Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail : Southern California : section hiking from Campo to Tuolumne Meadows

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traces a 2,650-mile route from the California-Mexico border north to the border of Washington and Canada. While many hikers attempt a “thru-hike” every year, beginning in Campo, California and connecting their footsteps all the way to Manning Park, B.C., even more people enjoy “section hiking” – tackling the trail in bits and pieces. This guidebook serves as a road map to section hiking the Southern California portion of the PCT, beginning at its southern terminus in Campo and ending 942.5 miles north at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. From the magical cactus gardens of the Mojave Desert to the snowy peaks of the High Sierra, this book covers one of the most biologically and geologically diverse portions of the PCT. Author Shawnté Salabert serves as your personal trail guide along the way, offering informative route descriptions, interesting sidebars, and colorful stories that will deepen your experience on this iconic trail, whether you’re headed out for a weekend, a week, or a month. Each volume of this new series focuses on section-by-section pieces of the PCT and includes the following features: • Inspirational full-color guides with over 150 color photographs in each • Trail sections of 4- to 10-night trips • Detailed camp-to-camp route descriptions • Easy-to-understand route maps and elevation profiles • Details on specific campsites and most-reliable water sources • Road access to and from various trail sections • Info on permits, hazards, restrictions, and more • Alternate routes and connecting trails • Clear references to the PCT’s established system of section letters, designating trail segments from Mexico to Canada—so you can easily cross-reference the guides with other PCT resources • Key wilderness sights along the way • Suggested itineraries *Download an errata for Hiking the PCT: Southern California for a profile fix (/Assets/ClientDocs/PCT_SCA_Page181_Errata.pdf) here * The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traces a 2,650-mile route from the California-Mexico border north to the border of Washington and Canada. While many hikers attempt a thru-hike every year, beginning in Campo, California and connecting their footsteps all the way to Manning Park, B.C., even more people enjoy "section hiking" tackling the trail in bits and pieces. This guidebook serves as a road map to section hiking the Southern California portion of the PCT, beginning at its southern terminus in Campo and ending 942.5 miles north at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. From the magical cactus gardens of the Mojave Desert to the snowy peaks of the High Sierra, this book covers one of the most biologically and geologically diverse portions of the PCT. Author Shawnt Salabert serves as your personal trail guide along the way, offering informative route descriptions, interesting sidebars, and colorful stories that will deepen your experience on this iconic trail, whether you're headed out for a weekend, a week, or a month. Each volume of this new series focuses on section-by-section pieces of the PCT and includes the following features: - Inspirational full-color guides with over 150 color photographs in each - Trail sections of 4- to 10-night trips - Detailed camp-to-camp route descriptions - Easy-to-understand route maps and elevation profiles - Details on specific campsites and most-reliable water sources - Road access to and from various trail sections - Info on permits, hazards, restrictions, and more - Alternate routes and connecting trails - Clear references to the PCT's established system of section letters, designating trail segments from Mexico to Canada so you can easily cross-reference the guides with other PCT resource - Key wilderness sights along the way - Suggested itineraries "The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail stretches roughly 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada, passing through rich and varied terrain in California, Oregon, and Washington. While many hikers attempt to cover the distance in a single, epic journey, most of us are lucky to have just a week to devote to hiking. [This book] breaks down the region's more than 940 miles of the PCT into shorter backpacking trips. Whether you have four days, a week, or even a bit more time, you'll find a stunning route that is right for you. Author Shawnté Salabert details everything a section hiker needs to know, including access points, mileages between campsites, and the best places to stake your tent--from the boulder-strewn hillsides of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the fragrant pine forests of San Bernardino National Forest to the shores of alpine lakes in the High Sierra. Whether you want to tackle the PCT section by section; plan a thru-hike (see inside for a list of companion guides to Northern California, Oregon, and Washington), or simply explore the Southern California portion of the route at your leisure--this unparalleled guide will help you find your way."--Back cover. A brief history of the PCT Southern California's PCT: An overview How to use this guide Planning and preparation Gear and clothing On the trail Section 1: Campo to Warner Springs Section 2: Warner Springs to San Gorgonio Pass Section 3: San Gorgonio Pass to Cajon Pass Section 4: Cajon Pass to Agua Dulce Section 5: Agua Dulce to Tehachapi Pass Section 6: Tehachapi Pass to Walker Pass Section 7: Walker Pass to Kennedy Meadows Section 8: Kennedy Meadows to Cottonwood Pass Section 9: Cottonwood Pass to Florence Lake Trail Section 10: Florence Lake Trail to Tuolumne Meadows.