The PCT Hiker's Handbook

The PCT Hiker's Handbook
Innovative Techniques and Trail Tested Instruction for the Long Distance Backpacker

Blast from the Past

Published in 1991, this book was the predecessor of the Second Edition, Beyond Backpacking and the current version: Trail Life.

For the Ray-Way Book Collector

Now for sale:

The PCT Hiker's Handbook: The book that started the switch to lightweight hiking and backpacking. Published in the winter of 1991 and Copyrighted a few months later, in the spring of 1992. Went on to eventually become "Trail Life," the updated version.

Fall 1991: My writing nook. The book was written on a 486 PC with WordPerfect 5 software.

Scott Williamson was among the first to read this book and use its concepts on a PCT thru-hike, in 1993. He and his hiking friends also coined the term "Ray Way". Here is his story, written a year later, in 1994.

Scott Williamson comments on The PCT Hiker's Handbook

"In the early spring of 1992 I was preparing to hike the PCT through California. I considered myself very experienced, having taken many weekend trips, a few week-long ones, and a couple of 100 milers. So I thought I knew all about hiking, and felt confident I was making the right decisions.

"I started by buying the "best", and most heavy-duty equipment I could afford. After all, this was going to be a long, difficult hike. The equipment had to hold up. Next came food. Since my pack was going to be heavily loaded with equipment I decided that freeze dried dinners, two servings per meal, would be best. I knew these were designed for backpacking, took little fuel to prepare, and were light in weight. The next question was daily mileage. I had never hiked more than seven miles in one day, but to complete the 1,702 miles from Mexico to Oregon in my planned four months I would have to hike twice that far each day. I figured if I started slowly from the Mexican border I would gradually get into shape in the first week, and after that the hike would be a breeze. Next came my resupply planning. I decided to use as many food drops as possible. Some were more than five miles off the trail, but I would be in top shape after the first week so a few extra miles would be no problem. In the end, my 65 pound load felt heavy, but I was confident in being able to carry it, since the pack had a state-of-the-art suspension system that was supposed to carry the load comfortably.

When I took my first few steps from Campo the weight wasn't too bad, but as I progressed it felt heavier and heavier, and of course the high temperatures were not helping matters. Before long I found myself taking breaks every five minutes, and by the end of the first day I had only done eight miles in ten hours. The next morning I felt very stiff (mainly from dehydration I later learned) and I had no energy (from eating freeze dried dinners the night before). The end of the third day found me only thirty miles from the start, with a painful tendon and with the shoulder strap on my expensive pack ripped out. Discouraged, I left the trail and returned home. The doctor said my foot pain was the result of using boots that were not heavy and sturdy enough. To my knowledge, my boots were among the heaviest available. After staying off my foot for a week it felt much better, so I returned to the trail. From then on I made slow but steady progress, and reached the California/Oregon border in 4 1/2 months.

In a register along the way I read of a new book, The PCT Hiker's Handbook. The fact that the author and his wife had hiked the entire PCT in less time than I had hiked California amazed me, and when I returned home I bought a copy. The first time I read the book I was really surprised by some of the author's techniques. Prior to my California hike I would have dismissed them as the writing of an extremist. But in light of my recent "summer of struggles," I began to realize that many of Ray's methods would probably work much better than mine had. I read the chapters over and over, and began to experiment with some of the ideas. I was hooked on distance hiking, and decided to thru-hike the entire PCT the following summer, using as many of the Handbook's techniques as I could.

The PCT Hiker's Handbook
See Trail Life, the updated version.

As the book recommends, I started by training. It was tough at first, but it showed how fast I had gotten out of shape. And I actually started looking forward to them. I retired my big, heavy pack and searched out a much smaller one. And although I would have originally considered it almost unthinkable, I modified it, along with most of the rest of my gear, to make it work better and weigh less. As the weeks went by I became very anxious to begin, so I moved my starting date ahead. This was a mistake.

