Selected photos of the trail

Monument marking start of the trail at the Mexico border. The actual border fence is visible just behind. At dawn on this April morning, many are starting the trail
Southern-most section in California looking northward to snow-covered San Jacinto mountains
10,000 feet elevation in the High Sierra in high summer
Muir Pass in the High Sierra at 12,000 feet elevation has a stone warming hut/shelter but better to keep going down the other side of the pass to find soft ground!
Silver Pass in in the High Sierra getting close to Tuolumne Meadows
Arriving in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite after hiking 150 miles southbound from Echo Lake Resort near South Lake Tahoe
Campsite in the Sierras in the area near Lake Tahoe
Much of the northern Sierra in California entails walking through forest on more gentle slopes than other parts of the trail. Elevations are lower too.
View of Mt Shasta from the trail in Northern California. The trail must take a long 200-mile half-circle detour around to the west of Mt Shasta into the Siskiyou Mountains before reaching the Cascade Mountains in southern Oregon, due to the inhospitable and dry terrain surrounding Mt Shasta.
View from Marble Mountain Wilderness in far Northern California looking towards Mt Shasta
Hiking the trail in Marble Moutain Wilderness
Much of the trail in Oregon involves walking for days through endless forest!
But some Oregon segments traverse volcanic lava fields, like this 5 miles of trail cut into the vast lava field of Belknap Crater just south of pointy Mt Washington pictured beyond
Even in early summer, remnants of snow covering can still be found on many parts of the trail, here in Oregon. Sometimes walking on snow is necessary, from tens of yards to multiple miles. Before early summer the entire section of trail may be snow-covered. In the High Sierra, mountain passes can be snow covered well into summer.
Happy to be finishing the entire trail at Callahans Lodge in 2013. The lodge is located where the trail crosses Interstate 5 near the California/Oregon border. Callahans is well-known among PCT hikers due to its proximity to the trail for resupply, and for longstanding hiker-friendly attitudes and services. And their restaurant is superb!
Callahans Lodge is still there in 2023!
US terminus of the trail at the Canada border
This sign says “Welcome to Canada.” The trail continues into Canada for another 8 miles to end at Highway 3 in Manning Park, but a special permit is required to enter Canada on the trail. Without the permit one must backtrack 30 miles to the road at Harts Pass.
The ruggedness of the North Cascades in Washington State getting close to the Canada border
The trail in the North Cascades of Washington State cuts through very steep terrain with sharp drop-offs to the side. If snow-covered in early or late season the trail can become impassable or highly dangerous
Approaching Interstate 90 and Snoqualmie Pass on the trail in central Washington State
Arriving at Snoqualmie Pass after hiking 250 miles along the trail northbound from the Columbia River. This hike covered the whole southern half of Washington State.
Washington State typical lunch stop right on the trail
Washington State camping near the trail
Views of Mt Rainier (middle right in background) are plentiful along much of the trail in
southern Washington State
Views of Mt Adams in southern Washington State also appear frequently. The trail circumnavigates around the base of the mountain, getting quite close.
However, passing close to Washington State’s mountains also requires crossing fast and turbulent rivers draining snowmelt in early- and mid-season. The scale of the picture is deceptive; crossing will require maneuvering through fast knee-high water and finding the least turbulent and least swift location to cross.
Example of a trail segment that has been engulfed in a recent fire. Trees are weakened and can fall at any time.
Another burned-out segment with more time having passed for the vegetation to start growing back
The crest-following trail often makes one feel “at the top of the world” with non-stop spectacular views
The trail crosses the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington on the Bridge of the Gods; the PCT logo is visible on the upper-right corner of the toll booth
PCT hikers walk right across the Bridge of the Gods and the trail resumes on the other side
Volcanic areas in Oregon feature silty rivers draining mountain snowmelt that must be crossed without being able to see the bottom and cannot be used to obtain drinking water. The trail about to cross this river is visible in the lower right. The scale of this photo can be deceptive; crossing this river will require thigh-deep immersion in fast water.
Finished the entire trail for a second time in 2023 in the same place, at Callahans! In 2013, I told them I would return and here I am again! For the third time, see you again sometime circa 2033!
Me pictured at Callahans in 2013 after getting cleaned up in their hiker shower and sporting a fresh get-off-the-trail shirt mailed to myself in advance at Callahans.