{"id":3252,"date":"2018-04-25T08:08:24","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T15:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=3252"},"modified":"2025-04-05T06:28:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T13:28:49","slug":"pacific-crest-trail-northern-california-section-hiking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/25\/pacific-crest-trail-northern-california-section-hiking\/","title":{"rendered":"Section Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Northern California"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hiking
Hiking a forested section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Northern California<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ever thought about backpacking sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Northern California? Philip Kramer, author of the new book Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California Section Hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to Donomore Pass<\/em> (Mountaineers Books, 2018) shares key information in this wide-ranging interview.<\/p>\n

Why Does Section Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Have Such a Mystique?<\/h2>\n

For me, the mystique of the Pacific Crest Trail has always been wrapped up in the appeal of a prolonged wilderness experience. I\u2019ve always been intrigued by traveling great distances through wild areas that you otherwise wouldn\u2019t see unless you\u2019re on foot and the Pacific Crest Trail provides a lot of that. It\u2019s not all wildernesses, but it offers a way to experience a great and varied western landscape in an intimate way. And perhaps at the heart of the matter is that with any big adventure, there are questions of whether you\u2019ll make it and how it will change you and your perceptions of the world around you.<\/p>\n

When Did You First Hike the Pacific Crest Trail?<\/h2>\n

I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013. I started April 26th and ended October 26th, which is to say I took my time!<\/p>\n

Why Is Section Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail Growing in Popularity?<\/h2>\n

Section hiking has several advantages over thru-hiking (which is not to say that I think one is better than the other!). Most people are living busy lives filled with various responsibilities: children, careers, financial obligations, etc. Finding four months or more to leave those all behind to thru-hike can be difficult. Finding a week, two weeks, or even a month to hike portions of the Pacific Crest Trail over time is substantially easier (though still a feat!). In my mind, this is the single largest reason that section hiking is becoming more common.<\/p>\n

What’s Your Favorite Pacific Crest Trail Section in the Sierra Nevada?<\/h2>\n

I love the northern portions of Yosemite National Park<\/a> where it meets the Hoover Wilderness. The farther from Tioga Pass Road you get, the fewer people you see. The landscape is challenging and stunning and there are an endless number of side trips one can take to visit distant lakes or nearby peaks.<\/p>\n

\"Hiking
Philip Kramer hiking the PCT in Northern California<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s Your Favorite Pacific Crest Trail Section between Mount Shasta and the Oregon border?<\/h2>\n

The Klamath Range takes the cake for me in this region, specifically the Marble Mountain Wilderness. I knew very little of this area before hiking the PCT and it\u2019s been a treasure trove of surprises. The area is incredibly diverse geologically and botanically and the landscape is impressively rugged. It also doesn\u2019t hurt that you get frequent vistas of Mount Shasta<\/a>. Honorable mention: the Trinity Alps Pacific Crest Trail section<\/a> (and see this new Trinity Alps Wilderness map<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"A
A Pacific Crest Trail section hiker in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest walks toward Mount Shasta.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Explore the Wild and Rugged Trinity Alps With This New Map!<\/h4>\n

\"Trinity<\/p>\n

The alpine lakes and jagged peaks of the Trinity Alps Wilderness rival the scenery of the High Sierra, without the crowds. This new highly detailed map is perfect for your next backpacking trip or day hike:<\/strong><\/p>\n