Preparation will greatly increase the enjoyment you get from your hike. Here are some suggestions based on my experience.

Consider every item very carefully, do you really need it? I suggest that you aim for a starting pack weight of under 25-30 lbs.

Take extra socks, and a dry change of clothes (or at least T-shirt). In the summer you might not even take rain gear if you have quick drying clothes. Hiking in Gore-Tex will get just as wet as being in the rain and much smellier. It does get chilly here in the winter, although rarely very cold. Light fleece and a windbreaker are usually sufficient for night, I wear the same clothes for hiking year round. I do take light weight rain gear in the winter. It is generally 5-10 degrees cooler on the trail than in the city, take that into account when you look at weather forcasts.

Hiking uses a lot of energy, be sure to take enough to eat. Hot food is great on cool evenings and mornings.

There are a few shelters along the trail, but not enough to do the hike sleeping in only shelters. Those that are available are all decent, two of them are very nice. You are allowed to set up camp anywhere in the forest, but during hunting season you need to get a permit. There are generally plenty of potential camp sites, and in my guide I'll point out the really pretty ones. I always try to camp in beautiful places.

Be prepared not to see anyone else while you are on the trail. In many places you are within a few miles of a road, but not all. Forest roads are often gated or not used for weeks

Trailheads are listed in each section. In general there are many access points to the trail. Using the maps you should be able to find the trailheads fairly easily.

Water is an essential ingredient in your trek, you can go a long way without food but you won't get very far without water. Water is also the heaviest item you will have to carry, creating a good incentive for carrying only what you need (hiking in moderate weather 1 gallon a day per person is what I expect to use). I have pointed out the areas where water is in short supply and have indicated what I believe to be reliable water sources. However, almost all water sources on this trail are weather dependent. In droughts I've seen even large streams completely dry. During normal fall, winter, and spring seasons you should experience little difficulty. I always treat my water with iodine, and encourage you to use chemical treatment or a water purifier.

The trail is beautiful all year round. However my favorite times are when it is cool and the leafs are down. Then you can see out more, the long needle pines stand out more, and the heat isn't an issue. The summers can get very hot, I've been hiking when it was 100 deg, this is kind of crazy. If you do go when it is over 90, carry lots of water.

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Last Updated: April 2003

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