In this post I write about my third week on the Pacific Crest Trail. I hiked from Paradise Valley Café Mile 156 to Cabazon Mile 210. In PCT Week 3 I had my first snow experience and my first heat extremes on the agenda. If you missed the second week’s article, here’s the link to the contribution: PCT Week 2.
Day: April 19th 2019
Distance: 12,8 mi, 20,5 km
Accumulated: 168.5 mi, 269.1 km
It starts early and I’m low on water. After a few miles I have the opportunity to refill my water bottles. It goes half a mile from the trail downhill to a water trough. What a surprise: a dead mouse in a water tank… half as wild, I filter my water directly at the water outlet. Safe is safe.
Afterwards it goes up the mountains and through a bizarre landscape. A year ago a huge fire raged here, leaving only bare trees behind. Arriving at the camp spot we decide to go cowboy camping (sleep open air, without tent), because the wind is too strong and there is not enough space. As a reward of the day there is a great sunset and an incredible moonrise. By the way, it’s a full moon, pleasant dreams.
Day 16: The first snow and my trailname in Idyllwild
Day: April 20th 2019
Distance: 10,9 mi, 17,4 km
Accumulated: 179.4 mi, 287 km
After getting up, the trail continues uphill. The wind gets stronger and stronger and we come to snow depth. After a short time I meet Liran from Israel again, with whom I slept at Scout and Frodo in a tent. We are happy about the reunion and Liran tells me that he last saw snow when he was 9 years old. He’s on cloud nine.
Since I had not planned any microspikes for this section, I walk carefully over the ice. It’s super dangerous and the first ones start with postholing. Postholing is when the firm blanket of snow gives way and one or both legs bag knee or hip deep. No fun and very exhausting.
I also posthole several times and notice all of a sudden how my knee stretches over in a deep hole. A hell of a pain pervades my body. I’ll try to get out of the hole and finally make it. The limp continues. Suddenly I realize I can’t see the Trail anymore. Lila (Trailname: Rabitt Rabitt) gets map and compass out of her pocket and navigates our group of four successfully to Saddle Junction, the descent into the village Idyllwild.
In Idyllwild we have pizza, beer and the reunion with other hikers. To end the day reconciliatory we board a karaoke bar. The music is so well received that a few people at the counter pay for our beer and I get my trail name: Jukebox. A perfect ending to the day.
Day 17: Rest day in Idyllwild
Day: April 21st 2019
Distance: 0 mi, 0 km
Accumulated: 179.4 mi, 287 km
The first restday in Week 3 is on the agenda. Sleeping late and scrubbing the dirt off my body with a hot shower are at the top of my checklist. Afterwards it goes to the Sunday brunch in Tommy’s Kitchen. $17.99 all you can eat is a top offer for Hikers. I want healthy food: salad, humus, pasta, vegetables, fruit and everything my heart desires. After one hour everyone is full, satisfied and barely able to walk back to the campsite.
My knee still hurts and I decide to buy microspikes for the next stages. At the campsite I meet Tom, he is a physiotherapist and looks at my knee. Seems all right. I massage it with Tigerbalm and grant it with some peace.
Day 18: Back on the PCT
Day: April 22nd 2019
Distance: 0 mi, 0 km
Accumulated: 179.4 mi, 287 km
Before it goes back on the PCT the belly must be filled up with a proper breakfast. It goes to the Red Kettle and I order fruit, vegetables and an omelette. It’s fantastic and delicious. Afterwards the laundry must be washed. So I slip into my rain gear and wash all the clothes out of my backpack. Last but not least, we go to the supermarket. Resupply: Shopping for food for the next 6 days after Big Bear including the ascent to the summit of Mount San Jacinto.
Around 04:00 p.m. everything is done and two Trailangels drive our group of five back to the ascent. It goes up again on the mountain and icy temperatures await us.
Day 19: San Jacinto Summit
Day: April 23rd 2019
Distance: 8,1 mi, 13 km
Accumulated: 187.5 mi, 300 km
Today we go to the summit of San Jacinto (3,302 metres/ 10,834 feet). It’s an icy morning and we’re all torturing ourselves out of our sleeping bags. At 6:30 a.m. we start the ascent. After a few miles you can’t go on without microspikes. A few more miles later the deep snow is steep uphill and the trail can only be guessed by GPS. Arrived at the top there is a well deserved break at pleasant temperatures.
Summit of San Jacinto
The descent is more difficult than expected. After a few meters I slip and come to a standstill only with difficulty and necessity. My stopping manoeuvre results in one of my walking sticks breaking through. The highest concentration is required for the descent.
