MY HUSBAND AND I WANT TO DO A TWO-WEEK HIKE ALONG THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL ALONG THE WEST COAST OF THE US BUT ARE HAVING TROUBLE DECIDING WHERE TO START AND FINISH. I GUESS A NORTHERN SECTION BUT WHICH IS THE MOST SCENIC? WE ARE ALSO UNSURE ABOUT THE BEST TIME AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT BEARS.
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S. BRADDOCK, PALMWOODS
When do you want to walk? Because this will narrow down your possibilities on this 4286 kilometre walking trail.
If you walk in the northern summer, you could tackle an alpine section of the trail in northern California.
If you choose to hike in cooler months, the section of the trail that passes through deserts and mountains in Southern California is the logical choice.
If you're experienced independent walkers and up for wilderness camping, one of the most popular sections of the PCT is the John Muir Trail (johnmuirtrail.org).
Running between California's Mount Whitney and the Yosemite Valley, this 340-kilometre trail knits together the most spectacular mountain scenery of the Sierra Nevada Range.
In two weeks, you could aim to hike about half the trail.
All provisions and camping gear must be carried, however there are three places where you can resupply along the way.
The season runs from July to September, when the high passes are generally snow free.
Many hikers walk the trail from south to north, beginning from the Whitney Portal, however this entails a rapid climb to the 4460-metre summit of Mount Whitney – the highest in the continental USA – with a full pack.
You're better off walking from north to south, beginning in less strenuous terrain around Yosemite.
Bears are a fact of life along many sections of the PCT and especially so on the John Muir Trail.
If you're hiking through bear country, you need to be bear aware and store your food with care.
Invest in a copy of The Pacific Crest Trail by Cicerone (cicerone.co.uk), a specialist publisher known for excellent and well detailed hiking guidebooks.
The website of the Pacific Crest Trail Association (pcta.org) is another good source of information.
A permit is required for some sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and you need to plan well ahead, numbers are limited and there are more aspiring hikers than places available.
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