About My Backpacking Blog
Erik the Black
Welcome!
I created this blog to share my adventures on America’s scenic hiking trails, provide tips and advice for ultralight backpacking, promote my maps and guide books and connect with fellow hikers. I hope you enjoy this blog and I look forward to your comments and meeting you out on the trail.
Happy trails!
Erik the Black
Just oredered your map set for the pct in total… looks like a simple, compact and usufull mapset.
Must have been fun putting it together…. Trying to get time off work with two other guys to hike it…(I will be 60 at that time… Yikes!)
thanks..
Mike O.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for ordering a PCT Atlas. It was a lot of fun (and a lot of work) to do. I’ll be back out on the trail this year working on the next (3rd) edition. Hope to see ya out there!
Loved the PCT trail maps! Have mine framed and in my “backpack” room.
If you ever decide to come east for a hike, let me know. I have a few secret stashes you might like.
Hi Pat, Glad you like the maps. The Appalachian Trail is definitely on my “to-do” list. Hopefully I will be heading out east in the next couple of years. I’ll look ya up.
Hey! Thanks for the link!! See you at KO!
Hi Erik
I alredy own your complete Atlas pack, and plan to use it in 2012. When you write about the 3rd edition, will this be a major update with new features?
If so, will there be a dicounted upgrade?
Happy hiking
Thomas
@Thomas: Yes, the 3rd Edition will be the “next generation” of PCT Atlas with new features and improvements and I do plan to offer a discount to existing PCT Atlas customers.
Hi ETB
I remember your trail magic offer of a ride back to the trailhead from BB in 2008. What made it memorable was cramming 6 other hikers into your jeep as well! I didn’t make it all the way then, but will give it another go in 2011. How could I not purchase your Atlases. Excellent product. Godspeed on you and yours PCT hike this year. GK
Hey Erik,
Enjoyed watching your Trail Food Video, very insightful.
Once you decided to do the PCT how did you train for it?
I am totally out of shape and am ashamed to admit it, but currently I get winded walking up my stairs or taking a short walk with a 15 lb pack.
take care,
Meir
@Grandpa Kilt: Hey, Good to hear from you again! I remember that ride too. That was fun.
@Meir: Don’t feel bad. Most hikers I know (including myself) tend to neglect training during the off-season in favor of sitting around drinking beer and hot chocolate.
Even if you are out of shape when you start hiking the trail tends whip you into shape pretty quickly (as long as you have the mental fortitude to keep going in the beginning when it’s hardest).
Of course if you want to do the responsible thing there are some good ways to train for hiking beforehand.
Here is an article I wrote with some training suggestions:
http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/1403/5-backpacking-training-workouts/
Erik,
Love your blog!
I hike a lot but rarely thru hiking (life doesn’t allow…).
You shed light on thru hiking from all angles. You cover issues and a down to earth manner that can help both beginners and folks that already walked a mile or two…
Keep on walking!
Edgar
I will be thru hiking the PCT next year (2011). I am getting very excited. Do you think your 3rd ed. will be available by then. I am really enjoying your blog by the way. It is really comprehensive and very informative. I have heard/read great things about your atlas as well. Can’t wait to check it out.
Thanks for all your hard work,
Lunchbox
Hi Eric,
I new to backpacking and just stumbled across your site. Thanks for the wealth of information. I was happy to notice you’re located not far from me so, I assume most of your techniques apply well to the surrounding area. I’m located in the high desert but backpack mostly along the PCT for now. My first big trip will be in August (JMT) so I’m currently training to prep for a rather agressive pace. Of course I plan to order your atlas before departing. If you get a chance to repair the link at: http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/1403/5-backpacking-training-workouts/ I’d like to use it for my next two months of training. Thanks again for all your efforts,
Todd
such a nice blog…
someday, someway, u have to try to hike in indonesia. there are many volcano here…
thx…
m looking for a 500 mile stretch to do on horseback — 2011 or 2012 — at first glance start at yosemite and work north — any suggestions much appreciated
Barry, if I was going to do 500 miles I would probably do Kennedy Meadows to Sierra City, or Timberline Lodge to the Canada border. I think those are the most scenic stretches of the PCT.
Hi i just discovered your maps and the set is no longer available. Will you be publishing again? Perusing here there is a third addition coming out. Any ideas on when that might be? Thanks much!
@Jane: The 3rd edition is underway and should be finished around Spring 2012. I’m not sure yet what will be available for the 2011 season, but I will know more after the new year.
Hey Eric,
I was hoping you could point me in the right direction in finding your PCT atlases. I understand they will not be available until spring 2012 and all the old copies are sold out. I need them for a southbound thru-hike starting in June 2011. Is there anyway or anybody you can think of that might want to sell such a hot commodity?
