The PCT is rugged, remote and it can be challenging and dangerous. You are responsible for your own safety and you should do everything you can to avoid unnecessary rescues. Don't go alone. Find someone with experience who will take you out.
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The climb out of Hauser Canyon is cited by many hikers as one of the hardest sections of the PCT because it is typically the first day. It is common not make the 20 miles in one day, be prepared with a tent as Hauser Canyon is a popular backcountry camping spot.
The PCT is harder logistically than the AT which has ample trail towns or a water supply nearly every five to eight miles. In the PCT desert, water is scarce. You need to fill up at water caches and carry more water through long, waterless stretches of the desert.
The PCT has great views from day one. You're guaranteed a pretty panorama every day, and not just at viewpoints. Think about some of the PCT highlights. San Jacinto, Forester Pass, Kings Canyon, Crater Lake, and Goat Rocks, among others.
You'll want to note that the AT takes five to seven months to complete its 2,190 miles, while the PCT take four to six months to complete 2,650 miles of trail. That shows, when evaluating the most obvious factor, terrain, the AT is without question the more difficult of the two trails.
Extreme Temperatures. Weather on the PCT can range from extreme heat to extreme cold, even on the same day. The desert can get upwards of 100 degrees during the day and below freezing at night. Don't let the snow fool ya in the Sierra, it can get pretty dang hot there too.
From near Siskiyou Summit (elev. 4,310') in southern Oregon to the Washington border, this section is both the shortest and the easiest to hike or ride. Oregon's Cascade Range is a subdued volcanic landscape, with a gentle crest that is fairly constant in elevation.