Arrived at the campspot we are all flat and exhausted. The descent has not only pulled physical forces. My brain feels like after a crazy exam due to the high concentration during the descent. The strength to erect a tent is lacking. Cowboy camping with wet and cold feet. Just get out of those wet socks. Good night.
Day 20 The icy descent over the Fuller Ridge
Day: April 24th 2019
Distance: 9,8 mi, 15,7 km
Accumulated: 197.3 mi, 315.7 km,
Early in the morning I move into my half-frozen shoes. It’s damn cold again and it’s impossible to get ahead without microspikes. After a few hours of highest concentration we reach snow-free terrain over the Fuller Ridge and breathe a sigh of relief. I lost my GoPro at the postholing in deep snow, but I am happy to have finished this part of the PCT. It was just hard.
The temperatures rise suddenly the deeper we hike. From snow and water everywhere it changes smoothly into a dry desert climate. We’re targeting the nearest waterhole to replenish our supplies. The last miles lead to a camp spot which invites us again to cowboy camping.
Day 21: Down into hellish temperatures and food at Cabazon
Day: April 25th 2019
Distance: 12,8 mi, 20,5 km
Cumulative: 210.1 mi, 336.2 km,
It’s still downhill. Sun and heat are merciless. The climate forces many breaks, but there are few shade places. The fight with the inner self begins.
The last few miles lead through a dry riverbed. It’s like an oven. A thermometer indicates 132°F (55°C) in the sun. It must be broken… All the desert scenes from the Clint Eastwood movies shoot into my brain. “Don’t die of thirst cowboy, it’s only a few more miles” I say to myself and fight my way through the soft sand in the riverbed.
Finally I arrive totally finished at the bridge for Highway 10 – there are shadows here. There are also other hikers resting and protecting themselves from the sun. We decide four of us to hitchhike to Cabazon, go shopping and eat something. A big burrito fills up my empty batteries. Afterwards we hitchhike back onto the trail and look for a place to sleep.
I survived the third week on the Pacific Crest Trail. It wasn’t easy, but I could learn a lot of new things. Be curious what happens next. Here it goes directly to week 4.
If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
The second week on the Pacific Crest Trail is over and ended up in the famous Paradise Valley Café. If you missed the first week’s contribution, here’s the link to the article: PCT Week 1.
Day: April 12th 2019
Distance: 9,6 mi, 15,4 km
Accumulated: 86.6 mi, 138.6 km
We all sleep until 7:00 a.m. and then fall over the delicious breakfast at Julian Lodge. Then it goes again to Moms Pie to drink a coffee. At the Postoffice an older woman takes us in her car for a hitch to the PCT.
Afterwards it goes again through the mountains with some rain. At 86.6 mile I pitch my tent. I have a small dinner and jump after into my sleeping bag.
Day 9 – Trailmagic at its best
Day: April 13th 2019
Distance: 14,6 mi, 23,4 km
Accumulated: 101.2 mi, 161.9 km
In the morning we continue through the mountains and great nature. Passing the 100 Mile takes a big load from my mind. The nearest camping spot is only 1.2 miles away.
What awaits the Hiker here is phenomenal. The former Thru-hiker Tommy (@twerkinthedirt on Instagram) came by with two friends and a small bus and celebrated Trailmagic. There were sandwiches, beer, sweets, snacks and much more for everyone. And all for nothing. Everyone got to know each other better and had a great evening. Later this fantastic photo was taken.
PCT Class 2019 by @twerkinthed at Instagramirt
Day 10 – Eagle Rock and Warner Springs
Day: April 14th 2019
Distance: 8,3 mi,13,3 km
Accumulated: 109.5 mi, 175.2 km
After the trail party the night before there is only a short hiking day to Warner Springs. Some miles on the trail I stand in front of a big meadow and enjoy the wide view. All of a sudden there are cows standing around me and a young bull finds it fun to run at me. I turn around and wait for the situation to calm down. The cows lose interest in me and move on… lucky.
At the Eagle Rock a few photos are taken and it goes on. Arrived in Warner Springs I charge my batteries and relax. As the Post Office is closed on Sundays, I have to wait until Monday. I’m expecting a food package that I sent out from San Diego. The selection for a resupply with good food in Warner Springs is zero. So sending a package was the right decision.
Day 11 – Welcome to the Open Air Restaurant
Day: April 15th 2019
Distance: 10,1 mi,16,6 km
Accumulated: 119.6 mi, 191.4 km
The next morning we relax and continue around 1:00 p.m. in a small group of 5 hikers. It goes again through great nature and the mountains up and down.
Arrived at the campsite we cook and experience a fantastic sunset. The Open Air Restaurant serves the following dishes: starter: Snickers bar, main course: ramen noodles with cheese powder, dessert: Cliff bar. Afterwards everyone go into the sleeping bag.
