PCT 2014

[Clint Lum]

Hey guys,

Its looking like I am going to be attempting a thru this upcoming summer starting around May 15th (class ends somewhere around there). I am looking for some constructive criticism on my gear list.

NOTE:

I am NOBO

I am splitting some gear with my hiking partner: he is carrying a cook set for the both of us.

I plan on switching to a MLD Prophet for the sierra.

I will also have a 3L hoser system from Platy for the desert, and depending on how much I like it, keep it the whole way.

Gear list: http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=8073

Thanks in advance!

[John Mc]

I tried the link …nothing.

[Clint Lum]

Hmmm the link work for me. Did you try copy and pasting it into your address bar?

[Link .]

hyper link

[Clint Lum]

Has an thoughts? Any information would be helpful, especially from you guys who have already thru'd.

I am sure that there will be questions that I will have to answer because my partner and I are splitting some gear.

Thanks!

[And E]

Didn't see your list, but you may want to consider the splitting gear thing.

You'll need to consider each of your hiking speeds, need for stops/frequency of needing cooked meals/snacks, how many miles/day either of you will be able to do on a repeated basis, etc. Also, what will happen if one of you decides to end the attempt early. Will you be able to carry the rest of the gear you'll need, etc.

[Buck Nelson]

Patagonia Houdini, pants or jacket?

It's a personal choice, but I don't like hiking all day in blazing sun in shorts. I saw lots of people with roasted legs in southern CA. I think loose long pants are cooler under such conditions and help prevent potentially dangerous sunburn.

Do you only have one pair of walking socks? You'll want two, or three pair.

What do you have protecting your head and neck from sun? Just a ball cap? I'd want at least a bandana for a Foreign Legion style neck shade if using a ball cap, or get a sun hat. Bring some sunscreen also. The sun ruins the day of many desert hikers!

[Hiking Malto]

"Patagonia Houdini, pants or jacket?

It's a personal choice, but I don't like hiking all day in blazing sun in shorts. I saw lots of people with roasted legs in southern CA. I think loose long pants are cooler under such conditions and help prevent potentially dangerous sunburn.

Do you only have one pair of walking socks? You'll want two, or three pair.

What do you have protecting your head and neck from sun? Just a ball cap? I'd want at least a bandana for a Foreign Legion style neck shade if using a ball cap, or get a sun hat. Bring some sunscreen also. The sun ruins the day of many desert hikers!"

Agree with all points.

[Clint Lum]

The jacket. Sorry for the confusion.

I agree about the pants. I think that I will be hiking in convertible pants the more I consider it. I have roasted my calves before in shorts and it is not fun.

I usually only take one pair of walking socks and one pair of sleeping, but perhaps I will take an additional pair. I know Skurka recommends two or three I think….

I will have a buff, forgot to add that to the list, I wll be sure to include it for my neck.

[Andy F]

Here's what I would change if it were my list.

add:
topo maps
compass
fire lighting device and backup and small amount of tinder
whistle
headlamp suitable for night hiking
sunscreen
maybe a few better stakes for the windward side, unless you can use sticks, or rocks as anchors

delete:
ear plugs
tp
towel

[Clint Lum]

Thanks for the thoughts,

-I have a whistle (just forgot to have it on the list)
-are topo maps necessary before the Sierra?
-have compass (again just orgot to put it on list)
-will ass fire starter
-plan on getting Zebralight headlamp

-also I have changed my mind and I think that I will be hiking in pants and long sleeve shirt for sun protection

[Buck Nelson]

I'd carry some kind of maps the whole length of the PCT: USGS Topo or guidebook maps or Halfmile's maps; and/or a mapping GPS. In 2010 and '11 with the trail buried under crazy amounts of snow for hundreds of miles a mapping GPS was a nice thing to have. In a typical year I probably wouldn't carry one on the PCT but I definitely always carry a compass in the backcountry.

[Matthew Zion]

Wind shirt and rain jacket? You only need one and I'd recommend just the windshirt. Get a reflective umbrella for sun and rain protection. And personally I'd get rid of the down jacket, you're starting late enough. I like the comments to add pants — light windpants work well for me — although I did hike all day in shorts without a problem but I did use sunscreen until my tan set in.

Sleeping underwear? Sounds like pajamas, get rid of them.

You'll want a minimum of 3L of water capacity in the desert. I'd often carry 5 and only ever really need 3 or 4 for hot dry stretches — take with a grain of salt I move quickly and sweat very little so adjust for your needs accordingly.

You don't need a SPOT — don't hurt yourself, common sense >> gadgets. And on that vein my first aid kit is gear repair items that I feel comfortable repairing myself with when needed: duct tape, needle thread, safety pins, and super glue. I agree with your sentiment, anything that requires more is probably a hike ender anyway. I am assuming the Nook is your journal/device other wise I'd say drop if for a smart phone that will do everything — like voice recording for journaling which I am really excited to try myself this year. Bandana = towel (and neck shade as mentioned above). Learn to not use toilet paper — the true divider between actual LNT and wilderness gapers.

You don't need a pack liner. Wet shit takes all of 10 minutes in the sun to dry. Dry bag? Get rid of your inner and just use a head net.

