My brother said the PCT is overrated and I think he's right

We were talking about our trip next year and he flat out said 'Everyone wants the Pacific Crest Trail because of a book and a movie, but you're just walking in a line with thousands of people.' He's done the Colorado Trail and the Wind River High Route. He said on those you actually have to plan, pick your own way, and you see maybe a dozen people a week. It hit different because I've been saving for the PCT for three years, but he's right. It's become a social media checklist item, not a real wilderness trip. The permit system is a fight, the popular camps are crowded, and you're never alone. I'm rethinking the whole plan now. Has anyone else switched from a famous long trail to something more remote and been happier for it?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly3852mo ago

My buddy did the PCT last year and said the community was the best part. You end up hiking with the same group for weeks, sharing resupplies and trail magic. That shared struggle creates real bonds you don't get on a solo route.

the_piper2mo ago

Seriously? @kelly385, that sounds like a summer camp story. People drift apart after the trail ends. You share a tent for a few nights, swap some snacks, and call it a deep bond. It's just convenience. You're all going the same way at the same speed. Most of those "trail families" never talk again once they hit Canada.

dixon.spencer2mo ago

That's a pretty bleak take from the_piper. Shared struggle can make a bond, but maybe it's just a bond to the situation itself. Do those groups actually make plans to meet up later, or do they just promise to?