Day 12 – Mike’s Place
Day: April 16th 2019
Distance: 15,2 mi, 24,3 km
Accumulated: 134.8 mi, 215.7 km
The next morning is cold, damp, stormy and foggy. I’m glad to have my rain gear with me. The surroundings look spooky and beautiful at the same time.
After about 8 miles we reach Mike’s Place. Here the two Trailangels “Strange” and “Cyclops” provide for the well-being of the Hikers. There are sandwiches, coffee, tea and stories to hear. In summary, one can only say that the two of them are two dearly crazy people. Afterwards we continue another 7 miles to a campground.
Day 13 – Burning Heat
Day: April 17th 2019
Distance: 10,6 mi, 17 km
Accumulated: 145.4, mi, 232.6 km
We take our time in the morning, because the daily goal is only 10 miles. But the heat of the day is killing us all. I reach the campground around 4:00 p.m. and the sun is still burning.
I treat myself to a small shower with a 5 litre bucket of water and scrub the coarsest dirt off my skin. The water is ice cold and refreshing at the same time. Afterwards we have pasta in bags for dinner. Everyone on the campground dreams of good food. The next day a mile from the PCT is the Paradise Valley Café, known for its good food.
Day 14 – Paradise Valley Café
Day: April 18th 2019
Distance: 10,5 mi, 16,6 km
Accumulated: 155.9 mi, 249.4 km
Let’s go to the Paradise Valley Café and eat good food. This is the motivation of all hikers. The 6 miles to the cafe stretch out and take no end. Finally arrived we order food: a Veggi hamburger with extra feta cheese and fries, a coffee and a big beer.
Three hours later we’re still at the Paradise Valley Café ordering the next round. Completely starved I order the next Veggiburger. Then we’ll do another four miles on the trail. The landscape is beautiful and I feel like in a fairytale landscape. The campground is a bit creepy, but that doesn’t bother any further. With a full stomach and a broad grin I fall asleep satisfied.
Also the second week on the Pacific Crest Trail is over. The next week is really tough, because there was the first snow at 2500 meters altitude. Be curious what happens next. Here it goes directly to week 3.
If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
The first week on the Pacific Crest Trail is over and I hiked from Campo to Julian. What else I experienced in PCT week 1 you can read in this article 🙂 Here it goes to my first post: PCT – Arrival in the USA.
Day: April 5th 2019
Distance: 11,4 mi, 18,2 km
Accumulated: 11.4 mi, 18.2 km
I am at the Monument, the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail and am excited, happy and impatient. I need to start, but before I have to take a few pictures.
Since it is a little drizzly I start in my rain jacket. Nevertheless, it is perfect hiking weather: not too warm, cloudy and a light breeze. After a short time it goes up- and downl. The trail will certainly not be easier. Thanks to the rain, there are many water sources that are normaly dry.
A lot of hikers rev up and have a hell of a pace. I am calm and run my pace. I have half a year ahead of me and my body has to get used to the strain. After 11.4 miles I decide to set up my tent and meet Nils, who was also at Scout and Frodos place. We chat, cook dinner and go to bed early.
Day 2: The first night in my tent
Day: April 6th 2019
Distance: 9,0 mi, 14,4 km
Accumulated: 20.4 mi, 32.6 km
The alarm goes off at 5:30 and I’ve slept more than 10 hours. Some condensate in the tent but nothing dramatic. I’ll run out and make breakfast at Hauser Creek. The sun comes out and the temperatures rise quickly. Perfect for drying my sleeping bag and my tent.
A steep ascent follows and I meet two trail runners who want to take a photo with me. Sure, no problem. Since the first day is still in my legs, I decide to stay at the campground in Lake Morena and treat myself to something to eat. Afterwards I Drink a few beers and sit at the campfire with other hikers.
Day 3: Lost on the PCT
Day: April 7th 2019
Distance: 12,2 mi, 19,5 km
Accumulated: 32.6 mi, 52.1 km
It starts early and I notice after a short time that I have lost my way. Behind me is Nils and we’re trying to get back on the trail. According to the map we only have to walk to a small stream, which crosses the PCT again later.
Arriving at the stream we notice that the plan is not so easy to implement and decide to wade through the ankle deep stream. Again on the PCT it goes through great nature. At Kitchen Creek a longer break is taken to refill water, to eat and to relax. Kitchen Creek is a paradise.
Afterwards it goes a few miles further to the Campsite.
