The Pacific Crest Trail runs 2,669 miles from the Mexican border to the Canadian border through California, Oregon and Washington. Each year, only about 180 people complete the trek.
Here are some facts about the trail:
The trail climbs nearly 60 major mountain passes, descends into 19 major canyons and moves past 1,000 lakes and tarns.
Three national monuments, seven national parks, 24 national forests and 33 federally mandated wildernesses exist along the trail.
In California, hikers and riders often go at least 20 to 30 miles in between water sources. The longest waterless stretch is 35.5 miles, north of Tehachapi.
Fewer people have hiked the entire PCT than have climbed Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth.
The route was first explored in the laste 1930s by teams of men from the YMCA.
Eric Ryback is credited as the first person to hike the length of the trail. He carried an 80-pound back in 1970.
Follow Rick Hurd at Twitter.com/3rdERH.