Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail[1] is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail in the western U.S. running along the highest portions of the Cascade[2] and Sierra Nevada[3] mountain ranges, which lie 100 to 150 miles from the Pacific coast. The trail's southern terminus is next to the Mexico–U.S., just south of Campo, California, and its northern terminus is on the Canada–U.S. border, upon which it continues unofficially to the Windy Joe Trail within Manning Park in British Columbia.
While in the U.S., the Pacific Crest Trail passes through California, Oregon, and Washington and is 2,653 mi long. The trail ranges in elevation from roughly 110 ft above sea level near the Oregon–Washington border to 13153 ft at Forester Pass in California. The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks.[4] Its midpoint is near Chester, California (near Mt. Lassen), where the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges meet.[5]
Clinton Churchill Clarke first proposed the Pacific Crest Trail in 1932.[6] It received official status under the National Trails System Act of 1968 but was not officially completed until 1993.
The Pacific Crest Trail is part of the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop; together with the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, it forms what is known as the "Triple Crown of hiking" in the U.S.[7]
Attribution
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References
- ↑ The trail's official, full name is Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
- ↑ See Wikipedia's article about the Cascade mountain range.
- ↑ See Wikipedia's article about the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
- ↑ "Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail." Parks Directory of the United States. 2004 ed.
- ↑ Backpacker Magazine. Pacific Crest Trail: CA Section 31. Trimble Outdoors.
- ↑ Gally, Sid. The Pacific Crest Trail had its roots in Pasadena, Pasadena Star News.
- ↑ Berger, Karen (2001). Hiking the Triple Crown: How to Hike America's Longest Trails : Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail. Seattle: Mountaineers Press. ISBN 978-0-89886-760-2.