I started from the Mexican border with a much lighter pack, and even though I started fairly late that day I hiked 20.5 miles. On my second day, after having a "Ray recommended" dinner of corn spaghetti the night before, I felt energetic with no soreness. After hiking even farther the second day I reflected that with my lighter load, the running shoes, the improved nourishment and increased hydration I was enjoying the hiking so much more, instead of dragging along, concentrating on carrying a heavy load as I did the previous year. The miles went by easily.

After the first week my feet were blistered, probably because of an athlete's foot infection. By following the Handbook's advice to treat my feet with disinfectants, cutting the tongues out of my shoes for more ventilation, and changing to a different kind of shoe, I was able to carry on. The blisters soon healed and gave me no more trouble.

Along the way I met other thru-hikers, and was surprised to find most of them were also following many, if not all, of the Handbook's methods. What a change from the previous year when everyone had heavy packs and boots. Now, all but a very few carried much lighter packs and wore running shoes. We talked constantly about various aspects of "the Ray Way," as we called it. In the early stages a few hikers criticized the book's more "radical" techniques." Later in the summer, though, I was amused to see these same people not only using the very techniques they had condemned, but praising them...after they saw how well they were working for the rest of us.

At Kennedy Meadows I joined forces with five other thru-hikers for the push through the Sierra mountains. And it was here that we had to face our mistakes of starting too early - 450 miles of deep snow and swollen creeks. These not only slowed us down, but they made a few dangers,like on Mather Pass and in Bear Creek. The strange part was that hikers one week behind us reported bare ground in many places where we had searched for the trail buried under five feet of snow. Had we followed the Handbook's suggested starting dates, we, too, would have seen much less snow and dangerous runoff.

I reached Canada in four months and twenty days. Overall, I feel I put out less effort to hike the entire trail than when I had hiked only California the year before. On that hike I lost fifteen pounds, while this summer I lost none. The previous year my highest daily mileage was less than my average daily mileage this time. It had been a good summer, and I had enjoyed my hike so much more.

The techniques in the Handbook may seem extreme, but hiking over 2,600 rugged miles in one summer is a major undertaking, and should never be compared to what most people think of as normal backpacking. If you are considering hiking all or part of the PCT, I recommend you forget all that you know about hiking, especially if it is based on conventional backpacking knowledge. Study Ray's advice and you will learn things the easy way, rather than having to learn from your struggles like I did my first year on the trail.

There is no right or wrong way to accomplish a PCT thru-hike, because in the end the only thing that will get you there is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But I firmly believe that if you adopt the principles in the Handbook your wilderness travels will become much more enjoyable."

Scott Williamson, 1994

Reader Comments

"A roaring round of applause for Ray Jardine's The PCT Hiker's Handbook. Categorically, this book is without peer." -Frederick C.

"If there was ever a book perfectly suited to the hiker's needs, The PCT Hiker's Handbook is it. It is filled with fresh, new and vital information--not the same old rhetoric. Believe me when I say that the Handbook will become a classic!" --Michael A.: PCT through-hiker; Fullerton, California

"Based on 35 years of backpacking experience I can honestly say that The PCT Hiker's Handbook rates among the top books on the subject." -Abe A.

"The PCT Hiker's Handbook was a real eye opener for me, and I learned some important lessons. Ray's stealth camping, for example, is an idea whose time has come." -Scott S.

The PCT Hiker's Handbook is a very worthwhile source of information for anyone contemplating much hiking. I've made some major changes in my thinking, and plan to experiment with many of the book's ideas. The Handbook fills a real gap in the overall picture." -Scott C.

"For those wanting to improve on their backpacking skills, The PCT Hiker's Handbook is a wealth of knowledge." -Judy K.

"The Handbook is a MUST-READ for all hikers. Enclosed is a check for three more for my friends. Send them ASAP please!" -Dennis H. (PCT and 5-time AT through-hiker)

"We found The PCT Hiker's Handbook to be very enjoyable reading and chocked full of information. Unfortunately, we purchased our copy only a month before we started our hike, and had already spent dozens of hours developing our itinerary. If only we had learned about the Handbook earlier, we could have saved all of that planning time!" -Frank S.

