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limited medical facilities that were already strained. Additionally, the PCTA was concerned about the inherent dangers of PCT hiking; the trail crosses high mountains and harsh environments, and at least 15 people have died on the trail, nine of them from either falls or heatstroke. The PCTA judged that it was more responsible to avoid the kinds of accidents that could require emergency services to operate in the wilderness environment, which could expose both victims and rescuers to the virus from necessary contact with each other, and which would take health workers away from much needed jobs on the front lines of the pandemic. While the PCTA has no legal authority to close the trail, it does have the authority to grant permits for long-distance trips. In August 2020, the PCTA again delayed the opening of the permit cycle for 2021.
65:, the governmental agency charged with overseeing federal oversight of the trail, elaborates that the PCTA fulfills this mission by 1) promoting the use and protection of the Pacific Crest Trail to reflect its world-class significance for the enjoyment, education and adventure of hikers and equestrians 2) publishing information on the PCT including books, guidebooks, maps, condition reports, videos, and permits 3) sponsoring a wide variety of public service volunteer projects and programs in cooperation with agency partners such as the USDA-Forest Service, the
26:(usually abbreviated as the PCT), a 2,650-mile hiking and equestrian trail in the western United States that runs through California, Oregon, and Washington. The southern terminus is in Campo, California at the Mexican border approximately 50 miles east of San Diego. The northern terminus is at the US–Canadian border at
81:
organizations including the U.S.D.A. Forest
Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, California State Parks, the PTCA, Backcountry Horseman of America, 60 Indian tribes whose current and ancestral lands are along the trail, hiking clubs, volunteers, thru-hikers, trail towns, and others.
129:
the
Stevens Pass (Washington) area threatened the continuity of the trail. A private landowner had been considering fencing off a segment of trail and cutting off public access. In 2017 the Pacific Crest Trail Association bought more than 400 acres for $ 1.6 million to keep the trail open to the public.
101:
Through media campaigns and its own outreach, the PCTA educates hikers about issues that affect the trail. These issues can include temporary closures, or can be more global. For example, the PCT makes hikers aware of how climate change is affecting large-scale western forest fires, which can destroy
128:
The PCTA has also had a role in protecting the integrity of the trail as a continuous footpath, for example, negotiating easements and trail routings with private landowners. While a Golden Spike ceremony in 1993 celebrated the completion of the PCTA, it was later learned that a missing easement in
80:
In 2021, along with the USDA Forest
Service and the National Park Service, the PCTA collaborated on a Foundation Document to identify the significance of and fundamental resources for the entire 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The project considers the perspectives of stakeholders and
124:
that PCTA volunteers logged 96,500 hours in the previous year, the majority of which were spent on trail maintenance. She estimated that PCTA volunteers probably covered about 50 percent of what is needed every year, or about 1300 miles of the trail's nearly 2700 mile length. The PCTA additionally
110:
principles. In 2017, in cooperation with some of its donors, it operated a program it called P3 (Preserve, Protect, and
Promote—taken from its mission statement), which highlighted ten Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers who would help promote and advocate for the PCT via blogs and social media during
198:
phenomenon, the PCTA took a leading role in determining how trail policies would respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor spaces nationwide saw a large uptick of visitor use by people looking for safe spaces in which to recreate. But in April 2020, the PCTA asked long-distance hikers to postpone
119:
The
Pacific Crest Trail Association takes a lead role in maintaining the trail and keeping it open and passable as a continuous foot and bridle path from Mexico to Canada. Maintaining the trail requires clearing undergrowth and fallen trees, repairing damage from storms and flooding, building new
202:
The PCTA was concerned about the potential for the virus to spread among hikers, because the trail is, in part, a social experience, and hikers often congregate close together. Long-distance hikers were also viewed as potential disease vectors who could spread the virus to rural communities with
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that the PCTA saw increased numbers everywhere within a year of the movie's release—more day hikers, doubled website traffic, and more permit requests for thru-hiking; she said that nearly 2,000 people attempted a thru-hike in 2014, double the previous year. In response, the PCTA launched a
42:
of 1968. In 1971, the
Pacific Crest Trail Club was founded, and in 1977 the Pacific Crest Trail Conference was incorporated. The two groups merged in 1987, and in 1992, the name was changed to the Pacific Crest Trail Association. The Association hired its first paid staff in 1993.
