Planning a 2,650-mile trek on the Pacific Crest Trail from the U.S.-Mexico border to Canada? Prepare to turn around.
On Monday, the Canada Border Services Agency announced it will no longer issue permits for hikers to cross from Washington香蕉视频直播檚 Pasayten Wilderness into E.C. Manning Provincial Park in British Columbia, formally ending a long-held practice.
Instead of continuing eight miles north from the border to Manning Park Resort and the nearest road (where, presumably, a ride home awaits), hikers now must backtrack 30 miles to Hart香蕉视频直播檚 Pass, outside Mazama, to reach civilization.
A CBSA spokesperson said the proposed change was in the works before the American presidential election and aligns Canadian policy with longstanding U.S. policy, which does not permit southbound hikers to cross into Washington.
An estimated 700 people completed the long-distance trail in 2024, per the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Trail information manager Jack Haskel said most prefer hiking through to Manning Park rather than back to Hart香蕉视频直播檚 Pass.
香蕉视频直播淚f it香蕉视频直播檚 blue skies and conditions are great, most people aim to enter Canada as opposed to turning around,香蕉视频直播� he said.
The move comes five weeks after the Canadian government announced a CA$1.3 billion (about $900 million) border security plan. Canada has already deployed 60 new drones along its southern border and will eventually install additional surveillance towers, X-rays and handheld chemical analyzers.
香蕉视频直播淭he CBSA is working alongside its partners to support the national security and public safety at our borders,香蕉视频直播� the spokesperson said via email. 香蕉视频直播淲e operate in a constantly evolving environment and regularly evaluate our programs and operations to ensure we carry out our mandate to efficiently and effectively manage a secure border.香蕉视频直播�
PCT thru-hikers 香蕉视频直播� who already have to plan the logistics of resupplying on a multimonth hike, train for physical exertion and prepare for obstacles ranging from heavy snow to wildfires 香蕉视频直播� are taking the decision in stride. Some see the extra 30 miles of hiking through the North Cascades as a 香蕉视频直播渧ictory lap,香蕉视频直播� a chance to high-five hikers still trudging north.
Ruston resident Amelia Ehrens got an inkling of the coming change in November, when her border-crossing permit application for this year was rejected without explanation. Now that the new policy is official, she no longer has to sort out the logistics of getting from E.C. Manning Provincial Park back to Washington, but she was looking forward to finishing her hike by crossing the border.
香蕉视频直播淚 thought it was a really cool idea because you香蕉视频直播檙e essentially crossing the entire country by foot and ending at the border of another country,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭o have that trust to just be able to walk over the border without anyone checking was really nice, but I completely understand why, especially if you can香蕉视频直播檛 enter the U.S. from Canada. It香蕉视频直播檚 fair.香蕉视频直播�
For the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the decision is 香蕉视频直播渁 disappointing development,香蕉视频直播� said Haskel, who hiked the PCT northbound in 2006.
香蕉视频直播淭he opportunity to cross into Canada has been a cherished part of the experience for many people for decades,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen I hiked across America, the final steps into Canada helped provide closure and a sense of accomplishment and also added to the bewilderment that I felt reentering society in a new place.香蕉视频直播�
Finishing the PCT in British Columbia was also off-limits to thru-hikers in 2020 and part of 2021 during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, when Canada prohibited nonessential travel over the border.
One ancillary outcome of the policy shift: a heavier stream of hikers heading into Mazama, the closest U.S. town to the Northern Terminus.
Volunteer 香蕉视频直播渢rail angel香蕉视频直播� Mary LaVerne Garber-Williams will be ready to welcome hikers at her 2-acre property, Lion香蕉视频直播檚 Den, which she has opened for the last three PCT seasons. Thru-hikers can pitch their tent and avail themselves of her hiker香蕉视频直播檚 hut, equipped with a kitchen, shower and living room. She even does laundry 香蕉视频直播� and offers the whole operation by donation to over 1,500 hikers annually.
With everyone who makes it to the end turning back around in 2025, she香蕉视频直播檚 anticipating even more traffic this year.
香蕉视频直播淚 know it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be extra busy,香蕉视频直播� she said.