"I enjoyed reading The PCT Hiker's Handbook (several times). The book is loaded with good things that make it a very worthwhile addition to backpacking literature." -Pete F.

"The PCT Hiker's Handbook is refreshingly more informed than any other in its genre. I enjoyed reading it immensely." -Ian Wade; Former Vice President and current Board Member, Outward Bound USA; Past President, American Mountain Guides Association

"I firmly believe that when I opened my mind to the teachings of The PCT Hiker's Handbook my wilderness travels became vastly more enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone planning a long hike." -Scott Williamson

"Anyone contemplating a multi-month thru-hike of the PCT, or shorter jaunts, can't do without THE PCT HIKER'S HANDBOOK. I'm not given to hyperbole, but this book is a gem! Unlike the factual reportage-type writing in many hiking books or guides, Jardine's prose makes this book a standout. Right from the words on the dedication page the author grabs hold of the reader's interest and never lets go.

"While essential for everyone heading out on the PCT, every hiker can benefit immensely from this book. Jardine is a wilderness instructor, very experienced long-distance backpacker, mountaineer, rock climber, sailor, pilot and sea kayaker. He has much hard-earned knowledge to impart and does it well. And in the process he calms our fears about potential injuries, bears, ticks, snakes, potable water, insects, poison oak, crossing snow covered trails, fording rivers, and more. He also cuts through the hype associated with modern backpacking equipment and clothing.

"This book is needed in every hiker's library. And as the principal author of the PCT Trail Guides said, "Jardine's advice just might save your life." - Robert F. GREAT EXPEDITIONS

"Jardine grabs hold of the reader's interest and never lets go

"Ray Jardine is best known among mountaineers for inventing the "Friend," an invaluable tool for technical rock climbing. But among hikers, he and his wife, Jenny, may be better known for their lightweight approach to hiking. Their typical pack weights are remarkable. Ray's PCT HIKER'S HANDBOOK is a superb first stop for those in the dreaming stage. Even if you're not planning to hike the PCT, Ray's philosophy of traveling lightly through the landscape is a good one, and is well presented. Virtually all hikers, no matter how experienced, will pick up invaluable tips for the trail. This book should be a welcome addition to any backpacker's library." - THE AMERICAN HIKER

"An entertaining and informative book written from the personal experiences of a well-traveled hiker, Ray Jardine. This is not a guidebook as the title implies, but rather a compendium of notes and first-person informative accounts packaged in the form of a manual to aid any long-distance hiker in both planning and preparation as well as the art and skills of long-distance power-hiking. A worthwhile read, even if your trailwise goals are somewhat less ambitious." - ADVENTURE WEST

"This is a perfect how-to companion to our 2-volume guide to the Pacific Crest Trail. It tells you just about anything you would possibly need to know in order to be fully prepared for the difficult task of walking from Mexico to Canada... The book has wonderful advice for any hiker preparing for a long, or medium distance trail. Author Ray Jardine and his wife Jenny have hiked the whole PCT twice, and the wealth of knowledge they accumulated is invaluable." - WILDERNESS PRESS

"Dear Ray, My PCT hike is going very well. With my very light pack and running shoes I'm enjoying the hike greatly, instead of concentrating on carrying a heavy load, such as I did last year. The miles are going by very easy. In short, in following your methods I'm having a very enjoyable hike.

Of the many fellow through-hikers I have met, most are following some, if not all, of the Handbook's principles. Unfortunately, two hikers had not heard of the book, but they sure have now! Your book has greatly affected the trail. All agree the book is a must read item for anyone planning to hike the PCT. The book seems to have affected almost everyone, and your name is mentioned constantly. What a change from last year, when everyone had heavy boots and heavy packs. This year all but a very few have light, or lighter packs, and running shoes. That is good. People will enjoy the hike much more. 'The Ray Way' as everybody is calling it!" -Scott Williamson

"Handbook gives tips for long-distance hikes

A LaPine man with more miles under his boots than most people have on their cars has reduced thousands of miles of long-distance backpacking experience into a few hundred pages with the PCT HIKER'S HANDBOOK.

