Trip details

What you get on this adventure:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 4 days of backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail
  • Transportation to the trailhead and back
  • Meals (as indicated in the itinerary)
  • Snacks, tea, and coffee
  • Group camping gear (water filter, stove and fuel canisters, toilet paper and waste bags, bear canister, travel trowel)
  • Backpacking tent
  • Water filter
  • Trekking poles

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to Oregon
  • Backpacking sleeping bag and pad
  • Guide gratuities — optional

This trip is ideal for those who are regularly physically active and generally fit. You need to be in good shape as you’ll be hiking up to 12 miles/ 19.5 km a day up moderate inclines while carrying a 40 lb/ 18 kg (or an even heavier) backpack. Make sure you’re physically fit enough to keep up this tempo for four days.

However,  no previous experience is necessary—this is a beginner-friendly backpacking trip through a selected part of the Pacific Crest Trail! Your guides will teach you everything you need to know about backpacking. 

Here’s a list of things you need to bring:

Backpacking gear:

• Backpack (55 – 70L capacity)
• Backpacking sleeping bag rated at 20°F – 40°F
• Backpacking sleeping pad
• Packable pillow — inflatable or compressible
• One pair of clean sleeping socks
• Headlamp and extra batteries
• Stuff sacks or waterproof dry bags for gear organization
• Trash compactor bag — used as a waterproof backpack liner

Clothing:

• Sun hat
• Warm beanie
• Sunglasses
• Hiking shirt
• Fleece, down, or synthetic packable jacket — no ski jackets
• Hiking shorts or convertible pant
• Waterproof outer shell jacket and pants
• Lightweight hiking boots or hiking shoes — broken-in, and sturdy enough for trail use
• Hiking socks — 2 pairs
• Underwear and sports bra — 2-3 pairs
• Swim suit
• Thin gloves for warmth
• Base layers, top and bottom

Hydration and items for the camp kitchen:

• Water bottles or hydration bladder — at least 2L total
• Additional backup collapsible water storage — an extra 2L for water-scarce sections
• Utensils and dinnerware, including a lightweight mug, plate or bowl, knife, spoon, and fork
• Small lighter

Personal items:

• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• Personal medications — enough for your trip and two extra days
• Women’s hygienic and urinary products
• Sunscreen — travel size
• SPF-rated lip balm
• Toiletries — travel size
• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes
• Face covering — when riding inside the vans
• Quick-dry camp towel
• Insect repellent
• Guide gratuities — optional

Optional items:

• Lightweight camp shoes with a backstrap — Crocs are a great example
• Backpacking camp chair
• Sleeping bag liner — extra warmth and comfort
• Snacks, candies, and caffeine — for motivation on the trail
• Headphones
• Packable lantern
• Rechargeable battery pack
• Over-the-head bug net
• Bear resistant food-storage canister or sack — can be provided by your guide
• Bandana or neck gaiter
• Emergency shelter — can be provided by your guide
• Extra blister treatment supplies — can be provided by your guide

Your guides will provide:

• Backpacking tent — let your guides know if you’re planning on using your own
• Trekking poles
• Water filter
• Stove and fuel canisters
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Snacks
• Tea and coffee
• Bear bag hang kit or bear canister — for storing food away from bears
• Toilet paper and waste bags
• Small travel trowel
• First aid kit

Your guide recommends that you exclusively bring synthetic or wool clothing. You may be asked to help carry some of the group equipment. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Of course! You’ll need to bring your own sleeping bag and pad, and if you don’t have your own, there are plenty of rental companies in Portland—the starting point of your tour. You can rent from LowerGear Rentals, Mountain Shop, Portland Paddle, or any other rental company in Portland. Make sure you make arrangements in time. Contact us if you need any help!

You will spend your nights in tents.

Your guides use 1- and 2-person tents. For the 2-person tents, the internal dimensions are just big enough for 2 standard sleeping pads to fit side by side. You are welcome to use your own tent as well.

Whether or not you’ll have to share a tent depends on a variety of factors—the number of people signed up for a trip, how many people are sharing a tent already, and who is bringing their own tent. Your guides would never suggest strangers share a tent, so participants traveling solo get priority for single tents.

Two of their most common models include MSR Elixir 2 and MSR Hubba Hubba 2.

Your guides will provide a combination of meals cooked from scratch and pre-packaged trail meals and snacks. Upon booking, you will be provided with a waiver where you can notify them of your allergies and dietary restrictions. You are welcome to bring as much of your own food for the trip, as well as any other personal gear related to food preparation.

Group sizes and prices:

• • For this all-women backpacking tour along the Pacific Crest Trail, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1. 
  • All cost is per person and does not decrease as the group grows. 

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

For regular dates, a 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your trip cost.

• • If Client cancels the Booking within 48 hours of purchase, Client is entitled to a full refund.
  • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the trip, Client will receive a refund up to 80% of the purchase price of the trip.
  • For cancellations ten (10) to thirty (30) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund up to 70% of the total amount paid when Booking. 
  • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable.

• Only 10% of the total amount should be paid as a deposit upon booking. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another 57hours adventure any time in case the dates don’t suit you.
• Once the dates for 2024 are set, you can confirm your booking by the end of this year by paying another 20% of the total amount.
• The final balance is due 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.
• Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy applies.

Upon booking, your guides will send you an online waiver for yourself and all other members of your party, with a special waiver for participants under the age of 18. Please fill in the waiver at least 1 week in advance of your trip.

To get to Portland, Oregon, most people fly into Portland International Airport (PDX). From there, you have a 15-minute drive to your guide’s office in Troutdale.

You’ll meet your guide and your fellow backpackers at the guide’s office, 121 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060 at 8:00 am on day 1 of the tour. Their office entrance is located below and behind the storefronts in downtown Troutdale. Turn left off the main street immediately after the “Gateway to the Gorge” arch to access the lower parking lot.

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. 

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Oregon, please refer to Oregon’s COVID-19 resources and updates.

If you have a fever, sore throat, cough, or any other COVID-19 symptoms (or exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19), your guides ask you to alert them immediately and stay home.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!