Day 4: Some relaxation
Day: April 8th 2019
Distance: 8,9 mi, 14,2 km
Accumulated: 41.5 mi, 66.4 km
The next morning we walk through a breathtaking backdrop to the Campground of Mount Laguna. Here we buy food and I treat myself to a salad and a beer. Afterwards we talk to other hikers and relax.
A short day, but the body has to get used to the effort. The first hikers are already out after 3 days with tendinitis, because they had to run 36 miles (57 km) in the first two days.
Day 5: The Unexpected Storm
Day: April 9th 2019
Distance: 18,2 mi, 29,1 km
Accumulated: 59.7 mi, 95.5 km
I start a little later and enjoy a beer for breakfast, which a trailangel has left on the spot. It’s colder and stormier today.
The wind gets so strong, you can barely move forward. I can hardly enjoy the great views, as I have to be very careful with my steps.
After 15 miles (24 km) I notice that the all places for tents are empty. It’s impossible to set up a tent. Other Hiker have also moved on. The storm sweeps over the mountains at frightening speed, leaving an unpleasant feeling behind.
I stay calm and know the sun won’t go down for another two hours. So I still have time to find a place to sleep. Shortly before 6 pm I meet a place where several Hikers placed their tents with difficulty. I decide not to pitch my tent. It’s too late and too stormy.
Instead, I’m going cowboycamping. I place my mattress between two other tents, pack my sleeping bag into my waterproof bivi and try to sleep as sheltered from the wind as possible. The night is a grey one and nobody comes to rest. Around 11 pm, the storm calms down a bit and I fall asleep.
Day 6: The day after the storm
Day: April 10th 2019
Distance: 15,8 mi, 25,3 km
Accumulated: 75.5 mi, 120.8 km
The next morning they all look super dirty. The sand went into the tents and through the sleeping bags. Nevertheless, everyone is happy to have survived the night.
The PCT continues through nature with breathtaking views. It feels like a western movie. Karl May described the scenery perfectly in his books, although he was never there – somehow impressive. Shortly before Scissors Crossing the camp is set up and I enjoy the sunset. A fantastic day.
Day 7: Rest day in Julian
Day: April 11th 2019
Distance: 1,5 mi, 2,4 km
Accumulated: 77 mi, 123.2 km
We walk a few miles to the road and hitchhike to Julian. My first hitche is super comfortable and I almost fall asleep on the mattress at the back of the car. Arrived in Julian “Moms Pie” offers free apple pie with ice cream for PCT Hiker.
The four of us Nils, Lila, Debo and myself share a room at Julian Lodge. Showering, washing clothes, buying food for the next days and relaxing. For dinner we have a big Mega Pizza.
The first week on the Pacific Crest Trail is over and tomorrow we continue towards Warner Springs. I’m curious to see what happens next. Here it goes directly to Week 2
If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
My things are packed and I am ready to start my journey. It’s 5:00 am, I close the door behind me and make my way to Frankfurt Airport.
My biggest worry is that the Deutsche Bahn (Train System in Germany) will be late and I miss my flight. This does not happen – lucky. My flight blows up 10:00 am.
8,5h later I have a 4h stopover in Montreal with border control. The US official is very nice, looks at my visa, asks me a few questions and let me pass. I am now on US ground in Canada.
Montreal is still under snow and I get an SMS with the note: 0.99MB data volume can cost up to 59.90€… holy cow. I prefer the free WiFi fromMontreal Airport.
Artival is San Francisco
My second flight brings me to San Francisco, where I meet a part of my Camino family again. Caminoreunio No. 1 with sightseeing in San Francisco – you can’t wish for a better start. After that I have a beer with Mary-Lynn.
Further to Arroyo Grande
Afterwards we continue to Arroyo Grande to meet my Caminofriends Ken and Barb. This is about three important things:
having fun and drinking beer
dealing with the Jetlag and relaxing
doing the final preparations for the PCT
The Preparation
The preparations for the PCT really skyrocket with my camino friends Ken and Barb. These two are probably the most experienced hikers I know. Practice pitching tents, learn Clove Hitch (special knot) and Slipknot (to skilfully protect the food bag in the tree from animals), prepare food for the first days, plant and animal knowledge, gearcheck, clothing check and so on. The reunion is like a PCT bootcamp. I’m just grateful for that! At the same time, my head smokes like after a hard exam.
An important point in food preparation is the calorie density per gram, since I need calories but do not want to carry unnecessary extra weight. Ken introduces me into his own Excel spreadsheet. 120 kcal per oz are great… 1 oz = 28.34g. Now it’s time for mental arithmetic.
The resupply and bounce box strategy is also discussed. A Bouncebox is a box with things I don’t need directly on the trail. Here are for example my Maps for later sections, ice axe, microspikes and other small things in it. Since I need the things only later, I bounce the package in Front of me to the post offices before me.