93:
announced that in partnership with the PCTA, it had protected 17 miles of trail in northern
California, and identified climate change and fires, timber cutting, increased usage, threats to wildlife from human interaction, and maintaining funding from the federally administered
183:, Bob Woods, the North Cascades Regional Director for the Pacific Crest Trail Association, explained that the new permit regulations were necessary because it was anticipated that the increased awareness of the trail would result in record breaking use in the next few years.
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was published in 2012 and became a best-seller; the effect on the trail was initially modest with a small increase in inquiries to the PCTA. But in 2014, a movie based on the book came out, and had a much larger effect. According to a 2015
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Additionally, the PCTA website contains comprehensive information about trail closures, conditions, relocations, events, books, maps, and upcoming trail events that educate hikers in safe backcountry travel and
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The PCTA's mission is to protect, preserve and promote the
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as a world-class experience for hikers and equestrians, and for all the values provided by wild and scenic lands.
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trail that needs to be relocated because of damage, treadway improvement, or land ownership issues; and maintaining trail signage. Speaking as the executive director of the PCTA in 2016, Liz
Bergeron, told
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The PCTA works under a
Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S.D.A Forest Service (the lead agency responsible for governmental oversight of the trail), and other federal agencies.
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171:), the PCTA saw a dramatic increase in the number of hikers attempting to hike the entire trail. Liz Bergeron, executive director of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, told
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The PCTA serves as a clearinghouse for information about trail conditions, threats to the trails, and issues that affect hikers and equestrians. In 2019, the
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The PCTA also published information about the benefits of southbound itineraries, which could help to lessen the impact by spreading out hikers.
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They also implemented a new permit system to limit the number of long-distance backpackers in order to spread out the usage. Speaking to
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882:"Citing potential spread of coronavirus on Pacific Crest Trail and elsewhere, outdoor advocates urge thru-hikers to cancel plans"
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campaign, with Strayed's support, using the hashtag #responsiblywild to promote safety and Leave No Trace practices.
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hundreds of miles of trail and create life-threatening conditions that force hikers to abandon their itineraries.
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944:"'Heartbreaking' Guidance Calls For Hikers To Quit Pacific Crest Trail Trips Because Of Coronavirus"
851:"'Busiest camping season': Travelers choose outdoor recreation close to home amid COVID-19 pandemic"
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23:
1034:"One death, multiple rescues on Pacific Crest Trail heighten calls to stay away during pandemic"
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runs a trail skills course that educates volunteers about trail maintenance, tools, and safety.
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313:
342:
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974:"Pacific Crest Trail Association Asks Thru-Hikers to Cancel Their Trips Due to COVID-19"
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22:(PCTA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and management of the
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522:"Liz Bergeron's Cool Sports Job: Pacific Crest Trail Association Executive Director"
491:"P3 Hiker program promotes awareness of responsible use of the Pacific Crest Trail"
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article (which was published in newspapers throughout the United States, e.g.: the
30:, which lies just north of the border between Washington and British Columbia.
460:"Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is 'almost impossible' due to climate change"
199:
their 2020 thru-hikers, or, if they had already started, to leave the trail.
611:"The 'Wild' effect: Pacific Crest Trail expects more hikers thanks to movie"
913:"Pacific Crest Trail hikers told to stay home during coronavirus outbreak"
194:
Immediately subsequent to the increase of traffic on the trail after the
791:"The Movie Wild Spurs New Permitting System on the Pacific Crest Trail"
430:"Five Threats to the Pacific Crest Trail and How We Are Fighting Back"
700:"The 'Wild' Effect: How Cheryl Strayed's Memoir Inspires Hikers"
121:
669:"Thanks to 'Wild,' more hikers expected on Pacific Crest Trail"
760:"PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: How To Score a PCT Long-distance Permit"
284:
638:"Pacific Crest Trail expects more hikers thanks to 'Wild'"
38:
The PCT was established as a national scenic trail by the
580:"Group Buys Land to Prevent Break in Pacific Crest Trail"
1097:
1065:"Pacific Crest Trail Association Postpones 2021 Permits"
1118:
Environmental organizations based in the United States
49:
The PCTA is headquartered in Sacramento, California.
