PCT Sierra Section: Walker Pass to Donner Pass in Three Easy Installments
Last year, after abandoning my attempt at a full PCT Thru Hike due to 300% snow levels in the Sierra Nevada, I decided to try it again in 2024, provided that the Snow Gods relented. In 2023, I ended up finishing the 650 mile Desert Section, but that was about it. It didn’t help that I developed a painful case of Plantar Fasciitis that year, but really it was all that snow that disheartened me the most. The High Sierra was the heart of the PCT, and I saw little point in doing the rest of the trail without including it, even though I’d already hiked most of the Sierra in small sections over the past fifteen years. In other words: I knew full well what I was missing in 2023, and I refused to miss it in 2024!
So I waited patiently all Winter, hoping that the snow levels would be reasonable. And they were! The Sierra received a “Normal” amount of snow! I spent the cold months making maps on CalTopo marking my potential campsites, roughly fifteen miles apart, as well as a few likely spots to stash and/or ship my food resupplies. The planning part was done by the time Winter ended, and I began getting excited. As a veteran Sierra hiker, I had a pretty good idea what was in store, and could make rough guestimates as to when I could expect the lakes to be thawed, the high passes free of snow, and the mosquitos at their absolute worst. I knew that this was going to be my year for hiking the full length of the Sierra Nevada!
According to the Pacific Crest Trial Association, the PCT Sierra Section extends 505 miles from Walker Pass in the south to Donner Pass in the north. According to the older PCT nomenclature, this trek would span five “sections” from the letters G through K. Over the years, I hiked roughly 300 miles of the Sierra Section, but had yet to experience the northernmost 200 miles. I was looking forward to seeing some new trail, but I still expected to get the greatest enjoyment out of revisiting the highest part of the High Sierra. It really IS that good!
As Spring headed toward Summer, I kept viewing the latest satellite images of the Sierra, checking for snow and frozen lakes. It was taking an eternity to melt! Except for the southern end of the section, which was down near 6000 feet elevation. I realized that if I waited too long to do the first 75 miles it would be roasting hot! Then, while checking the calendar, I also remembered that my 40th Wedding Anniversary was going to take place in late July! If I missed being home for that, I was doomed. I was caught between fire and ice. I already tried to get Vicki on board for this adventure, so we could celebrate on the trail like we did back in 2022, but she flatly declined. Fifteen miles per day was much too much. So I sat down and stared at both the map and the calendar, and came up with a three-part plan for completing the PCT Sierra Section.
Part 1: Hike 100 miles from Walker Pass to Trail Pass in late May. I could do this in a week, with Vicki’s help shuttling cars. I would stop when I hit patches of residual snow up at 11,000 feet. Then I would head back home and wait a few weeks for the rest of the snow to melt. Vicki and I both agreed that I was too old for crampons and ice axes. Plus, I wanted to enjoy the Sierra, not make it a Sufferfest!
Part 2: Hike 200 miles from Trail Pass to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite, through the highest of the High Sierra. I would start this in late June. I would be able to use my own car (plus buses and shuttle services), thus saving Vicki all that extra driving. It would take less than three weeks at 12 miles/day, and would require two food resupplies. I knew that I could hike 15 per day, but why? I was in no rush, after all, and it was the prettiest part of the section. I would then head back home for my anniversary.
Part 3: Hike 200 miles, from Yosemite to Donner Pass. Almost all of it would be a new trail experience for me. I expected it to be a bit easier, elevation-gain-wise, so I decided on upping the ante to 15 mile days. I would be tougher by then, I figured. I would also need two more food resupplies, which I would stash beforehand, on my way north in my car. I would take buses back to restart where I left off in Yosemite.