PCT Caminofriends: Barb, Ken, Mary-Lynn and I
Finally in San Diego
On 03 April I set off for San Diego to Scout and Frodo, two trail angles companies that give accommodation to PCT hikers and take them to the starting point in Campo on the Mexican border.
Between I meet my old Caminofriend Andrew
Caminoreunio with my Caminofriend Andrew
In the house of Scout and Frodo are already many other Hiker. Everyone is excited and euphoric. I can’t wait to start either. Scout tells stories about his hikes and gives tips and hints for the PCT. After a delicious dinner I go into my sleeping bag. The last night in civilization for an indefinite time. Tomorrow it starts. Yiiiihaaaaa
The first week in the USA is over and we’re off on the trail. I’m ready! If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
One of the most important things on my PCT checklist was the visa for the USA, as here a simple ESTA visa (only valid for citizens of a “Visa Waiver Program” country) for 90 days is not sufficient, instead a “Business / Tourist Visa – B1 / B2” is required. An important part for the visa application is the form DS-160, which I will introduce here also a little more precisely.
With a business/tourist visa – B1 / B2 you can stay in the USA for a maximum of 180 days per entry. Since the average hiker needs 150 days for the PCT, this visa is perfect.
With this little help I would like to show you how I got my visa. Before you start to apply for a visa, be sure to check the USTRAVELDOCS Business / Tourist Visa website. All important information for the B1 / B2 visa is summarized there.
Since it is very likely that my information will not match yours, it is important that you provide your own information truthfully. Some fields in the forms are not always clear, so I try to explain them.
However, there is no guarantee for a visa with this assistance, as this is always at the discretion of U.S. officials!
With the following 4 steps I will show you what to do to get a B1 / B2 visa for the USA.
If you don’t have a recent photo, have a coloured passport photo taken
Fill in form DS-160
Pay the visa application fee and arrange an interview at the respective embassy/consulate.
Go to the interview appointment and complete the interview
The central contact point for visa applications and the DS-160 form is https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/. On this page you can test if your photo complies with the photo regulations and start, upload or edit your visa application.
Create a Photo and Test it
The first step is to have a passport photo taken of you. Click here for the photo regulations. If your photo meets the standards, you can test it on the DS-160 form page (https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/). IMPORTANT: Since November 1, 2016, glasses are no longer allowed on photos!
Link to the test page for the photo
I scanned my passport photo and uploaded it for testing. However, scanned images have different terms than digital images. The photograph shall be square, colour, 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) and 300 dpi resolution.
If the photo meets the standards and passes the test, you will receive the following confirmation:
Confirmation of passed photo test
The DS-160 Form
If you meet all the requirements for the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Form, you can start filling out the form. To do this, go to the following page: https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/
Start of Application Process
On the website you first have to specify the city where you want to apply for the US visa. This is also where the interview is held for the visa afterwards. For Germany you can choose Berlin, Frankfurt am Main and Munich. Then start the application by clicking on “Start an Application“.
Visa application home page
IMPORTANT: On the following page you will receive your access data (Application ID) for processing your visa. Make a note of these dates if you want to edit the form later or if you can’t finish it the first time. I also recommend that you save your data on a regular basis, as the sessions for processing the visa are not exactly stable and you don’t know exactly when a session for processing the visa has expired. Oh yes, and an answer to a “secret question” must also be given.
Application information for the visa
Personal Information 1
On the first page of the visa application you enter first name and surname. The part “Full Name in native alphabet” is only to be filled in if your name is not in Latin letters in the passport. In this case just click on “Does not apply”.
One of the most frequently asked questions about the first page is: What is the Telecode? The telecode is a unique conversion code for 16,356 Chinese characters organized in two levels. For German names there is no telecode and here you can simply click on “No“.
To understand what a telecode is, I have a small example for you. I translated my first name in Google Translator into simple Mandarin (Chinese) and then converted it into a telecode generator. My name “Martin” in Mandarin “马丁” (Mǎdīng) would therefore have the telecode “7456 0002“. But like I said, you can just click “No” here.
Example for a Telecode
All other data such as gender, date of birth, place of birth, marital status etc. are actually self-explanatory. For Germans: at the birthplace you can click in the area “State/Province” “Does not apply”. My details:
Full Name in nativ Alphabet: DOES NOT APPLY
Do you have a Telecode that represents your Name?: NO
Date and Place of Birth – State/Province: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – Page 1 – Personal information I
Personal Information 2
In the Personal Information 2 you only need to enter your citizenship as a German, or both in the case of dual citizenship.
