Partial PCT Hike - Does this look efficient

[naysjp]

Hello,

Very glad to find this community. I am not a map reader but found a PCT resource with interactive maps and I put this very small itinerary together. I would like to know if this is a fairly good rendition of a 3-4 day trip on PCT starting in Campo and ending in Mt. Laguna. The directions are from google maps of course but I tried to make this trip where you can stay at campgrounds. I don't claim to know every single campground but these are what I found that keeps you on the trail.

PCT (Campo) to Lake Moreno Park

8.3 miles (2hrs 47 min)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Paci...2445!3e2?hl=en



Lake Moreno Park to Boulder Oaks Campgrounds

9.8 miles (3hrs 14 min)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Lake...8195!3e2?hl=en


Boulder Oaks Campgrounds to Cibetts Flats Campgrounds (via Kitchen Creek Rd) - Pine Valley

6 miles (2 hrs 14 min)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Boul...2301!3e2?hl=en

OR

Boulder Oaks Campgrounds to Burnt Rancheria Campgrounds (via Old Hwy 80 towards Buckman Springs) - Mt. Laguna

15.5 miles (5hrs 48 min)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Boul...2052!3e2?hl=en


Total miles= 24.1 miles if you go Cibetts Flats Campgrounds or 33.6 miles if you go Burnt Rancheria Campgrounds

[Dogwood]

From what I can tell after looking at your first two segments is these are driving routes not hiking the PCT.

[Malto]

CAmpo to Lake Moreno is 8 miles if you road walk using your route but about 24 miles via the PCT. Please, for you sake go here and download Halfmiles maps and at least use the dataset that goes with the maps. https://www.pctmap.net/maps/

Or use Postholers google map. He also has a great map set.
http://www.postholer.com/google-map/...-Crest-Trail/1

While the section of trail is pretty straight-forward you will want to know how to navigate. Getting down into Hauser Canyon wasn't all that clear without maps. At least in 2011. That is not an area I would want to wandering around in.

[Malto]

CAmpo to Lake Moreno is 8 miles if you road walk using your route but about 24 miles via the PCT. Please, for you sake go here and download Halfmiles maps and at least use the dataset that goes with the maps. https://www.pctmap.net/maps/

Or use Postholers google map. He also has a great map set.
http://www.postholer.com/google-map/...-Crest-Trail/1

While the section of trail is pretty straight-forward you will want to know how to navigate. Getting down into Hauser Canyon wasn't all that clear without maps. At least in 2011. That is not an area I would want to wandering around in.

[Malto]

Not sure why that double posted but here's a bit more. You can't use google maps for what you are trying to do. Go to you third map. Go directly to the right of Boulder Oaks Campground and zoom in. You will see the PCT appear. It goes up the Kitchen Creek Drainage near where you see Kitchen Falls. MT Laguna is somewhere about 50 TRAIL miles. One final note, you won't be staying at campgrounds unless you are able to hike 24 miles from campo to Moreno. There are plenty of places to camp right near the trail.

[Venchka]

Here's a trail journal by a couple on the PCT. For them, Campo to Laguna was an overnighter. They passed several hikers along the way.
https://nobohobos.wordpress.com
Become a map reader. Soon.
Wayne


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[naysjp]

I used google maps but selected the hiking figure which meant these were directions for walking not driving. THIS WAS NOT ANY KIND OF FINAL ITINERARY. I did use one of the interactive PCT mails to stay along the trail and zoomed in to see the campgrounds. I will go back and try again using the suggestion from here.

[naysjp]

I did use one of the interactive PCT mails to stay along the trail and zoomed in to see the campgrounds. I will go back and try again using the suggestion from here.

When I first attempted this, I went to a map at pcta.org and used the trail map there and zoomed in to the areas where there were campgrounds and then used google maps for walking directions. That's what I did which explains the difference in miles. I really like NOBOHOBOS blog and will be reading that for updates.

[Miner]

Google Maps walking still shows you walking along the roads, not trails. Google isn't set up to use for hiking trails, only roadways and the like. Using your method, it shows hiking between Campo and Mannng Park in Canada as only 1428 miles rather the the 2650 mile length the PCT actually is and often strays far from the actual trail.