821:"Pacific Crest Trail Association Southbound Guide"
376:U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest
8:
673:The Florida Times Union via Associated Press
1004:"List of Deaths on the Pacific Crest Trail"
221:"Brief History of the Pacific Crest Trail"
1113:Hiking organizations in the United States
729:"Wild Movie Boosts Number of PCT Hikers"
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85:Education and trail support activities
1075:from the original on January 29, 2022
1044:from the original on January 29, 2022
984:from the original on January 29, 2022
923:from the original on January 29, 2022
892:from the original on January 29, 2022
861:from the original on January 29, 2022
801:from the original on January 29, 2022
770:from the original on January 29, 2022
739:from the original on January 29, 2022
679:from the original on January 29, 2022
648:from the original on January 29, 2022
617:from the original on January 29, 2022
590:from the original on January 29, 2022
501:from the original on January 29, 2022
470:from the original on January 29, 2022
372:"The Pacific Crest Trail Association"
7:
667:Harpaz, Beth J. (January 20, 2015).
24:Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
20:The Pacific Crest Trail Association
1032:Fieldstadt, Elisha (Apr 1, 2020).
14:
698:Williams, Allison (Feb 4, 2015).
609:Associated Press (Jan 20, 2015).
16:Non-profit organization in the US
636:Harpaz, Beth J. (Jan 20, 2015).
257:US Government Documents via PCTA
115:Trail maintenance and continuity
96:Land and Water Conservation Fund
1098:Pacific Crest Trail Association
1014:from the original on 2022-01-29
954:from the original on 2022-01-29
880:Burbank, Megan (Mar 20, 2020).
831:from the original on 2022-01-29
710:from the original on 2022-01-03
561:from the original on 2022-01-29
532:from the original on 2022-01-29
458:Harrell, Ashley (Aug 4, 2021).
440:from the original on 2022-01-29
411:from the original on 2022-01-29
382:from the original on 2022-01-29
353:from the original on 2022-01-29
324:from the original on 2022-01-29
295:from the original on 2022-01-29
266:from the original on 2020-11-12
231:from the original on 2022-01-29
1063:Neumann, Erik (Apr 26, 2020).
942:Neumann, Erik (Apr 10, 2020).
98:as key management priorities.
1:
551:"Trail Skills College Course"
489:Bauer, Brian (Apr 12, 2017).
250:"Memorandum of Understanding"
911:Hale, Jamie (Mar 20, 2020).
795:Seattle Backpackers Magazine
789:Franz, Dutch (Feb 6, 2015).
758:Floro, Kelly (Oct 7, 2021).
181:Seattle Backpackers Magazine
28:E.C. Manning Provincial Park
849:Garth, Gary (Sep 6, 2020).
40:National Trails Systems Act
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1069:Oregon Public Broadcasting
972:Roy, Adam (Mar 20, 2020).
343:"The Pacific Crest Trail"
71:Bureau of Land Management
642:The Santa Fe New Mexican
495:Outside Business Journal
53:Mission and partnerships
289:U.S.D.A. Forest Service
948:Jefferson Public Radio
584:Associated Press (KGW)
434:Trust for Public Lands
75:California State Parks
405:National Park Service
401:"Foundation Document"
285:"Pacific Crest Trail"
91:Trust for Public Land
67:National Park Service
190:COVID-19 and the PCT
162:Santa Fe New Mexican
704:Conde Nast Traveler
314:"PCTA Partnerships"
173:Conde Nast Traveler
168:Florida Times Union
156:New York Daily News
63:USDA Forest Service
111:their thru-hikes.
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505:January 29,
474:January 29,
1107:Categories
1018:2022-01-29
978:Backpacker
958:2022-01-29
835:2022-01-29
714:2022-01-29
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270:2022-01-29
235:2022-01-29
207:References
165:, and the
137:phenomenon
855:USA Today
225:The Clymb
144:’s book,
1073:Archived
1042:Archived
1038:NBC News
1012:Archived
982:Archived
952:Archived
921:Archived
890:Archived
859:Archived
829:Archived
799:Archived
768:Archived
764:The Trek
737:Archived
708:Archived
677:Archived
646:Archived
615:Archived
588:Archived
559:Archived
530:Archived
499:Archived
468:Archived
438:Archived
409:Archived
380:Archived
351:Archived
322:Archived
293:Archived
261:Archived
229:Archived
464:SF Gate
34:History
159:, the
69:, the
264:(PDF)
253:(PDF)
146:Wild,
1081:2022
1050:2022
990:2022
929:2022
898:2022
867:2022
807:2022
776:2022
745:2022
685:2022
654:2022
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596:2022
555:PCTA
526:ESPN
507:2022
476:2022
318:PCTA
196:Wild
135:Wild
133:The
122:ESPN
61:The
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