Pacific Crest Trail Challenge

The Pacific Crest Trail Challenge is designed to celebrate and focus the attention of our members on the trail – yes, certainly to encourage our members to experience it on foot- but also to encourage their engagement in the wide circle of cooperation that sustains it by supporting them to volunteer their time to help maintain it, to advocate for it, to assist others to complete their PCT dreams large and small. 

NOTE: To sign up for PCT hikes associated with this course, go to Explore->Find Activities, select "Day Hiking" and search for the term "PCT'.
 

By registering for this 'course' you automatically qualify for badges and year-end prizes based on your miles hiked or backpacked on the PCT, as well as advance information about PCT trail maintenance events, trail angel opportunities (i.e. opportunities to assist thru-hikers on the trail as they pass through Washington), and fun events such as film nights and special guest speakers.  A small fee is charged to cover the cost of events and prizes.

The program will include:

• A fun 'kickoff' event on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM, at the  Kent Regional Library, 212 2nd Ave N, Kent, WA 98032, with guest speakers including the northwest regional representative of the Pacific Crest Trail Association; a PCT historian, author and storyteller; a long-time Washington PCT ‘trail angel’ and a thru-hiker who will present their experiences giving and receiving 'trail magic', as well as a panel of PCT Thru-hikers to answer your questions and show you their gear. (Space is limited, so find out more and RSVP at https://www.mountaineers.org/about/branches-committees/foothills-branch/events/pacific-crest-trail-challenge-kickoff-event !)
• Mountaineers-led day-hikes and backpacks on sections of the PCT, with as many PCT routes as possible added to the club database and lists of trail options circulated to facilitate this (you can use PCT miles on trips you've already planned to lead or join for CHS or B3 to count toward PCT Challenge credit). 
• Coordinated tracking of PCT miles completed, with badges for various mileage milestones and prizes for those who complete the most miles (and extra rewards for those who lead!) – think PCT-related merchandise like caps, shirts, mugs, jackets, books and maps.  To track your miles you will need a Google account and a link to the shared tracking sheet - email the course leader for the link!
• Coordination of PCT service activities, from trail maintenance to ‘trail-angel’ activities, and recognition of exceptional service efforts. 
• Events, speakers and films to celebrate and educate people about the PCT and the amazing people and places associated with it.

For more information, see the PCT Challenge Announcement.

As soon as you register, you will be given access to a file where you can start recording your PCT miles.  Open the shared tracking sheet, go to the last entry, and fill in your name, email address and info about your PCT hike or backpack on the next line, then SAVE.