With “National Identification Number”, “U.S. Social Security Number” and “U.S. Taxpayer ID Number” I clicked “Does not Apply” everywhere. If you have already lived in the USA and applied for a Social Security Number, enter it in the field below. My details:
National Identification Number: DOES NOT APPLY
U.S. Social Security Number: DOES NOT APPLY
U.S. Taxpayer ID Number: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – Page 2 – Personal data II
Address and phone
Enter your address, telephone numbers and e-mail address in the next field. At “State/Province” you can click on “Does not apply” if you are german. It is important that the country code of the telephone number is not given in +49 but in 0049 format. My details:
State/Province: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – page 3 – address and telephone number
Passport
On the fourth page of the form you enter the data of your passport. In the field “Passport/Travel Document Type” I have selected “REGULAR”. On “Passport Book Number”, enter “Does not Apply” if you are a German. My details:
Passport/Travel Document Type: REGULAR
Passport Book Number: DOES NOT APPLY
Form DS – 160 – Page 4 – Passport
Travels
The “Travel” page is one of the most important pages in the form, as concrete travel plans are given here. I filled out the document as follows:
Purpose of Trip to the U.S.: TEMP. BUSINESS PLEASURE VISITOR (B)
Specify: TOURISM/MEDICAL TREATMENT (B2)
As I didn’t know for which date I would receive a PCT Permit during the visa application process, I indicated “NO” for specific travel plans and the planned arrival date was April 1, 2019. For the duration of my stay I have chosen 6 months.
Have you made specific travel plans?: NO
Intended Date of Arrival: 01. APRIL 2019
Intended Length of Stay in U.S.: 6 MONTH(S)
If you want to enter the USA, you will need to provide an address where you will be staying. Here you can enter the address of local friends you have visited before, or of Trail Angles who offer this (for example Scout and Frodo in San Diego) or of your hotel where you will stay the first nights. However, you should check with the hotel to see if this is in order.
Form DS – 160 – Page 5 – Travel
Travel Companions
If you are travelling alone, simply fill out this form and click “No”. If you travel with a travel group or friends, you must enter their details here. My details:
Are there other persons traveling with you?: NO
Form DS – 160 – Page 6 – Passengers
Previous USA Trips
On this page you can indicate whether you have visited the USA before or if you have been denied a visa application. You will also need to indicate if someone else has submitted a visa application in your name. Since none of the cases applied to me, I could negate anything. My details:
Have you ever been in the U.S.?: NO
Have you ever been issued a U.S. Visa?: NO
Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, or been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry?: NO
Have you ever been denied travel authorisation by the Department of Homeland Security through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation: NO
Has anyone ever filed an immigrant petition on your behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services?: NO
Form DS – 160 – page 7 – previous US trips
USA Contact
For the further processing of the visa it is now necessary to specify a contact person from the USA, who can confirm your identity if necessary. If you don’t know anyone
Form DS – 160 – Page 8 – Contact person in the USA
in the USA personally, you can also enter the address of Trail Angels if they offer this. You’d better check with them first, though.
Family
On the ninth page of the form the names and dates of birth of your parents as well as close and distant relatives in the USA are queried.
Form DS – 160 – Page 9 – Family Information
Work, Education and Training Information
Present: The area of work, training and further education is divided into three parts: “present”, “past” and “additional information”. On page 10 of the form, the current employer, training place or college/university with address and monthly income is queried. In addition, a description of the activity, training or study is required.
Form DS – 160 – page 10 – current job, training or studies
Past: In the second section you will be asked about the previous employers and positions of the last 5 years. For this not only the addresses but also the names of your former supervisors are queried.
Form DS – 160 – page 11 – previous jobs or studies in the last 5 years
Additional information: In the last part of the area additional information is requested. This includes the question whether you belong to a clan or tribe, what languages you speak and to which countries you have travelled in the last 5 years.
Additionally there are questions about the affiliation of paramilitary or insurgent groups or if you have a special training with special weapons. Even if these questions seem strange to you, you should take them seriously and answer them truthfully. The whole thing could look like this:
Form DS – 160 – Page 12 – Additional Information
Security and Background
The Security and Background section has 5 parts and should be taken very seriously as it deals with very personal questions.
An important note on the website is that a question answered with “YES” does not automatically mean that you are not eligible for a visa. If a question has been answered with “YES”, you may have to appear in person before a consular officer who will clarify the answer in a personal interview.
In the first part, questions are asked about the state of health (illnesses, psychological illness, drug addiction).
In the second part, questions will be asked about the criminal past, prostitution, money laundering and human trafficking.
The third part contains questions on espionage, terrorist activity, killing or mass murder.
