Breathtaking scenery and wild and lonely trails await you. And you’re the type who enjoys the physical challenge and periods of isolation that backpacking brings. Now, you’re getting ready for a different challenge.
You’re preparing to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. It's going to be your first thru hike. And while you’ve been on several backpacking trips, you’re wondering what to pack for your first thru hike to be sure you're prepared.
What different scenarios do you meet on a thru hike that you wouldn’t come across on your normal forays?
Do you need to increase your level of preparedness?
What's your backup plan for if your equipment starts to fail on a hike?
I believe there are six things that you should consider adding or caching to your gear when you're packing for your first thru hike.
Why Would Your Gear Be Different for a Thru-Hike?
Really, your needs on a thru hike aren’t different from your normal weeklong backpacking trip. It’s just, the stakes are higher.
If your backpack buckle breaks on a week-long trip, then maybe you have to deal with tying it around your waist for a few days. If it breaks on a thru-hike, you may be stuck for a few weeks. And that can lead to chafing, blisters, or worse.
A failure in your GPS on a normal trip might lead you scratching your head, but – even if you get off course – you’re likely to find your way back. A failure on thru hike could leave you wandering the wilderness for much longer, stretching your stamina and your food supply.
So, when it comes to packing for a thru hike, the balance becomes what redundancies do you build in and what do you cache ahead of time.
(Yes, I just said redundancies in a backpacking context. Don’t freak out. Redundancy doesn't mean a ton of extra weight.)
What to Pack and What to Cache for Your Thru Hike
Yes, we’re backpackers. As such we are obsessed with lightening our packs with lightweight, versatile gear. But when you're thru hiking your gear's durability becomes more important. You are also opening yourself up to greater risk when you isolate yourself, so mitigate the risk.
(Quick Disclaimer: These are my opinions based on years of experience taking scouts to remote areas with limited access. As such, my own innate caution comes out in these choices.)
The first thing you should do is check through your go-to big three (shelter, backpack, sleep system). Make sure they're up for a long trip of constant use. If your favorite tent is showing signs of wear, then consider getting a new one
Then, consider adding or caching the following...
Back Up Hydration System
Staying hydrated is key during your backpacking trip. Going without water really isn’t an option. That’s why I always have two methods of water purification.
In addition to a water filter, you can bring…
Iodine tablets
LifeStraw
A backup filter (though this adds the most weight)
I, usually, opt for the iodine tablets and cache a new water filter (or replacement filters) down the trail where I’ll pick up more supplies.
Back Up Navigation System
What happens when the GPS that you’ve relied on for years and years goes on the fritz when you’re weeks away from civilization?
That, my friend, is why you have backup navigation.
I’m a fan of the paper map and compass because I’ve never had one break on me. But you can also use offline maps on your phone if you plan on carrying it.
Detailed Itinerary
Your normal itinerary marks your route, campsites, alternate routes, and maybe some trail side toilets.
But when you're thru hiking you need to know both your route and your options. Here's what I mean.
You're halfway through the PCT, and your hiking boots give out. You've duck taped them together, but the duct tape is wearing thin with all the rough terrain. (Yes, even duct tape has its limits.)
You need a new pair of boots and that means you need to take a detour to a nearby town that has an outfitter store and your phone (if you chose to bring it) may or may not have a signal.
That's where your detailed itinerary comes in clutch. It marks:
Alternate trails
Outfitter along your route
No-go zones (due to fire or mudslides)
Trail side toilets
Clean water sources
Cool features to explore
Closest emergency services
And the best burger joints where you plan to pick up your cache and resupply
Furthermore, don’t forget to leave this itinerary with your emergency contact, so that if they need to find you, they’ll have the same info you have.
Repair Kit
When something breaks on a regular hike, you put together a quick fix – that usually involves duct tape – and you forge on for the next few days. But if you're a week's travel from anywhere, with a couple more weeks of hiking ahead, you may need something more.
Done right, this repair kit doesn't add much weight and makes your remaining trip more comfortable.
My repair kit includes:
Duct tape
Heavy duty needle and thread
Fishing line
That's it. Nothing fancy, but immensely helpful when something fails.
Cash or Gift Card
There's no way around it. Along your route, something will fail. Whether it's your shoes, your tent, your backpack buckle, something essential will break and you'll have to repair or replace it.
Having some type of payment options on hand means you can replace your gear at the next town. And maybe enjoy a good meal that you don’t have to pack and cook yourself.
Having some cash or gift cards also comes in handy if you’re switching out gear that you’ve cached and you need to ship the old gear back to yourself.
What’s not recommended is bringing your debit or credit card along. While I have the vast majority of people you meet on the trail are awesome outdoors lovers just like you, there’s a bad apple in every barrel. And if your card is stolen, you may have trouble reporting that until you return to civilization. Meanwhile, the thief is enjoying a shopping spree on your dime.
Personal Locator Beacon
When you’re deeper in the wilderness, travailing the less traveled paths, and soaking in the solitude, the undeniable truth is you increase your risk.
You risk getting lost. You risk being out of contact. You risk being far away from aid if you need help.
Okay, so there's risk. We both know you’re going to do it anyway, so manage your risk. Bring an emergency beacon. These lightweight, handy devices emit a signal to alert authorities in case of an emergency.
There’s a variety of options out now. And most of them include limited messaging options. So three weeks into your trip you can send your mom a message and let her know that you haven’t been eaten by a bear…yet.
Here are some options:
Spot X
Garmin inReach
Yellow Brick
Conclusion
To wrap up, let's talk caching.
I've mentioned this in the above points, but if this is your first thru hike, you're probably not familiar with it. Here's the TD;LR on caching.
Caching supplies for a thru hike can mean hiking in from a closer trailhead ahead of time and caching bear canister with supplies at a future campsite. Or, you can air drop supplies, or (what I'm more familiar with) you can mail yourself a package to a friend nearby the trailhead or a P.O. box in trail town.
This is how you can...
Change out clothing that might wear out on the trail like socks and underwear. Or, if the weather's changing, you can add a warmer jacket.
Pick up new gear like back up water filters, batteries, headlamps, boots
Resupply: pick up new fuel, more food, etc.
Do your own research, and remember to pack for longevity and risk mitigation, and find the best places to resupply and places caches. And remember, this is your first thru hike, it's okay if you pack a little more in exchange for peace of mind.
That's how you'll truly enjoy your first thru hike!