Editing Pacific Crest Trail (section)

==Thru-hiking==
[[Thru-hiking]] is a term used in referring to hikers who complete long-distance trails from end to end in a single trip. Thru-hiking is a long commitment, usually taking between four and six months, that requires thorough preparation and dedication. The Pacific Crest Trail Association estimates that it takes most hikers between six and eight months to plan, train, and get ready for their trips.<ref name="pctfaq">{{cite web | url = https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/thru-hiking-long-distance-hiking/thruhiker-faq/ | title = Thru-hiker FAQ | publisher = Pacific Crest Trail Association | access-date = July 16, 2021}}</ref> It is estimated the average completion rate is around 14%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jen |title=Go for a hike - for a few months |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/thru-hike-pacific-crest-appalachian-trails-11657916230 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones |date=July 18, 2022}}</ref>

While most hikers travel from the southern terminus at the Mexico–US border northward to Manning Park, British Columbia, some hikers prefer a southbound route. In a normal weather year, northbound hikes are most practical due to snow and temperature considerations. Additionally, some hiker services are seasonal and may be better timed for northbound hikers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Jackie|year=2017|title=Yogi's Pacific Crest Trail Handbook 2017-2018}}</ref> If snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is high in early June and low in the Northern Cascades, some hikers may choose to 'flip-flop.' Flip-flopping can take many forms but often describes a process whereby a hiker begins at one end (on the PCT, usually the southern end) of the trail and then, at some point, like reaching the Sierra, 'flips' to the end of the trail at the Canada–US border and hikes southbound to complete the trail. However, it is not currently possible to legally enter the United States from Canada by using the Pacific Crest Trail.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mind the border: Feds warn Pacific Crest Trail hikers crossing from Canada to U.S.|newspaper=The Oregonian|first=Kimberly|last=Wilson|date=July 2, 2010|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/07/mind_the_border_feds_warn_pacific_crest_trail_hikers_crossing_from_canada_to_us.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109194740/http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/07/mind_the_border_feds_warn_pacific_crest_trail_hikers_crossing_from_canada_to_us.html|archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref>

Hikers also have to determine their resupply points. Resupply points are towns or post offices where hikers replenish food and other supplies such as cooking fuel. Hikers can ship packages to themselves at the U.S. Post Offices along the trail, resupply at general and grocery stores along the trail, or any combination of the two.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.planyourhike.com/planning/resupplypoints.php | title = Pacific Crest Trail Resupply Points | publisher = PlanYourHike.com | access-date = March 1, 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110107211853/http://www.planyourhike.com/planning/resupplypoints.php | archive-date = January 7, 2011 }}</ref> The final major logistical step is to create an approximate schedule for completion. Thru hikers have to make sure they complete enough miles every day to reach the opposite end of the trail before weather conditions make sections impassable. For northbound thru-hikers, deep snow pack in the Sierra Nevada can prevent an early start. The timing is a balance between not getting to the Sierra too soon nor the Northern Cascades too late. Most hikers cover about 20 miles (32&nbsp;km) per day.<ref name=pctfaq/>

In order to reduce their hiking time and thereby increase their chances of completing the trail, many hikers try to substantially reduce their pack weight. Since the creation of the Pacific Crest Trail there has been a large movement by hikers to get away from large heavy packs with a lot of gear. There are three general classifications for hikers: Traditional, Lightweight, and [[Ultralight backpacking|Ultralight]].<ref name=Jardine>{{cite book|last=Jardine|first=Ray|title=Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking|location=LaPine, OR|publisher=AventureLore|year=2000|isbn=978-0-9632359-3-0}}</ref><ref name="UltraLight Backpacking">{{cite web|title=Ultralight Backpacking: Have You Considered It?|url=https://hikingspree.com/ultralight-backpacking/|website=hikingspree.com|access-date=September 23, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001503/https://hikingspree.com/ultralight-backpacking/|archive-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref>