Pacific Crest Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide to Successfully Thru-Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

by Zach Davis, Carly Moree

Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is 90% mental.Each year, thousands of backpackers take to the Pacific Crest Trail with the intention of successfully thru-hiking the 2,650-mile footpath that extends from Mexico to Canada. Despite months of research, thousands of dollars poured into their gear, and countless hours dedicated to grinding away on the StairMaster, most hikers fall short of their goal.Why? 

They neglected to prepare for the most challenging element of a five month backpacking trip.While the PCT presents extraordinary physical challenges, it is the psychological and emotional struggles that drive people off the trail. Conquering these mental obstacles is the key to success. This groundbreaking book focuses on the most important and overlooked piece of equipment of all- the gear between one’s ears.Filled with first-hand, touching yet humorous vignettes and down-to-earth advice that both instructs and inspires, Pacific Crest Trials gives readers the mental road map they’ll need to hike from Mexico to Canada.Following up on his wildly popular guide to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in Appalachian Trials, Zach Davis has teamed up with 2015 PCT thru-hiker Carly Moree to bring readers the ultimate psychological and emotional guide to prepare for the Pacific Crest Trail.In Pacific Crest Trials readers will setting techniques that will assure hikers reach CanadaThe common early stage pitfalls and how to avoid themHow to beat “the Death of the Honeymoon”The importance and meaning of “hiking your own hike”How to adapt amongst drastically different terrains, weather patterns, gear and logistical needsFive strategies for unwavering mental enduranceHow to save money on gear purchasesTips for enjoying rather than enduring each of the five million steps along the journeyAdvice for staving off post-trail depression from one of the country's most respected trail angelsNutritional guidance for avoiding post-trail weight gainAdditionally, readers will receive an in-depth guide to choosing the right gear for their PCT thru-hike from Triple Crowner, Liz "Snorkel" Thomas. In this chapter full of valuable insights, Snorkel walks readers through what features to look for in quality gear, how to save money, how to lessen the load without compromising on safety or comfort, and offers crucial advice on how to properly use and care for your gear. Furthermore, Thomas offers several specific product recommendations, giving readers a helpful head start on their shopping list. This is an adaptation of Appalachian Trials. Although this book is written with the Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker in mind, the principles are largely similar.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature, Travel, Self Help, Adventure, Memoir

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2016

Reviews

[Heather Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is one of the most helpful PCT/thru-hiking books I have read thus far. The organization makes sense. The authors are knowledgeable and pull from a variety of other hiker knowledge. It talks about the stuff that you don't think about when prepping for thru-hiking; emotional challenges, psychological challenges, all that stuff. I love that there are actual tips to address these problems that are practical and doable on the trail. Additionally, the hear discussion and lists in the back of the book are super helpful. I'll probably be referencing this work numerous times in the coming months that I prep for the trek. This. lol would be applicable for any thru-hike, but it does have some pct specific tips. Definitely worth the read.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not really ideal for me.

I've been backpacking in California for almost fifty years, and my semi-retirement “career” has me working into the retail sector of the outdoors world. So I know what high mountains can dish out, and I’m experienced with and very knowledgeable about the gear.

And after all those years, I know for certain that the reason I’m on the trail isn’t because of some quest to prove myself or to spiritually grow — it’s because I love walking the trail, and spending nights there.

On a PCT Facebook forum I was astonished to see a remark along the lines of “your best days on the PCT will be those where you’re not on the trail.” The author was clear that they meant the time ‘recovering’ in a trail town, heading out to wolf down pizza with your ‘trail family’ after everyone has taken a nice hot shower.

That is not where my joy lies. As the saying goes, “hike your own hike”: those doing the PCT for other reasons are welcome to share the mountains with me, but I find that perspective foreign.

That said, I haven’t yet done the 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. The single longest trail I’ve done is the John Muir Trail, which is only 211 miles (well, to the top of Mount Whitney; you’ve got to come down, so it’s really 220 or so). That was somewhat under three weeks; the PCT will probably take me somewhere around four months.

But I’ve got reasons for believing I’m not going to suffer much from the ‘trials’ the book discusses.

▶︎ I’ve done something more like this when I did about 300 or so miles of backpacking in New Zealand. I did seven or eight backpacking trips stitched together with replenishment stops in the small towns in the southern half of the South Island, along with transit between trailheads. The highlight was being in the wilderness, not the town visits. Those were fun, yes — especially the time in hostels in Christchurch and Queenstown.