@ James: I will be reprinting the 2nd editions around February so there will be another opportunity to get an Atlas before the 2011 hiking season starts. I’ll be putting up a pre-order page for those sometime in the next week or two. If you are on one of my mailing lists I’ll let you know when that is ready, or you can just check back at The PCT Atlas Website.
Erik,
Planning a JMT trek this summer and have found your blogs very useful, especially gear guides and tips as I cut, cut, cut weight. Who knew I could drop my baseweight under 20 lbs? I ordered the JMT Atlas and map.
Hello Erik,
Wanting to do the PCT in 2012 and excited about all the help you continue to give us all. Cant wait for 3rd edition.
-Amanda D.
Hi Eric! Your guides are awesome!! We just had the Nat. Geo. maps, H2O report, and data book on the PCT and greatly regretted not getting your guides earlier! We’re planning to hike the Colorado trail in celebration this summer and have been holding out for your new guide. Do ya think it’ll be ready before July 1st? Also, do you know where we could find current reports of water on the CT? With our PCT adventures in mind that is my greatest concern. Cheers!
- Cornbred, Asheville, NC
@Cornbread Thanks! I’m working on finishing up the Colorado Trail Atlas right now. It should be finished by the end of May and available to buy sometime in June. To be notified as soon as it’s ready you can sign up here: http://coloradotrailmap.com For the most part water is plentiful on the Colorado Trail. There were only a couple of places where I had to go more than 10 miles between water sources. The Colorado Trail Atlas will include a complete list of the water sources I encountered on the trail last year. I’m not aware of a list like the PCT water report for the CT, but since water is pretty easy to find it’s not really necessary.
EtB,
Cheers Eric,
Are you home or out on the trail? I’m looking to add the central Ca., atlas, to the other 4 that I already have in hand, to complete the set (2nd edition.) I may leave for the PCT within a couple of weeks and partner up with a friend who is about to enter the high Sierras. Checking to see if I can get that puppy in my palms before traveling.
Thanks,
mongoose
@Mongoose I’ve been home but I’ve been in hiding the last couple months finishing up my latest book (The Colorado Trail Atlas). It’s finally done so I’m getting ready to head out and do some hiking! Going to thru-hike the Tahoe Rim Trail. The CenCal PCT Atlases are in-stock and you can get them any time. Even when I am gone my shipping dept will still be open.
Happy trails!
you da’ man!
thanks again
mongoose
Erik,
I just read a thoughtful post by you about hiking with dogs (on another site), and followed the link here to your blog. I’m looking forward to reading some of your posts, but what I’m trying to find is a 100-200 mile route in the California Sierra that would be fun to walk with my dog. She’s a highly energetic 45lb collie mix and can easily keep up with the 15 or so miles I do in a day, but from what you wrote I’m concerned that she won’t enjoy herself! And I can’t find enough guidance on where the park boundaries are (dogs not being allowed in parks…) Any tips?
@Owen Dogs are only allowed on about 70 miles of the John Muir Trail (from Donahue Pass to Puite Canyon). Pages 9-23 of the John Muir Trail Atlas. Here is a website with some more info about dogs on the JMT: Canine John Muir. If you want to do a longer continuous hike you may want to hike the Pacific Crest Trail north of the John Muir Trail (after you get out of Tuolumne Meadows). I believe once you get outside of Yosemite National Park there are no restrictions on dogs on the PCT for the rest of California. You could hike from Sonora Pass to Sierra City, or you could pick up the PCT at Sonora Pass or Echo Summit and hike till it intersects the Tahoe Rim Trail, then do a loop around Lake Tahoe on the TRT. If you don’t mind breaking your hike into two parts you could hike the part of the JMT where dogs are allowed, then move up north and continue hiking.
You won’t know how well your dog can handle the miles until you try, but I think as long as you keep an eye on her and adjust your pace if necessary she’ll be fine. My dog (100 lb German Shepherd) is more of a sprinter than a marathoner. He hauls butt for 3-4 days and after that starts to poop out. But I’ve known some hiker dogs who can crank out hundreds of miles no problem. Luckily there is plenty of water and shade in the areas where you’ll be hiking so that will make it easier on her.
I think you have nothing to worry about…
Happy trails!
P.S. Here’s a pic of my Jake hiking the PCT in Washington
Wow! this is the most in-depth and informative ultralight backpacking site ever. Erik, you’ve clearly devoted a lifetime of energy and effort to this and deserve all of the praise and reward you can get. I’m already using your Gear Planner 2.0 and hope to buy a book/map/atlas soon. Thanks!
@Dave: Your welcome. Thanks for the kind words.