That was my original plan, at any rate. Like all plans, it changed a bit during the execution: Part 1 worked perfectly, at 100 miles. Part 2 shrunk to 150 miles when I paused at Mammoth Lakes instead of Yosemite (almost every bus route stops or starts in Mammoth). That change necessitated that Part 3 would lengthen to 250 miles. This change worked out fine, especially when Vicki volunteered to save me the bus-scheduling headache out of Donner Pass, by both of us taking two cars north, leaving mine at the far end, and driving south to Mammoth for my restart. It sounds complicated, but it worked!
GEAR
After deciding on the plan, the only thing left was getting all my gear together. Having hiked 650 miles last year, deciding on gear was a lot easier than it would be for a first-time thru-hiker. All I really had to do was get it into a pile and double-check that everything was clean, the Ten Essential supplies were refilled, and all of my zip-lock baggies were new. Just the same, I upgraded a few items: I bought a nice new phone with massive storage instead of using two (one for navigation and one for photos). I bought a new pair of Merrell shoes as the old ones were trashed by hiking far too many miles last year. And I also bought the newest version of the Osprey Exos 58 backpack, as my old one was torn and had seen better days. Other than that I felt pretty confident that my gear choices were the right ones.
True, my backpack’s Base Weight (weight without food or water) was quite high by PCT standards, but I never intended to be an uber-ultralight hiker. I’m getting old, and I like my comfort items. Plus, since I was only hiking 500 miles, I had plenty of time to enjoy the High Sierra. If all that extra weight slowed me down a bit, well, that meant I’d have to stop more often and take even more photos and videos! This sounded fine by me. Realistically, I’d call myself a “Light Backpacker” rather than an ultralight one. Sleeping on a thin half-pad of foam was suitable only for masochists; I preferred a full length air mattress for properly restful sleep (mine was the best one in terms of warmth to weight ratio). In other words, I wanted comfort, but I also wasn’t afraid to spend the extra bucks to get the lightest comfort items possible. The gear I bought in order to shave weight was often very pricey. Luckily, I’ve been upgrading my gear one piece at a time for many years, so it didn’t happen fast enough to shock my wallet or my innate sense of frugality. This is the first time I ever added up the cost of everything, and I can truthfully state that I am now utterly amazed! Over Seven Grand for a long Summer hike? That’s nuts! But there it is, listed in a spreadsheet like an accusation of prodigality. Yes, I admit it: I bought it, I carried it, and I loved it!
| Item | Weight | Unused | Luxury Item | Cost (2024) |
| Backpack (in/on) | ||||