The penultimate section of the Security and Background section asks whether you have ever tried (or helped) to obtain a US visa through fraud, intentional misrepresentation, or other illegal means.
In the last part, questions on custody, electoral fraud and US citizenship renunciation of tax evasion are asked.
If you have truthfully filled in all five parts, proceed to the photo.
Photo
On the first page of the photo form, you will find the note that since November 1, 2016, glasses are no longer permitted on photos. Then click on the upload button and a new page will open. Here you can select and upload your image file. Then the message should come that your photo has passed the quality standards.
Upload Photo
Summary and Confirmation
The next step takes you to the “Review”, where you can check all the information you have entered and change it if necessary.
On the next page a text appears which should be read carefully. Then you sign the form electronically and submit it.
Sign and Submit Form
The Final Confirmation page contains a barcode and must be printed out and brought to the visa interview.
Visa Fee and Interview Date
If you have successfully submitted the visa application form, you have to transfer the visa fee afterwards. To do this, go to the website https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ and create a profile. The fee is displayed in US dollars, but must be paid in euros (in Europe). In my case this was 136,00 € (due to currency fluctuations this can also be more or less).
If you have created a profile click on “New Application/Arrange Appointment” and enter the required data for the visa. In my case:
Visa category: Non-Immigrant Visa
Diplomatic representation: Frankfurt
Visa category: All Others
Visa category: B2
Then enter your passport details and your DS-160 confirmation number.
On the payment page, click on “Payment option”, select a payment method and transfer the money. Here you will receive a reference number which must be kept in order to make an appointment. IMPORTANT: The processing fee for visa applications is non-refundable. All further information about the payment options can be found here: http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-niv-paymentinfo.asp.
In the last step you arrange an appointment based on your profile and the reference number assigned. My diary looked very good and I got an appointment within 7 days.
The Interview
I was really excited before the interview and collected all the documents meticulously. It’s better to have more information than too little, it’s all about a visa for the USA.
Required Documents:
Passport
DS-160 Confirmation Page
Printed copy of the date confirmation letter
current passport photo (not older than 6 months)
Supporting documents
Payroll of the last 3 months
Letter from my Employer
Statement of Account
Map of the PCT
The security regulations in the US consulates are very high, so be sure to check out the following page again: Safety regulations US Consulate. Electronic equipment may not be brought into the consulate, but may be delivered at the entrance. Since I didn’t know this before, I went to the consulate in Frankfurt with a classic paper ticket of the Deutsche Bahn and without a clock or telephone. Kind of a weird feeling.
After passing through the security check, digital fingerprints are taken and you then queue up at an interview counter. When it was my turn, my pulse and excitement went up. I had a very nice officer who asked me a few questions about the visa, which I answered. Of which the following, among others:
What do you want to do in the US?
What do you do for a living?
How can you afford the trip?
She listened to my answers, thought about it briefly, looked at her computer, looked at me again and said: “Ok, your visa is approved, we will send you your passport via mail. This can take up to two weeks.” I breathed deeply and was super happy. Two weeks later, my passport with a valid visa was in my mailbox.
Conclusion
To get a visa for the USA, there are a few things and documents that need to be well prepared. If you are well structured, this should not be a problem. In the end, of course, the US officials in the consulate always decide whether a visa is issued or not. So there is no guarantee for a visa.
Another important point on my checklist for the Pacific Crest Trail was the PCT Permit, which was not easy to get. Here you can go directly to my article PCT Permit – You need Luck with your Application.
I hope I could give you with this article a small insight into the process for a US visa. If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
For a hike on the Pacific Crest Trail you need a permit that allows you to travel and camp on the PCT. On the website of the PCT Association (PCTA) there are many helpful tips, which only help to a limited extent during the application process.
Why it is so difficult to get a permit for the PCT and why you need a lot of luck in the application process, I’ll show you in this article.
There are two important dates for applying for a PCT permit from Mexico to Canada: 14th November and 15th January. On these two days 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time (19:30 german time) places for the new PCT year will be unlocked. On the 14th of November there will be 35 places per day released and on the 15th of January 15 more places per day. This means a maximum of 50 permits are issued per day. The reason for this action is the protection of nature, which I fully support.
Due to the fact that there is only a relatively small time window to start the PCT, the places from April 1st to May 12th are very popular. These 6 weeks are seen as the optimum time window for the start of the PCT. If you start earlier, the Sierras (which you reach after approx. 7 weeks) can still have too much snow, so that they are not passable. If you start too late, an early arrival of winter at the end of September in Washington can become a real threat.