Ray Jardine has hiked the full 2,700-mile length of the Pacific Crest Trail twice with his wife Jenny Jardine, traveling from Mexico to Canada in four months. His book is a distillation of those experiences, a compendium of hard-earned trail knowledge and advice.

Jardine assembled the book in response to the prodigious drop-out rate among PCT through-hikers. Some 80 percent of those who embark on the journey turn back, often after just a couple weeks, victims of poor planning, inadequate training or unrealistic expectations.

Admittedly drawing on his own store of mistakes, Jardine has taken the dream of back-country adventure and seasoned it with the reality of long-distance hiking. His firsthand experience with both should help smooth the way for those who follow.

The HANDBOOK focuses on the Pacific Crest Trail but is not a mile-by-mile guide to the PCT. Instead, it acts as a valuable resource for anyone planning an extended backpacking trip, regardless of which trail they choose.

The book covers a variety of subjects, from trip planning and preparation to equipment to on-trail injuries. It addresses training, water, clothing, pack weight, illness, weather and a long list of other topics.

In addition, the HANDBOOK offers four standard PCT itineraries ranging from 51/2 to four months, with start and finish dates, mileage between resupply stations and food amounts needed for each section. It also lists the appropriate places to resupply, including hours of operation and amenities in the area.

The book even goes beyond the mechanics of hiking to discuss what Jardine refers to as "the art of long-distance powerhiking." Advice also is offered on less tangible aspects of hiking such as style, attitude and mental preparation." - Greg Bolt; THE BULLETIN; Bend, Oregon

"Enclosed is a check for a third Handbook, for a friend. Thank you for writing this wonderful book." - Andrew W.

"Thank you for writing the Handbook. It has helped pave the way for the most incredible journey of my life. The lessons learned and insight gained would fill volumes." - Jason O.

"I've read your book twice and think it's excellent. You really accelerated the learning curve." - Karl U.

"Just received and finished reading your PCT Hiker's Handbook. Enjoyed it. However, I now find I need more. Please send me the PCT guidebooks." -C. Huddleston, USMC

"Great insight. Very candid and readable. Backed with real I-can-taste-it experience." -Randy C.

"The Handbook has helped me tremendously to prepare for the PCT in '93. I've avoided several major mistakes already, and am becoming more confident with the training and preps. Thank you for sharing your knowledge." -Judy G.

"Long-haul hikers should walk quickly to the nearest bookstore (or call the publisher) and ask for THE PCT HIKER'S HANDBOOK. The book is crammed with information on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail." -The Herald, Everett WA

"BACKPACKER Feb '93

"Don't let the title put you off reading this book. It's the most interesting and thought-provoking work on backpacking I've come across in years. Although it does contain specific information for prospective Pacific Crest Trail walkers, most of the material is worth studying by any long-distance backpacker. And I mean studying. There is a great deal in this book that needs thinking about. Since I bought it last autumn I've read it three times and I'll probably read it a few times more.

Ray Jardine has walked the PCT twice. During those walks he has carefully considered all aspects of backpacking and has come to some startling and contentious conclusions on everything from footwear ("each additional 1-3/4 ounces removed from a boot (3.5 ounces for the pair) will add about a mile to the day's hiking progress") to how to wear a waterproof ("if piercing winds suggest you wear the parka while hiking, one solution is to wear it backward").

The author starts from the premise that the long distance backpacker needs as light a load as possible, something only a masochist would disagree with. We all try to carry light loads, but the low pack weights Jardine achieves are very impressive. At the end of his second PCT hike his pack weighed just 20 lbs, for example. The book goes into great detail as to how he achieves this and should be of great help to anyone planning a long distance walk, whether the PCT or the Pennine Way. I am already using the book in the planning for my next long walk in the hope that I can cut my load a little.

"This book challenges many standard views and is a refreshing and important addition to the literature of backpacking. I recommend it highly. How do you thank someone for inspiration and dream building? Your book, The PCT Hiker's Handbook has been a constant source of motivation for me." -Jerry M.

"I'm reading your Handbook for the third time now and still finding gems of useful information." - Andrew H.