Tips for Hikers

Books on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails

Recommended narratives

Appalachian Trail:

A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson, 1999
Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trial, Bill Walker, 2008
Three Hundred Zeroes, Dennis Blanchard, 2010
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, David Miller, 2006
Just Passin’ Thru, Winton Porter, 2009
The Barefoot Sisters Southbound, Susan and Lucy Lechter, 2009

Pacific Crest Trail:

Wild–From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed, 2012

Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail, Bill Walker, 2010
The High Adventure of Eric Ryback, Eric Ryback, 1971
Cactus Eaters, Dan White, 2008
A Blistered Kind of Love, 2003, Angela and Duff Ballard
A Thru-Hiker’s Heart–Tales of the Pacific Crest Trail, Ray Echols,
Dances with Marmots, George Spearing, 2005

Recommended guidebooks

Appalachian Trail:

Appalachian Trail Data Book, Appalachian Trail, Daniel Chazin, 2010
Appalachian Pages by AWOL, David Miller, 2010, http://awolonthetrail.com

Pacific Crest Trail:

Yogi’s PCT Handbook, Jackie McDonnell, 2010 http://pcthandbook.com
PCT Atlas, Pacific Crest Trail Atlas, Eric the Black, www.blackwoodpress.com/blog 2010
Pacific Crest Trail Data Book, “Gentle Ben” Go, 2010
Pacific Crest Trail, PCT maps–Southern California, Pacific Crest Trail, Northern
California, Pacific Crest Trail, Washington and Oregon, Ben Schifrin, Jeffrey Schaffer, Thomas Winnett, and Ruby Johnson Jenkins, Wilderness Press, 2010

Websites

Appalachian Trail:

http://appalachiantrail.org Appalachian Trail Conservancy
http://whiteblaze.net Rick Towle, AT Troll

Pacific Crest Trail:

Pacific Crest Trail Association
http://DelNorteResort.com/cgi-bin/postHoler The PCT post-holer, PCT snow levels
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/current/PlotSWC, California’s snow water content
http://pcta.org Pacific Crest Trail Association, Sacramento California

Recommended Hostels

Pacific Crest Trail:

Hiker Heaven, The Saufleys, Jeff and Donna Saufley, Agua Dulce, California, holds 50 hikers, cots set up under enormous tarp, showers and computer in RV, mile 454.4 for NOBO’s, state-of-the art packaging system two-night maximum

Casa de Luna, Joe and Terrie Anderson, Green Valley, California, trail-famous pancakes in the mornings and taco salad in the evening, unlimited number of hikers sleep in The Magic Forest, great party scene.

Hiker Haven, Jerry and Andrea Dinsmore, Skykomish, Washington, located strategically between some of the toughest and most isolated parts of the PCT.