Oregon PCT

[Packman Pete]

Does this look reasonable for a thru-hike? I will be in town every week to re-supply. I will probably be solo, and I've never taken a trip this long, so I want to be well prepared. It will be in August, so probably pretty hot and sunny.

Any insight?

CARRIED ITEMS OUNCES

Backpack Gossamer Gear Murmur 10.1
Sleeping Pad NeoAir Short 9.5
Ground Cloth 1/8” InsuLite Pad 3.5
Tarp 9×9 Cuben Fiber flat 11.0
Stakes 9” Carbon Fiber (8 of them) 2.3
Quilt Nunatak Arc Specialist 19.4
Stuff Sack Garbage bag liner for quilt 0.2
Gear Total 56.0

Jacket DriDucks (wind & rain) 5.7
Socks Alternate Wright socks 1.1
Gloves Smartwool Liners 1.2
Hoodie Ibex Merino wool 11.0
Pants WPB pants 9.0
Clothes Total 28.0

Lighter Mini Bic 0.4
Spoon Lexan 0.4
Pot Foster’s beer can and lid 1.1
Stove Trail Designs 12-10 0.5
Windscreen Titanium Caldera Cone 1.2
Cozy Bubble wrap pouch 0.2
Stuff Sack Holds entire cook kit 0.2
Cooking Total 4.0

Map and Compass Erik the Black’s atlas 6.5
iPhone and Charger Use as camera only 5.5
First Aid Bandaids, Ibu, Tyl, Neo, Allergy 1.0
Repair Kit Duct Tape, Patch kit, Matches 1.1
Headlamp Petzl Zipka 2.4
Toothbrush Fold up travel size 0.7
Soap Dr Bronners – toothpaste also 0.9
Water Treatment Aqua Mira 1.5
Medication 30 Days Wellbutrin 1.1
Sunblock SPF 30 UA/UB 1.3
Bug Netting For sleeping or hiking 1.8
Stuff Sack Holds all above items 0.2
Hygiene/Personal Total 24.0

WORN ITEMS OUNCES

Shoes Montrail Masochists 22.6
Socks Wright socks 1.1
Gaiters Dirty Girl 0.9
Shorts Golite – removed inner liner 3.0
Shirt Nike Dri-Fit 5.2
Hat Headsweats cap 1.8
Trekking Poles Gossamer Gear LT3 5.2
LED Light Photon Freedom on lanyard 0.2
Worn Items Total 40.0

I will carry up to 10 lbs of food, and up to 4 lbs of water depending on distance to next re-supply. Also, for some reason all of my clothes are black or dark grey. Does this mean I will be overly hot in the sun, due to the color?

[Jerry Adams]

64 ounces of water?

16 ounces is probably all you need. At least in the northern half of Oregon.

[Packman Pete]

I usually bring two Gatorade bottles. There is a stretch in Southern/Central Oregon where there is no water for 25 miles. I'm a bit nervous about that.

[Brian Lewis]

Is this intended as an absolutely complete list, missing nothing? It looks on the short side to me, though perhaps it just aggregates more things that I'm used to seeing broken out — indeed I don't see anything major missing.

But … things like a trowel to dig your hole with (I personally doubt many people who claim that their trekking pole works for them really dig a 6" deep hole, thus a LNT issue …). Does your "repair kit" include dental floss and a needle? Etc.

Is the "jacket" a rain shell, or an insulation layer? I'm guessing just a shell with the "hoodie" being your insulation layer. And presumeably the jacket does double duty as windshirt?
Any kind of a warm hat?

I guess the other issue with this list is the lack of specifics (such as "jacket"). That and not knowing what time of year this hike is makes it challenging to suggest much.

As to the water, I personally don't see a problem carrying 64 oz of water CAPACITY, but agree that you'll seldom if ever actually carry that much. It can be handy if you choose to dry camp and just in general to have a bit more water in camp for dinner, overnight, and breakfast plus enough to walk out of camp with.

[Dan Quixote]

Which way are you hiking? A friend of mine up here in AK and I are looking at going NOBO through OR on the PCT, probably around the same time.

[Packman Pete]

Yep-NOBO. I'm not sure about my starting point. There's a restaurant about 6 miles north of the CA border, but I really wanted to do the whole thing (CA to WA). To follow the PCT, I would have to start about 20 miles before the restaurant. Does that make sense? Have you looked at good jumping in points?

[Jerry Adams]

Start at restaraunt. Walk back 6 miles to border.

[Dan Quixote]

Yeah, we're planning on skipping the southern tip of the trail and starting from Ashland, just because greyhound goes through there. It'll simplify transportation a lot, and also cut out some rougher terrain to be starting in.

[Hiking Malto]

And walk north. Leave the southern most portion south of Ashland for when you do northern Ca. You will likely have to walk out to Ashland for that section. I learned here on the AT not to let state lines dictate sections but instead easy access points.

[Packman Pete]

When are y'all gonna be starting?

Maybe starting at the restaurant is the way to go-it is right on the freeway. Does anyone have experience in Oregon in August? Am I right that it will be hot and exposed, with little shade?

[Dan Quixote]

We're loosely thinking of August 1st, but it's tentative still. I don't know much about OR, but my friend was saying that it'll be the hottest time of the year, which may be a good reason for us Alaskans to change our trip schedule a bit. I hadn't heard anything about the restaurant, but I'm pretty sure Ashland is on a greyhound bus route, which sounds pretty convenient for us.

Our trip is all still in the planning stages, so who knows what specifics will develop. I'd love to eavesdrop on any advice and information that you get here, though. =)

[Packman Pete]

I guess it's a lodge, not a restaurant. I'm planning to start August 1st.

[Junkman Roger]

I live in the area and Callahan's is both a restaurant and a lodge. Very easy to get to. It is just off the I5 (Mount Ashland exit). Not bad food ether.

[Christopher *]

You can also camp on their lawn. There was a fee, though. I don't remember how much. I do remember the "one free beer for hikers" offer. That was highly memorable.

The hike from there north is not terribly exposed. Only in brief sections. Lots of little lake communities hidden off in the woods for the first couple days. The mosquitos can be particularly bad. I remember it fairly well because when I hiked it last year I was trying to catch up to people. There were also really bad fires and huge re-routes along the Oregon portion of the trail last year.

Overall it is pretty tame and easy going through the entire state. Thru-hikers love Oregon because it is where you make up your time if you are running behind schedule.

Then you hit Washington … or I guess you could say Washington hits you.

Thats my experience anyway. Cheers.

[Packman Pete]

Where can I find weather reports and trail conditions for this trip? I am concerned about hot sun/lots of rain/tons of mosquitos. Also re-routes and snow. Do any previous hikers know where to look and what to expect? I am getting anxious in a good way. :)

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