| Osprey Exos 58 Backpack | 2 lb 15.3 oz | $260.00 | ||
| Osprey pack rain cover | 4.0 oz | $45.00 | ||
| thermometer | 0.3 oz | Luxury | $7.50 | |
| Carbon Hiking Pole (Locusgear CP3) | 5.7 oz | $58.35 | ||
| butt pad (closed-cell foam) | 0.8 oz | Luxury | $2.00 | |
| Frogg Toggs Rain Suit | 9.5 oz | $20.00 | ||
| TEVA Sandals (creek crossings) | 14.5 oz | Luxury | $55.00 | |
| Dry Bag 13L (for shoes) | 1.5 oz | Luxury | $32.95 | |
| Subtotal | 5 lb 3.6 oz | 1 lb 1.0 oz | $480.80 | |
| Tent | ||||
| Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 | 3 lb 2.9 oz | $499.95 | ||
| Sleeping System | ||||
| Western Mountaineering Summerlite Bag (32°F) | 1 lb 6.4 oz | $500.00 | ||
| Thermarest Xtherm & inflatable pillow | 1 lb 4.2 oz | Luxury | $239.95 | |
| 1/8” foam pad (Gossamer Gear) | 2.8 oz | $22.00 | ||
| Western Mountaineering Flash Jacket (down) | 10.0 oz | Luxury | $460.00 | |
| Western Mountaineering Flash Pants (down) | 7.4 oz | Luxury | $310.00 | |
| Down Booties (generic) | 4.0 oz | Luxury | $24.99 | |
| Compression Sack (10L Sea to Summit) | 2.3 oz | Luxury | $32.93 | |
| Subtotal | 4 lb 4.9 oz | 2 lb 11.8 oz | $1,589.87 | |
| Food/Cooking System | ||||
| Jetboil Stash (stove w/ pot) | 8.2 oz | $149.95 | ||
| fuel canister (small) | 7.4 oz | $6.95 | ||
| Ziplock Twist-n-Lock container/cup | 1.7 oz | $2.95 | ||
| spoon (MSR Folding) | 0.4 oz | $3.46 | ||
| toothbrush (chopped in half) | 0.2 oz | $0.00 | ||
| Bearikade Blazer Carbon Fiber Bear Can | 2 lb 1.0 oz | $384.00 | ||
| Subtotal | 3 lb 2.9 oz | $547.31 | ||
| Water/Hydration System | ||||
| Platypus QuikDraw Filter | 3.0 oz | $39.95 | ||
| CNOC Vecto 2L collection bag | 2.7 oz | $20.99 | ||
| screen coupling (CNOC) | 0.3 oz | $2.99 | ||
| AquaMira 2-part chlorine drops | 3.4 oz | Luxury | $14.95 | |
| Smartwater bottle 1.5L | 1.7 oz | $2.48 | ||
| 1L Platypus bladder w/ cap | 0.9 oz | $12.95 | ||
| 1L Platypus bladder w/ cap | 0.9 oz | $12.95 | ||
| Platypus Water Tank 4L | 3.8 oz | Luxury | $31.00 | |
| 2L Platypus Hoser Bag | 1.7 oz | $33.95 | ||
| Platypus drinking hose | 2.0 oz | $14.66 | ||
| Subtotal | 1 lb 4.2 oz | 7.1 oz | $186.87 | |
| Clothing | ||||
| Dry Sack blue (clothes) 5L | 1.5 oz | $29.95 | ||
| long sleeve shirt Smartwool | 5.9 oz | $52.50 | ||
| long johns Smartwool | 5.5 oz | $67.50 | ||
| Socks Darn Tough Crew | 2.7 oz | $24.95 | ||
| liner socks smartwool | 1.6 oz | $16.00 | ||
| Dry Socks Dexshell | 2.9 oz | Unused | $21.99 | |
| Neck Buff | 0.9 oz | $16.00 | ||
| Seirus Gloves | 3.7 oz | Unused | $44.95 | |
| Hard Shell pants/jacket XeroDry GTX REI | 1 lb 7.2 oz | $235.86 | ||
| Subtotal | 3 lb 15.8 oz | 6.6 oz | $509.70 | |
| Electronics | ||||
| Solar Charger 28W Big Blue | 1 lb 5.1 oz | $79.99 | ||
| Anker 26800mAH Battery | 1 lb 5.8 oz | $108.99 | ||
| Garmin InReach Explorer+ | 7.6 oz | $449.00 | ||
| USB cables, 12” (2) | 0.4 oz | $12.00 | ||
| Headlamp Nitecore NU-25 | 1.9 oz | $32.00 | ||