I'm sorry, but if you aren't trolling us, I don't think you are ready to hike the PCT if using something like HalfMile's maps to plan with is beyond your present abilities. Hiking the PCT does require some understanding of map reading and using them to calculate distances. You may want to consider buying Yogi's PCT guide which is geared towards hikers new to long distance backpacking.

[naysjp]

Not sure what your problem is. If you read my first post, you would see that I only want to do a section of the trail. I thank the responders for their info and just simply explained where I got my information.

[naysjp]

Your out line calling me a troll. I thought this forum would be a good source for information. Learning starts by asking questions. If you don't like my post simply ignore it but don't call everyone a troll. You don't know me and I don't know you.

[Miner]

Look, I'm trying to keep you from needing an emergency evacuation or dying. That is my only concern or problem. People have literally died hiking the fist 20 miles of the PCT. And the year I hiked the PCT, 2 guys needed an helicopter medi-vac.

The information you posted was really far from reality and that set up a red flag. And the fact that you seem to have though the method you used to get it was even realistic to use for planning shows a large lack of basic backpacking knowledge or understanding. I was having a hard time believing that you could be possibly be serious about it, hence the trolling comment. I apologize for that since you do seem to be serious. But, in which case, please, for your personal well being, get some basic information on backpacking and navigation before you head out. By your own admission, you aren't a map reader. You need to become one. Join a local chapter of the Sierra Club and take a few of their trips. Or take some of the basic backpacking and navigation classes REI stores sometime offer in the evenings. If you have friends who backpack, ask them to take you on a few weekend trips and show you how things should be done.

[naysjp]

Did you not see my post thanking people for their links? Did you need see my reply showing where I got my information? Do you see a date posted for when I am even going to attempt this outing? That should give you some inkling that I am doing planning and research. Again, don't assume everyone is a troll.

[Miner]

I already apologized for calling you a troll. Please reread my last post without whatever bias you are adding to it, because you are missing my intention.

However, as a peace offering, here is a list of trail mileage that you can use to get an accurate distance between points: Postholer's PCT Databook Page 1

[Dogwood]

Naysjp, do this: CAmpo to Lake Moreno is 8 miles if you road walk using your route but about 24 miles via the PCT. Please, for you sake go here and download Halfmiles maps and at least use the dataset that goes with the maps. https://www.pctmap.net/maps/

Actual PCT Maps are free to down load and explore. Google maps is not the approach you want to take.

[gwschenk]

The 8 miles from Campo to Morena is an old PCT route documented in the older guidebooks. With the recent explosion in PCT population, I've dusted off the old guides as a way to avoid crowds.

[Venchka]

The Guthook app and the base map section starting at Campo would work as a barebones planning tool.
I know nothing about the PCT. But you can't count on hiking from campground to campground. I'm not sure why you would even want to. If there is a campground that fits your daily miles go for it. Otherwise camp where your miles put you.
Wayne


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[Hikingjim]

People tend to tell you how you're going to die on this forum sometimes, which is a bit hard to take. The intention from all people that replied was good though. Main point was that you need to take any section seriously and plan accordingly, which you've noted and are doing

Read up, practice a few basic skills, and you'll be set

[ezabielski]

I used google maps but selected the hiking figure which meant these were directions for walking not driving. THIS WAS NOT ANY KIND OF FINAL ITINERARY. I did use one of the interactive PCT mails to stay along the trail and zoomed in to see the campgrounds. I will go back and try again using the suggestion from here.

Google Maps doesn't know you want to take the scenic way. Google Maps walking directions are always going to take the most direct route that is feasible to walk, even if it means walking a road. The PCT is rarely the fastest way to get between two places. Google Maps does know what the PCT is, and will give directions along the PCT if you know how to force it to, but actually using those directions on the trail would be foolish. I do like using Google Maps walking directions for planning reroutes around trail closures, which may involve taking several other trails and some roads. Otherwise, use Halfmile and Guthooks.

[Venchka]

The other MAJOR problem is trying to look at maps and follow a trail on your phone. Impossible. Useless.
A real quality monitor is needed for planning and printing.
Wayne


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