The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a renowned hiking route stretching 2,650 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington, faces significant challenges following severe storms and federal funding cuts. The trail gained official recognition as a National Scenic Trail of the 1968 National Trails System Act. It terminates in Washington’s isolated Pasayten Wilderness, literally at the border with our neighbor, Canada. It is home to 50 mountain passes and draws long-distance trekkers and part-timers alike who want to explore its breathtaking terrain.
Just in the last few years, wildfires have incinerated close to 250 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Currently, dangerous washouts jeopardize huge stretches of the trail, particularly near Mile 225. Environmental stresses have compounded the problems caused by a trail-maintaining depot’s evaporating funding stream. In turn, hikers are left with a greater risk of danger.
Eric Kipperman, also known as Pure Stoke, is an experienced guide and PCTA’s outreach and engagement coordinator. He gets the chance to welcome each new hiker at the southern terminus right at the Mexican border. He verified their BP permits and went over some essential safety guidance. Kipperman is particularly keen to keep hikers informed about the current conditions of the trail, noting that
“This year, we’re going to have less trail work done on the trails, so just know that going into your hike, safety is the most important thing.”
Impact of Federal Funding Cuts
The unexpected interruption of federal funding over the last year and a half has caused severe impacts for the PCTA. Seasonal employment for the skilled crews needed to rebuild key infrastructure, including boardwalks, bridges, and campsites, have been pulled. Consequently, their state of good repair plan to remove these downed trees and replace storm-damaged portions in 2025 have been scrapped. This forces many sections of the trail to fall into a vulnerable and unmaintained state.
As Justin Kooyman, another trail guide at Teton, emphasizes, these cuts have a real impact on hikers. He stresses that those hiking the trail will experience greater inconvenience and difficulty than in a typical year.
“For hikers, they’re going to be crawling, navigating, working their way through downed trees across the trail that won’t get cut out,” he explained.
Kooyman adds that this will result in a more rugged hiking experience:
“It’s going to make for a little more rough and tumble.”
Despite these conditions, many people still choose to hike sections of the PCT for its breathtaking views and natural beauty. The vast majority of users only hike for a day or two. Whatever the cause, Kipperman wants to remind anyone going on a hike this fall to take precautions and be prepared.
Concerns for Outdoor Spaces
The dilemmas confronting the PCT are indicative of a broader problem the country is facing with protecting and maintaining America’s iconic outdoor spaces. Sandi Marra, the strong, visionary leader of Nature Abounds, a powerful NGO advocating for conservation education, laments this loss of value and respect for these public treasures.
“I am so concerned with what seems to be a general lack of appreciation for what these protected outdoor spaces can bring to not just our physical well-being but to our souls,” Marra said.
Ignoring these essential places, Marra cautions, would be catastrophic.
“If we lose these things, we are really going to be lost as a species, and definitely as a country.”
The PCT is under pressure, and fears for its future are growing. Advocates are pushing for a revitalized effort to protect these beautiful trails and ensure that they’re open, safe, and welcoming to all users.
Navigating Challenges Ahead
With ongoing federal cuts affecting maintenance crews and resources dedicated to trail repair, hikers must now adapt to challenging conditions on the PCT. Marias Michel, a novice hiker planning her first journey along the trail, reflects on her approach:
“I’m just going to be learning by doing because I don’t want to be too much up here.”
New, inexperienced hikers are taking to the trail. Guides like Kipperman and Kooyman are realizing their responsibility and the opportunity to offer essential expertise and protect lives. They challenge hikers to release all expectations of what they may or may not be able to do. Instead, they should be asking how they prepare to address the PCT’s unknowns. Kipperman advises,
“Remove the ego. Address the situation. See if going forward is really the right thing for you.”