Eric
Is there a 3rd edition coming out soon? I want to give a copy to my son who will be hiking with me this summer. I know you’ve been working on some updated info and was wondering if it might be out before this hiking season.
@Chuck: I am currently working on the 3rd Edition Pacific Crest Trail Atlas. My plan is to have Volumes 1 and 2 (Southern and Central California) finished before the 2012 Thru-hiking Season (Spring). Volume 5 (Washington) will follow later in the year. Volumes 3 and 4 (Northern California and Oregon) won’t done until 2013.
Erik, looks like you have the PCT down, is there a packing list? I am going to be doing this hike in 2013, I have been seriously thinking about taking it easy going up from Mexico to Canada, but thinking about turning back and shooting my way back, but at a faster pace, not sure yet, I will know more after. I am currently in Afghanistan, where I run almost daily, but I also am throwing a ruck on my back, putting on my Idividual Body Armor (IBA) and taking it for a fast pace around the base, it is only 8 miles at a time, but it is a great pace and I do get to feel my body strengthen. I just need to know from someone that has done the PCT on what lightweight things are there in order to do this, backpacks, footgear, water points. So far I did the PCT travel planner and it looks good. I am excited and want to get a ruck now full of the things that I will carry so I can get use to the weight and when that day comes in April 2013, I will be on my way from Mexico to Canada, but I know there is so much to do before that. Is all this in your atlas? I need permits, visa things like that, I am sure to go into Mexico and Canada. Sorry to take up your time, can you tell this excites me? I am retired from the US Army in 2005 and have contributed all my adult life to supporting the troops, as I am still doing over here now. Your professional expertise is greatly appreciated, thanks.
Hi Erik! I’m enjoying your blog a lot. I just finished the California PCT last summer, and now my friend and I are heading out to do the Oregon section, probably in June.
Do you have any thoughts on how bad the bugs will be at that time? We’re a little concerned, but we have to go either in June or July. I’m bringing in a one-person Hubba Hubba tent, which seems too heavy, but I’d be worried about a tarp tent with those mosquitoes.
Also, we’re going to try using cold food that we buy along the way instead of bringing a stove — is it pretty easy to find stores in Oregon?
Thanks again for sharing all of this good info!
Melissa
Hi Eric, great site, I have been following your blog / site for almost a year now. I have a questions / suggestion for your trail books, which by the way are great. I got the JMT and will be doing that in the summer of 2014, and plan on getting the PCT books too.
My idea; I think that if the elevation graphs all used the same scale it would be easier to plan and for someone who has not hiked the trail, it would give them a better idea of what days are going to be tougher then others and plan miles accordingly. As it is right now the reader has to make a educated guess on the total elevation vs. elevation over miles as the mileage changes per the mileage on the page.
I got the sample chapter of the new PCT book and like the revised layout. Maybe this suggestion would work better in that layout. I know with the JMT you are limited by the page width.
Hope this idea helps and is something you can incorporate into future books.
Humbly, Wolfman
(feel free to email me it you want)
@Ray: I’ve got quite a few packing lists that would be suitable for the PCT floating around. Here is a video from a couple years ago showing a typical lightweight PCT hiking gear list: Lightweight Backpacking Gear List Video. If you sign up for my Backpacking Tips newsletter at the top of the page you’ll get access too a bunch more sample gear lists and I also include a few more as bonuses with my PCT Atlas books.
The PCT does not enter Mexico. It starts at the border of Mexico and California. It does go about 8 miles into Canada though, so you will need your passport. You can get a single permit from the PCTA that covers your entire thru-hike. Water sources are included in my PCT Atlas. Sounds like you are in great shape already so you should be set on that front. Even so, a yo-yo hike (Mexico to Canada and back to Mexico) is very difficult, mostly because of the weather. You can’t go too slow on the way up or you will not get back down through the Sierra before winter hits. I’ve never done it. Only person I know of who has is Scott Williamson. He’s done it several times, though I imagine there may be others.
If I were you, I would just focus on getting from Mexico to Canada and forget about the return trip. That is a big enough adventure and accomplishment by itself.
@Melissa: Yes, I would imagine that the mosquitoes will be pretty bad in Oregon in June. I think you will definitely want a shelter with some sort of good bug protection. A tarp like mine probably wouldn’t be a good choice, but a tarp-tent with an attached bathtub floor and a zippered door (like those made by Henry Shires and Six Moon Designs should do fine for keeping out all the bugs, and weigh less than a regular tent. Stores are not as plentiful in Oregon as California, but it is still possible to “buy as you go”, and most thru-hikers do. Another option is to buy food in the larger towns and send it forward to the smaller towns with less supplies.
@Wolfman: Thanks for the suggestion. That’s a good idea and one I will keep in mind for future editions.