My name is Bruce Nelson, aka Buck. On the long trails I follow the tradition of using my "trail name," Colter. In 2010 I'm going to attempt a 2,650-mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT.) This trail roughly follows the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, and then the Cascade Mountains of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. It starts at the border of Mexico/New Mexico and finishes on the Montana/Canada border. About 300 people a year attempt to "thru-hike" the whole trail, and according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association, about 60% finish.

I like to pack light, and will be doing so again on this hike. I've posted my gear list here.

There is a mountain of good information about the Pacific Crest Trail to be found at the links to the left. Check them out to learn more.

Please scroll down to see a list of "trail towns" and for a map of the trail's route. And if you like maps, make sure you check out the link for the Postholer maps of the PCT. Really interesting!

Using Craig's PCT Planner (see link to the left) I generated a general hike plan. I am a firm believer in modifying a hike plan as necessary. Weather, fitness, snow levels, the fun factor, etc. will all play a role in changes made along the way, but this plan will still likely be in the ballpark and give a good idea of days between resupply points, etc. I'll be starting out fairly slow, as I'm starting reasonably early in the season. This will give me plenty of time to get in good shape and give the snow in the high Sierras more time to melt. Sounds like that might be an especially good idea this year!

Section	mi/day	ft/day	Distance (mi)	Elev. Gain (ft)	Days	Arrival
Campo (start)						4-21-10
Campo to Warner Springs	12.9	1052	110.6	8985	8.5	5-01-10
Warner Springs to Idylwild	12.2	1791	69.6	10211	5.7	5-07-10
Idylwild to Big Bear City	13.3	1703	96.1	12307	7.2	5-14-10
Big Bear City to Wrightwood	13.8	1242	89.6	8090	6.5	5-21-10
Wrightwood to Agua Dulce	13.4	1573	89.0	10428	6.6	5-29-10
Agua Dulce to Tehachapi	16.4	1871	100.2	11427	6.1	6-04-10
Tehachapi to Kennedy Meadows	14.4	1625	141.9	16045	9.9	6-15-10
Kennedy Meadows to Vermillion Valley Resort	18.6	3110	174.3	29128	9.4	6-24-10
Vermillion Valley Resort to Red's Meadow	18.9	2882	29.4	4484	1.6	6-26-10
Red's Meadow to Tuolumne Meadows	19.4	2485	36.1	4626	1.9	6-29-10
Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass	18.7	3005	76.4	12250	4.1	7-04-10
Sonora Pass to Echo Lake Resort	20.0	2003	76.2	7635	3.8	7-09-10
Echo Lake Resort to Sierra City	19.9	2069	102.1	10606	5.1	7-14-10
Sierra City to Belden	19.6	2357	91.7	11056	4.7	7-19-10
Belden to Chester	19.0	2808	46.5	6875	2.4	7-21-10
Chester to Old Station	20.4	1658	41.9	3400	2.1	7-23-10
Old Station to Burney Falls State Park	21.6	687	45.9	1457	2.1	7-25-10
Burney Falls State Park to Castella	20.1	1938	82.9	8000	4.1	7-30-10
Castella to Etna	19.7	2205	99.8	11144	5.1	8-04-10
Etna to Seiad Valley	20.6	1518	56.8	4185	2.8	8-07-10
Seiad Valley to Ashland	18.8	2923	64.5	10002	3.4	8-12-10
Ashland to Crater Lake Post Office	20.1	1888	105.4	9883	5.2	8-17-10
Crater Lake Post Office to Cascade Summit	20.5	1638	79.6	6376	3.9	8-21-10
Cascade Summit to Elk Lake Resort	20.5	1577	46.1	3541	2.2	8-23-10
Elk Lake Resort to Sisters	19.8	2142	31.0	3350	1.6	8-24-10
Sisters to Big Lake Youth Camp	19.7	2246	11.4	1300	0.6	8-25-10
Big Lake Youth Camp to Timberline Lodge	19.9	2069	106.4	11055	5.3	8-30-10
Timberline Lodge to Cascade Locks	20.4	1710	49.3	4140	2.4	9-03-10
Cascade Locks to White Pass	19.1	2692	148.1	20837	7.7	9-11-10
White Pass to Snoqualime Pass	20.2	1848	98.6	9025	4.9	9-15-10
Snoqualime Pass to Skykomish	18.4	3308	74.5	13420	4.1	9-20-10
Skykomish to Stehekin	18.5	3169	97.8	16720	5.3	9-26-10
Stehekin to Manning Park	19.1	2734	88.8	12723	4.7	9-30-10