, and terrain covered in previous segments to the
south. We may be able to summit a few non-technical peaks along
the way--Jenkins, Owens, Olancha--which should enhance the views that
much more. One of the main highlights of this segment might
actually be a civilized one: the Kennedy Meadows General Store is
located about halfway into this segment and offers supplies, showers,
laundry, and even a Saturday night movie!
Return to top Segment 12: Kennedy Meadows to South Lake All I can say about this
segment is, Wow! We climb into the heart of the High Sierra
now--a treeless alpine region of bare granite and meadows--and this
section promises to be
stunningly beautiful and action-packed. In terms of time, it will
also be the longest segment of our PCT journey, requiring 10 days to
cover just over 120 miles of rugged Sierra terrain. Early in this
section we will most likely have
an opportunity to complete a 5 mile side trip to the summit of
14,491-foot Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the continental United
States (and therefore hopefully the highest point of our entire PCT
hike!). Upon our return from the summit, the PCT joins the route
of the John Muir Trail, and these two trails are one and the same for
most of the distance from here to Yosemite National Park. The
trail winds past innumerable stunning granite pinnacles and crystalline
lakes and grunts up over several 11,000 and 12,000-foot passes.
Forester Pass, at 13,180-feet represents the highest point of the whole
PCT, though we may opt for a slightly less steep route down over
Shepherds Pass and then back up over Junction Pass. Well into
this section, we will traverse the vast Upper
Basin, a huge, flat expanse of granite and alpine meadows ringed by
massive peaks, many of which have no names...a good indication of the
density of summits in the Sierra! Split Mountain, rising to just
over 14,000 feet, hulks at the north end of Upper Basin, and its north
slopes present a wonderful potential ski descent if conditions are
right. Finally, towards the end of this section, we are planning
to
leave the PCT route in order to stay closer to the actual crest of the
Sierra Nevada (the PCT route swings far to the west and loses a great
deal of elevation). Doing this will allow us to pass literally
within a few feet of the western scarp of the Palisades, a razor ridge
of several 14,000 peaks, before we arrive at Bishop Pass and a joyous
ski descent to South Lake. In the next few segments of our
journey, we plan to keep this higher, more easterly route close to the
Sierra Crest whenever possible. I have skied most of this part
of the Sierra Crest in sections over the past several years, so I am
confident that this will be a great alternative to the PCT route and
very accessible on skis (although it will also be very
challenging!). If you're interested in doing more research, the
classic Sierra Crest ski tours in this region are described in detail
in the following book: Moynier, John. 1999. Backcountry Skiing California's
High Sierra. Globe Pequot Press.
Return to top Segment 13: Rest Day in Bishop, CA Segment 14: South Lake to Mammoth Mountain High Sierra stunningness
continues in this
segment. Again, we plan to stay on a high skiable route closer to
the actual Sierra Nevada Crest while the PCT swings far to the west at
lower elevations. Classic ski routes along this section of the
Sierra Crest are described in the following book: Moynier, John. 1999. Backcountry Skiing California's
High Sierra. Globe Pequot Press. This section of our
journey in particular encompasses the South Lake to North Lake, Paiute
Pass to Rock Creek, and the
Rock Creek to Mammoth tours, all of which I have skied before, so I
can attest to their magnificence! Because I have skied this area
before, it is filled with names that bring back memories of good
friends and amazing adventures: Muir Pass, Evolution Basin, Humphreys
Basin, Royce Lakes, Granite Park, Lake Italy, Bear Creek Spire, Rock
Creek Canyon, Golden Lake, Pioneer Basin, Devil's Postpile. The
sheer number of names is
indicative of the Sierra's incredible beauty and diversity...around
every corner is yet another gripping panorama in this vast ocean of
mountains. I never get sick of it. What more can I say
about this section other than that I can't wait to spend a week
skinning and sliding through these sunny, snowy realms. A bonus
at the end of this section could be a dip in the natural hot springs at
Reds Meadow (in early season there should be no one there!) as well as
an exploration of the unique columnar basalt formations of Devil's
Postpile. Mammoth Mountain (with its equally massive ski resort)
looms to the east in this volcanic pocket within a land of
granite. We plan to spend a day resupplying in lively Mammoth
Lakes at the completion of this segment.