| Subtotal | 3 lb 4.9 oz | $681.98 | ||
| Ten Essentials etc. | ||||
| CTUG dyneema wallet | 0.3 oz | $19.00 | ||
| Map (Nat Geo PCT) | 2.6 oz | Unused | $14.95 | |
| compass (oil-filled) | 0.6 oz | Unused | $6.84 | |
| First Aid kit (custom) | 0.6 oz | Unused | $20.00 | |
| Leukotape P for foot blisters | 0.4 oz | $23.79 | ||
| Space Blanket Mylar | 1.7 oz | Unused | $3.99 | |
| Knife (2” folding) | 0.8 oz | Unused | $6.99 | |
| lighter (spare) BIC Mini | 0.4 oz | Unused | $2.00 | |
| Leatherman Micra mini-tool | 1.7 oz | $49.95 | ||
| vaseline, sunscreen | 1.6 oz | $5.00 | ||
| towel (microfiber) | 0.9 oz | Luxury | $15.95 | |
| Rope (tent guyline) 60ft | 0.6 oz | Unused | $7.99 | |
| deuce shovel | 0.6 oz | $14.95 | ||
| Toilet Paper | 2.4 oz | $1.00 | ||
| Alcohol Wipes (Wet Ones 20 pack) | 3.5 oz | $1.00 | ||
| bug spray 1.5 oz 100% DEET Bens | 1.9 oz | $7.49 | ||
| Whistle (loud!) | 0.4 oz | Unused | $6.95 | |
| Pen | 0.4 oz | Unused | $1.00 | |
| Aspirin 325 mg | 0.5 oz | $1.00 | ||
| Caffeine 200 mg tablets | 0.7 oz | Luxury | $7.95 | |
| Weed w/ pipette | 0.8 oz | Unused | Luxury | $50.00 |
| Subtotal | 1 lb 7.4 oz | 8.9 oz | 2.5 oz | $267.79 |
| Fishing Gear | ||||
| Tenkara carbon Fly Rod (Iwana 12 ft) | 3.3 oz | Luxury | $170.00 | |
| Fishing gear bag w/ CA license | 5.6 oz | Luxury | $170.45 | |
| sunglasses (polarized) | 2.7 oz | Luxury | $17.50 | |
| Subtotal | 11.7 oz | 11.7 oz | $357.95 | |
| Item | Weight | Unused | Luxury Item | Cost (2024) |
| Backpack Base Weight | 25 lb 10 oz | 15.5 oz | 5 lb 2.0 oz | $5,122.22 |
| Worn While Hiking | Weight | Unused | Luxury Item | Cost (2024) |
| Clothing | ||||
| Merrell Moab 2 Vent shoes | 2 lb 6.1 oz | $89.00 | ||
| Gill Deckhand Fingertip Gloves | 2.6 oz | $28.95 | ||
| Gaiter (Dirty Girl) | 1.7 oz | $20.00 | ||
| T-shirt smartwool | 4.3 oz | $60.00 | ||
| liner sock smartwool | 1.6 oz | $16.00 | ||
| Crew Sock (Darn Tough) | 2.7 oz | $24.95 | ||
| Long Sleeve Shirt (Bimini Bay Flats V) | 7.2 oz | $36.00 | ||
| Cargo Pants (nylon) | 12.3 oz | $38.89 | ||
| Hat (Panama Jack Safari) | 3.3 oz | $46.95 | ||
| Subtotal | 4 lb 9.7 oz | $360.74 | ||
| Electronics | ||||
| Pixel 8 Pro 512GB | 9.6 oz | $1,179.00 | ||
| Kindle eReader | 5.5 oz | Luxury | $129.99 | |
| GoPro Hero 11 | 5.4 oz | Luxury | $329.00 | |
| Subtotal | 1 lb 4.6 oz | 10.9 oz | $1,637.99 | |
| Weight | Unused | Luxury Item | Cost (2024) | |
| Total Worn Gear | 5 lb 14.3 oz | 10.9 oz | $1,998.73 | |
| Backpack Base Weight | 25 lb 10 oz | 15.5 oz | 5 lb 2.0 oz | $5,122.22 |
| Total Electronics (both in pack and worn) | 4 lb 9.5 oz | 10.9 oz | $2,319.97 | |
| Total Gear | 31 lb 9.5 oz | 15.5 oz | 5 lb 12.9 oz | $7,120.95 |
So there it is: My PCT Hiking Gear in all its splendor. Much of it was unused, yet necessary in case of an emergency. And the luxury items were totally worth it! I slept quite well, and not only because I was exhausted.