And my last suggestion is hit the trail with EVERY thing you and your partner might need solo. Hiking relationships should be fluid and relaxed. If you want to take an extra day in a town you should do it and if he wants to hike he should be able to do it too. Don't boat anchor yourself — or set each other up for potential conflict/failure because the idea of 'solo' or 'alone' is foreign. Hiking alone is awesome and it makes you appreciate company when it's around.

Edit: Definitely keep your ear plugs. Mosquitos biting doesn't really bother me as much as the buzzing. Ear plugs let me at least pretend they aren't there. Ear plugs are also vital if you're hanging out with hikers at hostels/hotels/angels places that are still drinking and you might be trying to get some sleep. Or if you choose to camp next to a road to make a quick resupply run in the AM. Ear plugs are in every single box I send myself.

[Steven Paris]

This information should be relevant for both water strategies & gear choices:

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/11/11/california-dry-record

[Billy Ray]

It's WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY…. TOO EARLY to be making plans based on what rain totals we've had or not had at this time of year.

It can change from drought predictions to wettest year on record in a matter of weeks.

By far, most of California's precip comes in February and March. If we get to March and it's still dry, then you can start making plans for a dry spring/summer.

It's actually quite common to be dry until late Januray, then pour like crazy in February and March.

Bill D

[Steven Paris]

Bill,

I imagine that the folks at the National Weather Center are also aware of the pattern(s) of California precipitation. I only posted it because I coincidentally heard this on NPR today; that's all.

I'd like to think I personally wouldn't panic and take 50 extra platypus bladders based on this article but a little scientifically-based information shouldn't hurt for those hiking the PCT this next year.

[Billy Ray]

Yea, I think what you've got is scientific information that is based on a VERY limited sample that is too limited and for a time of year that is not able to predict the future of the spring precipitation and NPR, like other media, dramatizing it out of proportion to any kind of reality.

Best to relax and just see how it goes…

b

[Andrew Zajac]

I would highly recommend a headnet for mosquitoes, some DEET around the sierras, and a woven nylon shirt (rail riders ecomesh looked good and is well reviewed although I have not tried it myself). They are comfortable in the heat and keep the bugs off pretty well too. Some sort of synthetic insulation might be better suited for WA and maybe some wpb mitts, but that depends on when you get there. Looks like a good list otherwise. Have fun!

[Steven Paris]

Bill D.,

I'm not advocating for any action from any hiker and even anyone who just lives in California. Also, your advice is sound to wait and see what conditions will be like in six months, when hikers start a northbound PCT hike. It's super easy to add or subtract gear as needed, even in the hours before a thru-hike was started. If I was going to hike, though, I would be putting together my gear list now and thinking about what those conditions might be.

What I don't understand is your rationale for doubting the science.

Here is the bio page for the interviewee, Bill Patzert.

https://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Patzert/

The data that prompted this interview is apparently based on the National Weather Services' 164 years (!) of collecting information.

Those credentials seem enough to, at minimum, entertain that California might have fairly dry conditions next year.

[Buck Nelson]

"You don't need a pack liner. Wet shit takes all of 10 minutes in the sun to dry."

I respectfully disagree. There might be lots of rain and little or no sun for days in Washington or even before. Most wet gear takes a lot longer than 10 minutes to dry. Plenty of people fall during creek crossings. Going light it's important to keep your sleeping gear dry. And water is heavy regardless.

[Ian]

"You don't need a pack liner. Wet **** takes all of 10 minutes in the sun to dry."

I respectfully disagree.

+1

That advice may work elsewhere but it's no good for Washington (and probably much of Oregon as well). I personally use the Zpacks roll top dry bag as a pack liner. Weighs ~ 2oz and is well worth the peace of mind.

Edit weight correction

[Scott Musack]

Agree with Buck, it's just plain smart to protect important gear (down bag, puffy jacket, etc) from getting wet. A trash bag liner in your pack is like 1.5oz (or less) and can double as a place to lay out gear in camp.

[Clint Lum]

Thanks for the comments Matthew,

–I am back and forth on the rain jacket. I thought about the umbrella but I still wonder about driving rain and how annoying it would be to hold it and walk for hundreds of miles, especially in the wind. I plan on adding hiking pants and doing away with the shorts.

–an extra pair of underwear is worth the few ounces for me.

–the SPOT is not for me as much my family and friends. I cant cut that because they like to know whats going on. And I will likely need the electronics because I will be working on my thesis for my Masters while I hike, this will include taking notes, recording things etc

–I would rather keep the pack liner and have dry clothes, and sleeping bag, but i could do away with stuff sacks and just use the liner as one big one…

–that is good advice for hiking with a partner… I will consider that some more

–thanks for the ideas regarding ear plugs, I will likely keep a pair, they weigh nothing and can come in handy.

[Clint Lum]

For all the ideas! These help out a lot and give me ideas for the hike.

What do you guys recommend as far as bear canisters are concerned for the Sierra?

[Brian Lewis]

"What do you guys recommend as far as bear canisters are concerned for the Sierra?"

Do you anticipate using a can other times so that you want to own one? In that case I'd get a Bear Vault.

If you think you only want one for the Sierras and never again, you could consider renting a Bearikade. Too expensive for me to want to own one, I have bear vaults, but a friend rented one to hike the PCT and was happy with it.

In part, the question relates to your resupply plan — i.e., Kearsarge pass or not, climbing Whiteney or not, MTR vs. VVR, etc.

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