▶︎ I’ve been on relatively boring trails. The nine-day North West Circuit loop of New Zealand’s Stewart Island is nowhere near are scenic as the six-day loop I did at Arthur's Pass, the Kepler Track, or the Dusky Track (those all compete quite well with the Sierras). Stunning scenery is, well, stunning. It’s great. But years ago I stumbled on a poem that well-expresses the Zen-like peace I feel when I’m doing nothing but hiking in the quiet solitude of the backcountry:

Eye Blade:
❝The figure moves deeper away through the hills
wandering mapless, sighting blue and gray
peaks to measure how far, or remembering nothing
is far, everything far: arriving isn’t the point
the point is to move not away from or to,
but constantly in the place where the mind centers,
driving it through the mountains.❞
— George Evans, 1988

(That said, I don’t hike mapless, but I wish I could. But I don’t live in a time that permits hunting on these trails, and vegetarian foraging wouldn’t be sufficient to meet the caloric demand.)

▶︎ I’ve done long adventures without much pining for home or spiritual exhaustion. I did a solo six-month 25,000 motorcycle trip around, roughly, the periphery of the United States, and at no point did I want to cut it short, even when I was soaked through from being at the edge of a hurricane on the Gulf Coast, and again two months later in New England, or sneezing (inside a motorcycle helmet!) with a cold while riding and camping in Canada’s Rockies in early autumn snows. In fact, I remember grinning inside my helmet, amused at how much fun it was to be subject to physical misery. I knew I would survive, and that the physical misery was transient. So I’ve been there.

That said, I’m much older. Maybe such a long trail will bring suffering and pain that I won’t want to tolerate. If I think the trail might inflict an injury that will curtail future hiking, I’d probably stop. Some of the hikers depicted in this book seemed foolish — hiking with injured feet that would never fully heal due to the sustained trauma, for example.

I’ll just have find out.

[Annina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting ready.

[Julia Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently felt called to walk the PCT. perhaps it was turning 50, or perhaps it was the fact of losing three people in my life due to Covid in one month, but I felt called. We only have a limited time on this planet, so let’s make the most of it... decision made. PCT, 2033 date has been set!

I’m a fairly experienced hiker from the UK, but I’ve never walked for more than a month. The PCT is a six month adventure and I was keen to understand the mental battles that I would need to overcome to get to Canada. This book is brilliant. It’s written with “hiker humour” and a language that I understand. It’s not overly complicated and the exercises are straight forward but they really do programme your brain.

I will read this book a few times before I set foot on the trail, but will also download an audio version to take with me.

A good read!

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a lazy book. The authors copied and pasted from all the websites about the PCT.

Neither of them are psychologists, so their big advice for the emotional rigors of the trail is "it'll suck, but you should keep going" but stretched into 200 rambling pages. The thing is, there are legitimate psychological studies on resiliency they could have cited if they were willing to do research.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the “mental game” of thru hiking. Must-read for everyone who is planning on hiking the PCT. I would have liked more stories from fellow hikers and their struggles. Sadly, the chapter on post-trail weight gain was a major let-down, because it suddenly focussed on nutrition but is way oversimplified. It would have been nice if that chapter also focussed on mental aspects.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an invaluable resource in preparing for a through hike, both physically, but more importantly mentally.
It has its origins in a book titled Appalachian Trail trials by Zach Davis who thru hiked the AT and also authored by Carly Moree, expanding to include experience thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the authors didn’t even DO the PCT. Nor are they psychologists. They don’t have any of their own thoughts (how could they-they have no background to) and just reiterate others anecdotes with no actual scientific reference (I’m looking straight at you plug for the South Beach Diet). The authors’ over arching advice is simply, just get on with it. I think you’ll just get on with anything without reading this.

[Roxanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fairly useful guide for PCT preparation, with some helpful tips on the mental difficulties that come with a long-distance hike. Ultimately, however, it does read like an extended blog post. I also found it really odd that it includes reviews of the book on page 7 and found it difficult to read as a former editor, due to the number of mistakes, which meant I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

[Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is great if you're preparing for a long thru-hike, but honestly, it could also be applied to shorter hikes. I've always felt like my mental state is more of a strength than my physical state, but there were still good advice and I loved it.

