The Pacific Crest Trail: A Visual Compendium

by Joshua M. Powell

The Pacific Crest Trail as you've never seen it before! A visual feast for the senses, this highly designed paperback showcases the PCT through clever infographics, modern illustration, and insightful text. The book captures both the grandeur of the West Coast as well as the tiniest things that a thru-hiker notices and experiences during a 140-day trek.

Through the written word, graphic design, and illustration, The Pacific Crest A Visual Compendium conveys the beauty and the beastliness of a 2,650-mile wilderness hike from Mexico to Canada. The author chronicles the PCT through infographics about the trail and the thru-hikers' experience, and includes arresting illustrations of the landscape and minutiae of the trail. Everything from trail markers, weather challenges, and the stories behind popular toponyms to the songs stuck in a hiker's head, thru-hiker trail names, and food consumed will be addressed, making this an ideal gift for any outdoor enthusiast.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Walking, Outdoors, Nature

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

Reviews

[Kelli Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book and loved every little bit of it. When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be one that I dip into now and again or skim through, but I ended up reading it cover to cover in two days. It is unlike any other book about the PCT I have ever read -- whimsical to academic, historical to literary, quirky to scientific, with vignettes of life on the trail or in town that bring the PCT to vivid life. I also loved that the author, Joshua M. Powell, acknowledges racist history in the naming of the topography and treatment of people indigenous to the lands through which the trail goes, while also giving readers the indigenous names for mountains along the way. Whether you are a hiker or armchair-hiker, you'll love this one!

[Danielle Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly quick read with interesting visuals, random facts and stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I ended up feeling like I never want to thru-hike the PCT. I expected it to inspire me, and instead it felt like a litany of all the challenges and problems that you face, which while realistic and helpful, not particularly motivating.

[Ariel Butters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun way to organize a book!

[Debbie Pearson cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read that I could pick up and read a little at a time. The author described in such detail what his thru-hike was like that I almost wished I could do it. I loved that he shared exactly what and how much he ate on the trail. 65 Pop Tarts, 44 oatmeal packets, 14 instant pasta meals, etc. He even counted 135 chocolate bars! He shared pictures of plants, animals, and landmarks along the way. His accounts of animal and human encounters were so interesting. I actually felt some of his anxieties along the way. There were so many examples of challenge, triumph, and human kindness that made me feel what he felt. Since my husband hikes sections of the trail each year, I have a better understanding of what he is doing and why he does it.

[Madi Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book in so many ways. I picked this book up on a road trip expecting it to just be a pretty book for my bookshelf one day, but in a honesty, I started reading this book while bored in line at a coffee shop and became immediately touched. There’s something so special about telling these lesser known stories of people and places along the trail. I just got permits last month to hike the PCT next summer and I look forward to experiencing the trail through the same appreciative and loving lens that Joshua Powell did.

Edit: I’m currently hiking the PCT! I left this book with my parents while I’m hiking and it’s a really good way to help them understand what I’m doing a little better:)

[Rebecca Razo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read—part memoir, part reference, part infographic. The publisher needs to post a pic of the cover because it was the cover that immediately got my attention. A beautifully designed, graphics-heavy glimpse of a thru-hiker’s experience on the PCT, with very enjoyable anecdotes of people met along the way, as well as fun historical facts and information. Hiking and nature enthusiasts will really enjoy this, especially if you are already somewhat familiar with the trial towns and nature areas along the PCT. The author is a graphic designer by trade and a book lover. He combined these two things to fully capture his experience on the trail. I really loved it.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read!

I appreciate that Powell acknowledges that his experience as a white man shaped his experience hiking the PCT and that he highlights the Indigenous names of places throughout the trail and that the entire trial is on Native land that was taken.

This book is full of travel anecdotes, lists and quotes, interesting graphs, and various musings. Powell talks about his time on the trail and the people he meets, how he handles his struggles, and what the day to day grind of hiking is like.

It's a fun and interesting peak into a hikers experience on the PCT!

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a visual delight. It shows many aspects of hiking the PCT through graphs, charts, and other pictures. It also paints the through hike as a torturous event. The saddest part is at the end Powell finishes the hike, is not sure how to jump back into life and goes into a deep depression. There is something that calls people to do something like this, but it is definitely not a healthy thing to do psychologically or physically. I would love to hike a few of the sections of the PCT, but I don't really have a desire to do the whole thing in one shot.

[Meepspeeps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read about the author’s 2,600+ mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. The best and worst of each section, along with many interesting (and sometimes gross) anecdotes about thru-hiking prompted me to be in awe, laugh, and contemplate human relationships. The infographics are fun to peruse. I recommend it to anyone who likes hiking, camping, or being out in wilderness-like places.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I have section hiked a large part of the Oregon PCT and was curious about the rest of the trail. The author took me along with him to glimpse the sights, sounds and feelings he experienced on the trail and in the trail towns. He got it just right: songs he heard playing in his head, thoughts about food, friends and what will happen after the journey. My only wish was that he had included just a bit more about Oregon!

