Having had a heated discussion on the PCT Facebook group I want to validate what I was told because it will influence my strategy and expectations.

In a discussion about if trekking poles are strictly required an advocate that they are 100% critical to success on the PCT (failure being inevitable without them) said that the PCT comprises harsh gradings with '2-3 foot mature steps'

Help me PCT folk. To what were they referring? (I didn't engage them and there because their attitude was not encouraging). My research has suggested the PCT's grading is pretty moderate due to equine use. This comment gave me pause because poles or no poles I've a bum knee which can give me some pain on artificially large steps.

(The poles chat is just context - personally I use them)