Return to top Segment 15: Rest Day in Mammoth Lakes, CA Segment 16: Mammoth Mountain to Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4) This is another lengthy
segment (9 days) that begins with a climb
from Reds Meadow to the base of the Ritter Range. This will be an
important milestone in our journey since the Ritter Range--a jagged
spine of dark metamorphic rock--contains Banner's namesake, as well as
Mt. Ritter and the amazing summits of the Minarets. In fact, it
is my hope that we will be able to climb (and maybe ski down!) Banner
Peak at this point. Banner is really looking forward to signing
the summit register on the peak for which he was named! Beyond
the Ritter Range, we will enter Yosemite National Park and once again I
plan to leave the PCT route for a higher route closer to the Sierra
Crest which is also described in John Moynier's book: Moynier, John.
1999. Backcountry Skiing
California's High Sierra. Globe Pequot Press. I have also
skied this route before, and it is no less stunning than the terrain
we have already covered here in the Sierra Nevada. I remember in
particular an early camp at the remote Lost Lakes where I spent an
afternoon and evening yo-yo-ing the surrounding silky slopes of spring
corn snow. We will probably spend barely a day in Yosemite before
heading out the east entrance to begin what John Moynier calls the
Tioga Pass to Twin Lakes tour. This section of our route remains
to east of the actual PCT route and travels just along the eastern
boundary of Yosemite, traversing from south to north directly over the
summit of massive Excelsior Peak with stunning views over all of
Yosemite. We will extend Moynier's route beyond Twin Lakes by
traversing the jagged Sawtooth Ridge on the northeast boundary of
Yosemite and then making our way back to the PCT route just before
reaching Sonora Pass (Highway 108). A final stretch of skiing
through the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness will bring us to Ebbetts Pass
(Highway 4), where we will celebrate the completion of almost exactly
1000 miles of hiking and skiing! We hope to meet several good
friends here at Ebbetts Pass, and Banner and I will be taking a month
long break from the trail to return to the University of Vermont for
graduation ceremonies. We plan to be back on the trail heading
north from Ebbetts Pass on June 15!
Return to top Segment 17: TRAVEL to Vermont for UVM Graduation Segment 18: Ebbetts Pass to Echo Summit (Highway 50) We're back on the trail
after a month long break and a trip to Vermont and back! This
segment will be a short, 3-day reintroduction to the trail, passing
through some of the most bizzare and dramatic terrain of the combined
granitic-volcanic landscape of the northern Sierra. The entire
Sierra Nevada was once covered by volcanic material, and here we can
still see remnants of this material, now eroded into spectacular spires
and pinnacles capping the granitic rock below. Lingering snow may
pose a challenge through this section, depending on how much snowfall
we get throughout the winter, so snowshoes and winter camping skills
may be needed once again. Once we reach Echo Summit, we'll be
just 9 miles away from the lively town of South Lake Tahoe.
Return to topSegment 19: Echo Summit to Donner Summit (Interstate 80) This segment of the PCT
passes through what I might call my "old stomping grounds." I
spent three winters living in the Lake Tahoe area where I taught skiing
and guided backcountry ski trips. Thus, I am familiar with much
of this part of the PCT, and it is a gorgeous section indeed. Of
course, the jewel of this area is Lake Tahoe itself, which can be
viewed from several points along this part of the trail. This
segment begins by passing through the fantastic Desolation Wilderness,
a pocket of densely packed granite peaks and sparkling alpine lakes
that feels like a mini High Sierra. Beyond this granite
playground, the route climbs up to a high ridgeline traverse, and this
may provide opportunities for several peak attempts, including Twin
Peaks, Granite Chief, Tinker's Knob and Anderson Peak. This
section ends by descending through the Sugar Bowl ski area (where I
once taught alpine ski lessons!) and crosses old higway 40 at Donner
Pass before arriving at one of the buisest PCT road crossings,
Interstate 80 at Donner Summit.
Return to top
Segment 20: Donner Summit to Sierra City (Highway 49) This will be a short but
lovely section, starting from noisy Interstate 80 and quickly entering
the quiet realms surrounding Castle Peak. Catstle Peak is a
well-known destination for folks who live in the North Lake Tahoe area,
and I have skied around and to the top of this summit numerous
times. It would be a treat to climb this peak once more after
several years away from the Lake Tahoe area. This segment may
also provide an opportunity to climb tall Mt. Lola which will afford
views as far back as Desolation Wilderness and as far ahead as Mt.