[Char Freund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting general trivia and facts in part one. Part two is a combination of his personal anecdotes and observations plus facts about the trail that follow his journey from the Mexican border to Canada. One would still need a guidebook or app such as Guthook/Far Out to actually do the trail.

Will be a nice way to vicariously follow someone doing the hike. Nice pre-read for the actual hiker but not sure if the weight merits it as a take-along book.

[Stephanie Jeannett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a little obsessed with the PCT and loved this book! Felt like I was hiking along with the author and I loved all the facts and diagrams that he added to better understand the trail. And I very much appreciated his mentioning of the Native American names and history of places before they were changed by white people, and not excusing the racism and erasure brought on by many white “explorers” of the region but calling it out for what it is. Highly recommend to everyone!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a talented book designer. The graphics and visuals were unique and beautiful. I enjoyed how the author included Steinbeck quotes at appropriate parts of the retelling. This is my third PCT book. What’s nice is it straddles the line between journal entry and trail guide. Just the right amount of information.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique trail guide of charts, lists and infographics. They range from the generally amusing (things John Steinbeck characters have in common with hikers, most interesting topography names) to things only pertinent to the author (songs that got stuck in my head) to things of general use (worst places to eat, best places to stay, biggest mistakes made).

[Aafke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heel tof om door de overzichten, illustraties en verhalen een beter beeld te krijgen van de Pacific Crest Trail (en hoe iemand die beleefd heeft). Ik vond de losse verhalen soms wat lastig om door te lezen, maar pak het boek er regelmatig bij om te zien waar mijn broer nu loopt en welke plekken hij tegenkomt.

[Max Wolffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely visual guide to the PCT. Joshua Powell writes a series of vignettes about his experience on the PCT and pairs these stories with some selected sights (e.g bird feathers of the pct or berries of the pct). It’s overall just a really really fun book and a different angle to the trail. Highly recommend.

[Verena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved to see actual photos of the trail. Still, I’m glad my local library made the book available ( I agree with a previous review, the print edition is the way to go). Informative and funny. 👍

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of factoids, pics, infographics, & vignettes of a life on the trail. Consistent and perfectly chosen artstyle. First physical book I've read in years. Sat down on Saturday and finished on Sunday!

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about things I'm never going to do. Such as going to Antarctica, playing poker in Vegas, or thru-hiking a long trail. This book was so much fun to read. I loved the maps, graphs, statistics, etc.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book, even for someone who will never hike the PCT. I enjoyed seeing the creative ways he made the data from his trip visual and engaging. Inspiring for anyone who loves visual travel journals.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure to explore.

[Brodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well done book!

[Rae Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really informative book and nice to read from Joshua’s pov days before I step on to the trail ten years later! Found this way more insightful than the general guides.

[Cristina Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ loved loved loved all of the graphics and pictures, but the actual writing was meh for me

[Scott Sargent]

nan

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cool read- lots of beautiful infographics and interesting anecdotes!

[Caitlin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this and viewing different styles of presenting the data. If you enjoy hiking or have any interest in backpacking, I would highly recommend.

[Dan Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun visuals, birds eye view of the authors experience on the trail. Very surface level description.

[Tanya Carper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a joy to read! It is artistically graphic, cleverly and clearly presented. I loved the way Joshua Powell wrote about his own experiences as he hiked the entire 2,653.3 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada the summer of 2014. My favorites parts were the short stories of the people he met along the way and the simple joys of thru-hiking the PCT. I had to laugh at some of the random facts he decided to put in his book, like the picture-book section of all the food he ate, including an entire page of the 135 chocolate bars he consumed!

Joshua wrote creative and beautiful poetry about the sunsets, aspen trees and mountain peaks that brought him peace and serenity. He also describes the loneliness and isolation and discouragement along the way. So, my question to Joshua Powell is this: why would anyone choose to read all of John Steinbeck's book on this trek? He even has a diagram of why he reads Steinbeck with all its dismal, depressing descriptions of hardship and bleak lands. The last thing in the world I would read would be Steinbeck if I was hiking a lonely, difficult road. I'm not a hiker and would never attempt the PCT, but I really enjoyed reading this book!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I think that the Kindle edition may not have been the best way to read this. I notice that many of the most positive reviews are of print editions. Powell's prose came through on Kindle and most of his illustrations and images did not. He had some spiffy maps, elevation graphics, and lots of random trail images. Most of these were grainy and disappointing on Kindle even under magnification.
- This is a pretty common Kindle problem. Is it related to the author, or the platform? Though I have never published on Kindle, I am inclined to believe it is the platform. Even when magnification delivers a good image, it is irritating to spend so much time and break my reading rhythm zooming in and out.

I like trail journals and have read several. This was a good effort, though I was often bored by some of his recurring lists like "songs stuck in my head."