>>2015733I hiked the PCT in 2019, it was the best 5 months of my life, and I think the trial is absolutely worth doing, that being said, in order to successfully make it from Mexico to Canada, you should do a lot of research, training, prep and really know what you're getting into.
Alras are a good idea, almost all thru hikers use trail runners, they're much easier on the feet for blister prevention and general foot health, and they're lighter and breathe better. Also that pack you posted is very heavy for the kind of use you'll be seeing on trail, I'd recommend something similar to the ULA circuit, you should aim for a baseweight under 20lb, under 15lb ideally, but you'll figure out what shit you can drop from your pack on trail as well. You only need the bear canister for ~300mi on the pct, so if you want a bigger pack for that you can ship it to Kennedy Meadows and just use it for the sierra, then you don't have to lug a massive pack around for the entire trail. (though I found the ULA circuit had more than enough room for all my gear + the canister)
You better start on the permit front now, if you keep watching for cancellations, you should be able to snatch one up, but you'll have to start now.
Start doing lots of research, know what you're getting into, I recommend
halfwayanywhere.com, he does a lot for great surveys of PCT hikers, otherwise, just googling questions about the trail and using forums like the pacificcresttrail subreddit are quite useful
>>2031092start training now, the fitter you start, the better your chances. One of the biggest reasons people fail to make it to Canada is overuse injuries, the better shape your body and legs are in, the better your odds are, also try not to ramp mileage up suddenly or start off the bat with 20 mile days, as that often else's to injuries. You'll have plenty of time to go fast North of the Sierra's.
If you have any questions feel free to ask, always happy to talk about the trail