Lassen, nearly 100 miles away. For the most part, however, this
segment simply provides some beautiful hiking in a forested
terrain. We hope to resupply in the quaint town of Sierra City at
the completion of this segment, just 1.5 miles from the PCT crossing of
Highway 49.
Return to top
Segment 21: Sierra City to Belden (Highway 70) Ecological diversity
promises to be a hallmark of this segment, refelcting the topographical
diversity of the route which travels mostly along the crest of northern
Sierra Nevada, but also drops more than 2000 feet into the gorge of the
North Fork of the Feather River. Several vegetation types--from
coniferous forest, to oak woodland, to chapparral--will be encountered
along the way. Early in this segement, we may have a chance to
climb to the precariously perched fire lookout atop the Sierra Buttes,
with a gloriously panoramic 360 degree view (I've been there before, so
I know!). And, in general, the PCT here keeps a high line with
views down into glacially carved lake basins and out over the
forest-cloaked ridges of this part of the Sierra. These forests
also host a good deal of logging, so we expect to encounter numerous
clear cuts along the way. In general, this should be lovely
section of smooth hiking and incredible vistas. Just before
reaching the segment's end, we should catch some views north to Mt.
Lassen, which will be a highlight of the next segment.
Return to top Segment 22: Belden to Old Station (Highway 89) We leave behind the
Sierra Nevada range in this segment and enter the Cascade Range, which
we will follow until we reach Canada (except where the PCT leaves the
Cascades in favor of the Klamath Mountains in segment 25). The
terrain becomes more level in this volcanic land, and we therefore plan
to step up the mileage a notch to just over 20 miles per day. The
highlight of this section will be the crossing of Lassen Volcanic
National Park, with its menagerie of steaming geysers and fumaroles,
boiling lakes and mudpots, and its host of volcanic cinder cones and
other fantastic landforms, including massive Lassen Peak, the
southernmost of the Cascade volcanoes.
Return to top
Segment 23: Old Station to Castella (Interstate 5) This segment travels
further WEST than it does north, bringing us through the sprawling
forests of the southern Cascades and to the base of the Klamath
Mountains which we will enter in the next segment. These forests
are also largely in private ownership and they are heavily logged, so
unfortunately this segment has a reputation as one of the least
desirable of the PCT. Clearcuts and even active logging
operations can be encountered. At the same time, much of this
section traverses ridgetops with fantanstic views across all of
northern California, and if you're a geology fan, this section also
traverses a complex series of bedrock strata that paint a fascinating
picture of the geologic complexity of northern California. We
will be trying to keep our mileage high through this mostly mellow
section, just over 20 miles per day.
Return to top
Segment 24: Climb and Ski Mt. Shasta The name of this
segment more or less speaks for itself. Mt. Shasta is one of the
premier ski mountaineering meccas of the west coast (in my humble
opinion), and it would be wonderful to be able to make an attempt on
this peak during our PCT journey. From the 14,162-foot summit one
can often ski a clean 7000 feet down right back to where you parked
your car...even in July depending on the snowpack!
Return to top
Segment 25: Castella to Seiad Valley (Highway 96) This is a lengthy
section that rivals the High Sierra for its remoteness and
wildness. We now leave the Cascades for a time in favor of the
Klamath Mountains, which we will follow until reaching Oregon, still a
couple hundred miles away. The segment begins in the stunning
Castle Crags Wilderness--a land of granite also remeniscent of the High
Sierra--and continues on through the Trinity Alps WIlderness, Russian
Wilderness, and Marble Mountain WIlderness. The PCT generally
keeps a high ridgeline route, traversing from the head of one gorgeous
glacially carved valley to the head of the next, and views are
consistently panoramic and glorious. This section also boasts a
large amount of geologic diversity which translates into a large amount
of ecological diversity. Covering the over 150 miles of this
section in 8 days will be a great challenge, and by the end of this
segment we will have covered just over 1600 miles of the PCT.
Just over 1000 miles to go!
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