Typical PCT Thru-Hiking Day

Daily Itinerary of a Hypothetical Thru-Hiker

• 6:30 AM   Wake up, briefly identify the next water source and review map. 
• 6:38 AM   Put on rain pants over shorts and a light jacket.
• 6:45 AM   Pack up sleeping bag,  tarp and bivy and retrieve bear resistant canister.  Grab a quick breakfast and some snacks and put the canister back into the pack.
• 6:55 AM   Double check camp for any left items and depart.  Eat breakfast on the go.
• 7:12 AM   Beginning to warm up and feel awake.
• 7:21 AM   Take off the rain pants and fleece jacket and place them back in the pack. 
• 7:24 AM   Take some time to smell some wild flowers, take some pictures, eat a snack.
• 7:30 AM   Quickly verify position and distance to the next water.
• 7:45 AM   Catch up to some thru-hikers taking a break.  Spend a few minutes talking and then start hiking again.
• 8:25 AM   Take some more pictures.
• 9:05 AM   Take a break near the first water source.  Identify the next water source.   Treat three liters of water , one liter to drink now and two to carry.  Eat a snack.
• 9:32 AM   Pack up everything and double check rest area, start back on the trail.
• 9:55 AM   Take some more pictures
• 12:17 PM Identify the next water source and drink up the remaining pint of water.  Treat two pints of water and then find a nice shady spot under a tree.  Pull out the tarp and tie it down.  Get out the foam pad and stove.  Cook up some lunch.... clean up 300 feet away from the water source.
• 12:44 PM Take in the view and then enjoy a little nap
• 1:35 PM   Get up and pack up the tarp and foam pad.
• 1:42 PM   Double check rest area and head back to the trail. 
• 2:45 PM   Dig a cat hole for waste... follow Leave No Trace guidelines , wash hands.
• 2:55 PM   Back on the trail
• 3:30 PM   Take some pictures, eat a snack.
• 3:45 PM   Treat three liters of water at a stream, drink one
• 4:25 PM   Meet up with some thru-hikers on a pass overlooking the valley below, talk, eat an early dinner, enjoy the view and company.
• 4:50 PM   Back on the trail
• 5:55 PM   Start looking for a good camp location, eat a snack.
• 6:05 PM   Set up camp with other thru-hikers, talk, and eat dinner and celebrate the day.
• 6:35 PM   Review guide and identify the next water source. 
• 6:45 PM   Write in journal (20.5 mile day) and share stories with other thru-hikers
• 8:31 PM   Wash up to help keep sleeping bag clean.
• 8:35 PM   Get into sleeping bag and go to sleep.
• 9:15 PM   Dream about a flying cheesecake attacking a slow moving bowl of chocolate covered strawberries in a room full of vanilla ice-cream.
• 10:23 PM Dream this trip will never end...