In this time window of 6 weeks 2,100 places are available. According to PCTA statistics, 4,506 permits were granted for a complete hike (thru-hike) from Mexico to Canada in 2018. If you have chosen a start date like me (April 7th), the chances to get a permit for this day are at an incredible 1.11%. Well, better than nothing.
My first Try
It’s November the 14th, 2018 19:20 german time and I turn on my computer. It is recommended not to come too early to the web page, since you have thereby no advantage. Anyone who comes to the website before 19:30 (10:30 a.m. Pacific Time) gets a random place in the queue.
I go shortly before half past seven to the PCT Permit application page and it opens a screen with a timer and the hint that already 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time more than 2,000 people are in the queue. Oh, uh… if that goes well.
The Queue
At 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time I get my number in the queue… it’s place 3,613, my estimated waiting time is more than an hour…. I quickly estimate my chances for the 7th of April and come to the conclusion that it is practically impossible.
PCT Permit Application Process
After an hour and 55 minutes it’s finally my turn. In the meantime, however, all the available places have been filled in April. I’m going back to March and forward to May. Almost all places are occupied here as well. In addition, you have to make a very fast decision.
I see that on March 23rd only 26 places are occupied and consider whether I should start so early. After a few seconds I make a decision, want to click on the date and get the message that the 35 spots for this day are occupied as well. At this time, all available places are full from March the 10th to May the 25th. I guess that didn’t work.
Stay Calm and look for Alternatives
Confusion, disappointment, anger and a little panic rise in me. I still try to keep calm and think about alternative plans. A look at the PCTA website helps me to make the following considerations.
Plan A: I’ll wait until January 15th and with a little luck I’ll get a permit for the appropriate start date.
Plan B:Recommended procedure on the PCTA website, if you don’t get a permit on the desired date: I start further north from mile 152 at Pines to Pals Scenic Byway CA SR 74, the first point behind the Mexican border where the “max. 50 permits per day” rule no longer applies. Here you can choose your starting date in peace, hike south to the Mexican border and then hitchhike back to the starting point to continue towards Canada.
Plan C: I don’t start as planned at the Mexican border but from the Canadian and hike southbound from Canada to Mexico.
For me only option one and two are possible. From now on I have to wait until January the 15th. If I don’t get a permit, I’ll consider plan B and start a little further north.
My second Try
It’s January the 15th, 2019, and I’m really excited. In order to increase my chances I use some tricks – actually everybody does it that way and I have an uncomfortable feeling that you have to do something like this in order to have a chance at all. The trick looks like this: Open the application page in 4 different browsers to get 4 identification numbers for the queue.
PCT Permit Application with 4 different browsers
Did it help? Not really… my best queue place is 2,913. The other three queue places are attached in the three thousands… This starts really well and I decide to extend my starting window up to 6 weeks. My new timeframe now lies between March the 25th and May the 5th.
After an hour I get access to the application portal and see that the whole April is fully booked until May the 15th – crap! In March there’ s a place available on the 19th! This is not within my time frame but I want to decide quickly before the place is gone.
l take the 19th, permit in my bag! Baaaam! I go through the application process, receive a confirmation email and am overjoyed. Now I need a beer to calm down my nerves – cheers.
Luck in the right Moment – My new Start Date
The next day I have Spanish lessons and want to show my Spanish teacher how it works with this permit application. To help him understand it better, I take my smartphone out of my pocket and go to the PCT Permit application page. When I open the calendar overview I can’t believe what l’m seeing! On the 5th of April there is one place free!
PCT Application Calendar – Free place on April the 5th
I leave everything as it is, log into the Permit Management Portal with my login details from the confirmation email and try to change my start date. It’s working! My new starting date is April the 5th.
Less than five minutes later, my vacated place on March the 19th is occupied by someone else. I’ll break it down like this: So damn lucky… 😀 After two weeks my permit is released to download in the Permit Management Portal! YIIIHAAAA!
Conclusion
I must honestly admit that this whole application process has cost me a lot of energy and built up quite a bit of pressure. Not knowing when it finally starts and if it starts at all is very nerve-racking. On the other hand, many hikers have easily obtained a permit for their desired date.
To get a PCT Permit you need some luck, patience, a Plan B and a wide time window in which you are ready to start (at least 6 weeks). So stay flexible and hope for the best!
UPDATE:On my PCT 2019 hike I met Patrick from Karlsruhe. His trail name was “The First One”. Why? He was the first in the queue on November 14th 2018 and had ALL possible start dates to choose from. So it really takes a good portion of luck.
I hope with this article I could give you a little insight into my application process for a PCT Permit. If you liked this article, I’m happy about a Like, a heart or a smile on your face. If you have questions, suggestions or criticism, I look forward to your comments.
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