The only tiny little problem that I would have with this book is that there are a couple typos, maybe a little more editing would have been good, but honestly it's not that big a deal.

I also really recommend Zach's website The Trek and the podcast Backpackers Radio which keeps me entertained when I'm not hiking and I miss it.

[Mani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, a 5-star review because this is really helping me get hyped up for the PCT.

Honestly, though, this is kind of a self-help book that is tailored to the PCT (or really any thru0hike) experience. So I found myself integrating a lot of the tips given into my everyday life.

I don't know why people are so hung up over the author not having done the PCT, his advice is something that I think many people can benefit from regardless.

But, this was a fun and easy read! Something I picked up before bed every day :)

[Merceda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about the mental issues of hiking the PCT. Talks about the honeymoon phase, after the honeymoon phase, having bad days on the trail, wet and mosquito borne days on the trail. Wishing one was doing anything but being on the trail. Also talks about all of the positive items on the trail and finding the positive aspects of people throughout the trail, especially the thru-hikers, trail-angels, the positivity of people in the towns.

[Alana Koscove · Rating 2 out of 5]

while some small points/reminders were helpful, not the best prep book for me. the mindset towards reaching Canada is singular and very masculine/macho —that may work for some, but as I want to give myself space and kindness, the “don’t be a pussy and quit” attitude put forth isn’t for me.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about this book after listening to Zach Davis’s podcast, Backpacker Radio. I’ve done a fair amount of backpacking, so I do know about the ups and downs of the trail. This was a very interesting read I think in part because I have backpacked before and could relate to a lot of the hardships. His advice on how to mentally approach backpacking could be applied to hiking the PCT or just going out for 5 days.

[Phil Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, exactly the kind of info I want to be loading into my brain before hitting the trail. Shorter and to the point, written in a very relatable way. Will definitely read again closer to my start date.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Examines how to prepare yourself mentally for a long-distance hike; likely mental obstacles on the trail, and how to handle them; and how to successfully reenter your life after months walking. Seems good, but I haven't hiked a long-distance trail, so who knows?

[camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff

[Richard Pavlovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Good suggestions on mental prep. It gets me inspired.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really informative look at the Pacific Crest Trail. This was super helpful as I was section hiking and deciding to leave the trail, as well as through the absolutely horrendous first week. :)

[Katie McQuillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the point

I enjoyed the honesty and simplicity if the messages in the book. Useful tips for other big challenges in life not just the PCT.

[Jeremy Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the mental fortitude that it takes to hike a trail like the PCT.

[Joel Resendiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I glade that I read this book. Really helped me prepare for the pct. Can't wait 2021 is the year!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, profound, preparing! I’m really looking forward to applying the mental strategies in this book on my first thru-hike. Thanks a lot to the authors for putting together such a great guide :)

[Emma Hearne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for writing this book and all the thought and expertise that went into it! This book could very well be what keeps me on trail this year.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main author hasn't hiked the PCT so this seemed a bit generalized. The co-author had more specific things to say but not enough.

[James Giltner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and enjoyed the focus on the psychological preparedness compared to the other books on the PCT more about the journey

[Cristina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is EVERYTHING if you’re preparing to hike the PCT. i feel like i have so many tools under my belt now and i will feel way more prepared when shit hits the fan.

[Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pacific Crest Trials is essentially the same book as the Appalachian Trials, but with a different cover. Of course there are sections that are specific for the PCT, but the main message is the same (no surprise) and part of the content is copy-pasted (no surprise either).

Still an important part of preparation for a long distance hike. And possibly more appealing for the PCT hikers than the Appalachian Trials. One of the few (if not the only) book that addresses the psychological challenges of a long distance hike.

[Rutuja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read Before Leaving For The Trail

It is very easy to romanticise the trail from the comfort of your home. However, anticipating the challenges and obstacles of the trail and having a plan to tackle them, months before your leave for the trail, takes PCT preparation to a whole new level. As the authors claim, this book is about the biggest gear you have, "the one between your ears." It's a sincere and earnest attempt at preparing the reader for the psychological aspects of the trail and it does not disappoint.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thinking of your first thru-hike? This is the book to read. Filled with actual useful information for those trying to ready themselves mentally for a thru hike. I don't re-read many books, but I will be re-visiting this book before I head out on the PCT