[pct-l] PCT info links

[enyapjr at comcast.net]

With some of the questions posed to the list recently, thought I would supply some links I've gathered over time for various 'general' PCT topics...  All links have been checked out/updated before posting, so they "should" work!  - as long as they don't 'wrap'...  ;-)


PCTA:  <http://www.pcta.org/>  Lots of info!!  Click on “About The Trail” and “Trip Planning” – dig deeper via the links to find more details…  (hopefully you’re already a member!) 

USFS PCNST Guide:  <http://www.fs.fed.us/pct/index.html>

Craig’s PCT Planner:  <http://www.pctplanner.com/>  Slightly outdated (last update to post office / town info page was 3/1/2004), but still a great planning resource...

Wilderness Press Guidebook SoCal:  <http://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16651>
Wilderness Press Guidebook NorCal:   <http://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16649> 
Wilderness Press Guidebook OR/WA:   <http://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16650> 
Wilderness Press PCT Data Book:   <http://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16648> 
(all available from PCTA Store or Amazon.com – if you insist on the lower price at Amazon, take a minute and go to GoodSearch.com and type in “pacific crest trail” and select the PCTA as your charity, then click on GoodSearch Shopping and then Amazon, a %age of your purchase will go to the PCTA…  Get a ‘good’ price and still donate to the PCTA at the same time…)

Yogi’s PCT Handbook:  <http://www.pcthandbook.com/>  Has become the 'bible' for PCT planning; multiple viewpoints from many past thrus about everything involved in a thru-hike...  Highly recommended.

PCT Atlas:  <http://www.pctatlas.com/>  Highly recommended.  Should soon become the #1 'on-trail' guide (the ONLY ‘guide’ I will CARRY when HIKING the PCT)...

PCT CD-ROM Maps/Photos:  <http://www.morethanamile.com/pctaorg/> 

PCT Maps by Halfmile:  <http://www.pctmap.net/download/p/mapdl.html>  CA sections A-Q, more coming…  Also waypoint, Google Earth, Google Maps, and TOPO! files; cell phone info, too…  Highly recommended.

Bearcant’s PCT Elevation Profiler:  <http://www.bearcant.org/elevation.php>   Very nice interactive layout…

Hikertrash Maps:  <http://www.hikertrash.com/>  (CA sections A-C, part of D, R; all of OR; WA part of H)

USFS Pacific SW Region (CA) Forest Visitor Maps online:  <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/forestvisitormaps/>

Mount San Jacinto SP map:  <http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files/MtSanJacintoSPmap.pdf> 

California Snow Water Content Plot:  <http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/reports/PLOT_SWC>  (current season); <http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/reports/PLOT_SWC.2007>  (good example of wide variation in 2 successive years, 2006 and 2007 seasons)

Postholer:  <http://postholer.com/cgi-bin/postHoler>  (Excellent!  Years of historical data, fun to ‘play’ with)

Ice Axe Self Arrest video:  <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM3xLshmNnk>  Very good 6 minute video, but it does NOT replace on slope training/practice!

AsABat’s SoCal PCT Water Report:  <http://www.4jeffrey.net/pct/>  Two reports: Sections A-D and E-G; latest E-G can be obtained at Hiker Heaven in Agua Dulce upon arrival there…  Another PCT 'bible' - don't leave Campo without the latest info...

California Campfire Permit:  <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passespermits/campfire_permit/campfire-index.html>  Follow instructions and get your permit online…

SIBBG 2008 Food Storage Map:  <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/map040108.pdf>  or  <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/foodstoragemap.htm>  NOTE: this is the 2008 map…  Possible MAJOR change for 2009 – ALL of Seki backcountry may require bear canisters (see link below)…  SIBBG should have 2009 info available around April 1st...

SIBBG 2007 Food Storage Map: <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/upload/SierraNevadaFoodStorage.pdf>   Note how northern Yosemite NP changed from 2007 to 2008…

Inyo NF food storage:  <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/bear.shtml> 

Seki NP food storage:  <http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm>  (NOTE possible 2009 change!)

Yosemite NP food storage:  <http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bearcanisters.htm> 

SIBBG Food Storage page:  <http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/index.htm> 

Sierra Bear Boxes (Food Storage Lockers):  <http://climber.org/data/BearBoxes/map.html> 

“Fixing Your Feet” e-zine:  <http://vonhof.typepad.com/fixingyourfeet/>  (great info on taking care of your most important ‘gear’ on the trail…  get the “Happy Feet!” booklet, at least – you and your feet won’t regret it!!)

TrailJournals:   <http://www.trailjournals.com/journals.cfm?sort=&year=2009&trail=Pacific%20Crest%20Trail>  2009 PCTers…

Postholer Journals:  <http://postholer.com/journal/index.php>  Three special points – can be ‘private’, can easily update journal from the trail, and can show your location on Google Maps…

Pct-l ‘forum’ (mail list):  <http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/>  Yeah, I know - you're already here, but I didn't want to delete it from my document! 

Postholer Forums:  <http://postholer.com/forum/index.php>

Adventure on the PCT Forums:  <http://adventureonthepct.com/forums.php> 

TrailForums – PCT:  <http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=forum&roomID=11>  Will have to go through an ‘acknowledgement’ page, then scroll down to “Rooms” and select the PCT link… 


That should give you plenty of starting points to dig further and find out more specific details...
Hope these links help at least one person for the 2009 season...

Happy trails!!!
Jim / PITA