My “Sleeping System” is of my own design. I sleep cold, so I need more insulation than others. I tried carrying my 10°F Sleeping Bag (Western Mountaineering Ultralight with extra down added) last year, but discovered that it was often too hot when I went to bed at sunset. I would wake up sweating by 10pm, even with it completely unzipped! By 1 or 2am, however, the outside temperature dropped precipitously so that my soggy shirt would have me shivering, and then I would finally be comfortable with it fully zipped. Not a perfect situation. Plus, that 10° bag was much heavier than the 32° Summerlite, which was far too wimpy for frosty nights. What to do? I decided to dump the heavy bag for the light one while adding the Western Mountaineering Flash Jacket and Flash Pants. These doubled as a warm layer to wear in camp as well as serving to augment the Summerlite after midnight! Goose Down Layering! It really works! But it isn’t cheap…
FOOD
Everyone is different, so I was hesitant to publish my daily food consumption. Also, I freely admit that I have very boring tastes in food, and that I can easily eat the same exact thing, day after day, and be perfectly happy. My wife, for example, would go insane on this diet. But I thrive on consistency.
This list of food totals about 2200 calories per day, which is woefully inadequate from a nutrition standpoint. If you ate this every day you would eventually die of starvation. So be warned! I was hiking fewer miles per day than a typical PCT Thru Hiker. This led to longer intervals between resupplies, so I had to lower the calories per day to an amount of food which would fit within my bear canister. This is very important in the Sierra.
In his blog, Erik the Black states that 3,500 cal/day would be good for the first month of a trek and 4,500-5,000 cal/day after that, as your daily mileage goes up and the terrain gets steeper. I would recommend that you follow his advice and not mine. Under my plan, I lost about a half pound of weight per day! Yes, it’s true that I needed to lose ten pounds, but not twenty-plus. When I got home at the end of this journey I looked in the mirror and saw a scrawny bag of bones! Don’t let that happen to you. The conventional wisdom is that you should carry about two pounds of food per day, not the 1.1 pounds that I show here. You have been warned!
| FOOD ITEM | Per Day | Calories | Weight (g) | Protein (g) |
| BREAKFAST | ||||
| Instant Oatmeal, Quaker | 2 packets | 320 | 86 | 8 |
| caffeine tablet 200mg | 1 each | 0 | 0.2 | 0 |
| Vitamins (multi- and C) | 2 gummies | 20 | 0.5 | 0 |
| LUNCH | ||||
| Pop-Tart, frosted | 2-pack | 370 | 96 | 3 |
| DINNER | ||||
| Ramen Noodles, chicken flavor | 1 packet | 370 | 90 | 8 |
| Chicken Bits, Mountain House | third cup | 75 | 15 | 11 |
| Gatorade powder | 1.5 Tbsp | 75 | 21 | 0 |
| SNACKS | ||||
| Skittles | 1 ounce | 110 | 28 | 0 |
| Cosmic Brownie | 1 packet | 270 | 65 | 2 |
| Cheese crackers (Ritz) | 1 packet | 200 | 41 | 2 |
| Reeses Pieces | 1 ounce | 140 | 28 | 4 |
| Pringles chips / Cheeze-its | snack bag | 225 | 40 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 2175 | 1 lb 2.6oz | 39 | |
| (511 grams) |
So that’s it! After all the preparation, planning, and fretting, I was finally ready to begin my 505 mile Pacific Crest Trial Sierra Section backpacking trek. All I needed now was a ride from Vicki to get me started at Walker Pass, where I left off hiking last year. Onward!
Please note: This entire PCT Sierra Trek can be read as one long journey, like a complete novel with each day likened to a chapter, but it won’t be a perfect read in that many facts are repeated due to the daily nature of life. This repetition was done on purpose by me, and it is due to the nature of my readers on the internet, who are brought to specific pages based on keywords via search engines. Because of that, each page must stand alone, like a short story on its own. This can detract from the Big Picture and lead to boredom during a “binge” reading, or, even worse, lead my readers to conclude that either I am forgetful, or that I think they are. Rest assured; neither of those are true. Please think of these repetitions as a Literary Device, of sorts. Thanks for your understanding.
For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page
For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page
Onward to Day 0 >> 
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