Hey everyone! I am less than two weeks away from leaving for the Pacific Crest Trail. I am finalizing the items that I am bringing on the trek and thought it might be interesting to share what I will carry for about 4.5 months! This also might be an interesting read for anyone considering a thru hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. This is my first thru-hike, so, I will no doubt make changes and mistakes along the way with my gear, but, I am looking forward to this learning process. Also, since it is my first thru-hike I am not aiming for an ultralight gear list. I am just aiming to have a reasonable base weight, which right now it is weighing in at 23 pounds. A base weight includes everything that I am taking besides my food, water, and trash. I don’t have any affiliation with the gear companies that I have linked to in this post.
So lets get into what I am bringing!
Camp:
Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Sleeping bag Liner– adds 25 degrees of warmth
Therm-a-Rest Women’s Narrow Sleeping Pad
Kitchen:
Cook Pot- my grandpa’s
Collapsible tin cup- my dad’s
AOTU Portable Camping stove and container
Foldable Spork
Bic Lighter
Sponge for cleaning pot
Sawyer Squeeze (includes bag and backwash system)
Water purifying tablets
2 tall smartwater bottles
Wardrobe:
I will probably make some changes to this before I leave.
Running shorts
Merino Wool Leggings
Silk Pajamas- my mom’s
Hiking Pants
Synthetic blend Baselayer longsleeve
Fleece
Down Puffy Jacket
Rain Jacket
Ijinji sock liners
Darntough wool hiking socks (2)
Wool socks (for sleep)
Beanie
Mid-weight gloves
Fleece neck gaiter
5 panel hat
Sunglasses with strap
Synthetic blend t-shirt
Long sleeve vented button up- my dad’s
Active briefs
Sports Bra
Bug net
Altra Lone Peak 6s
Camp sandals
Bandana (2)
First Aid/hygiene:
Assorted Band-aids
Triangle bandage
Medical tape (wrapped around my hiking poles)
Neosporin
Cold medicine
Benadryl
Ibuprofen
Antibiotic ointment
Prescription medication
Multipurpose Swiss Army knife (includes scissors, tweezers, knife, etc.)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Castille soap
Hiker goo
Moleskin
Charcoal Pills
Gauze Pads
Hair comb
Portable Bidet
Diva cup
Small shovel- my dad made
Vaseline
Mineral Sunscreen
Nail clippers
Quick dry microfiber towel
Earache drops
Kula Cloth
toilet paper
Hand sanitizer
Extra hair bands
Electronics:
Black Diamond Headlamp with three AAA batteries
iPhone 8 and charger
Power brick and charger
Garmin inreach mini 2 with charger
Earbuds
Other:
Trekking Poles
Compass
Printed map
Wallet with permits
Duct tape wrapped around trekking pole
Mini sewing kit
Rite in the rain journal and pencil
Book to read (will change throughout the hike)
Grivel G1 Ice axe (will need these for the snow in Washington and other parts of the trail)
Extra ziploc bags
Stuff sacks for clothes, toiletries, and sleeping bag
extra batteries
Thoughts on gear:
For my first thru-hike I wanted to make sure that while I am out on the trail I bring what is deemed necessary to me so that I am not sacrificing my ability to stay on the trail. Some of what I am bringing probably doesn’t pop up on someone else’s gear list and that is totally okay. When it comes to gear lists they can be pretty intimidating, especially if you are looking to be an ultralight backpacker. What I have been reminding myself is that what I am bringing is the bare minimum for me to complete, and more importantly, enjoy the trail. So, it is okay if I am not an ultralight hiker from the get-go.
Another important note to add is that there will be snow on this hike, especially when I start in Washington. This means that I have to have clothes for cold weather and gear for ice and snow. There will probably be snow when I pass through the Sierras as well. The PCT isn’t meant to be a sunny and 65 walk for 5 months, and that’s the beauty of it! So its best to be prepared for foul weather even if it means it adds extra weight to your pack.
What I start this hike with versus what I end my hike with will no doubt look different because 2,650 miles is a long way to travel with the same items!
Hannah the hiker 
Leave a comment