[pct-l] Skill Sets

[Bighummel at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/19/2006 10:32:22 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
dsaufley at sprynet.com writes:

Know how  to utilize map & compass, and how to orient yourself with the map 
and  landmarks.  Numerous times this season, we followed footsteps across snow  
fields only to find that the trail was no where to be seen when the snow  
ended.  Relocating the trail required the ability to figure out where the  trail 
was using the map, compass, and physical  landscape. 


This is one of the many skills that I learned on my hike of the PCT  that I 
thought that I had possibly forgotten.  However, while hiking this  summer in 
the Nth Fork of the San Joaquin River, we lost the trail many times  and I 
realized that I still had the skills to follow the topography that the map  showed 
the trail following and eventually we found the trail again after going  all 
day through old virgin forest, numerous beautiful meadows and heavy  
vegetation.  Among the other numerous skills that you should sharpen up on  prior to a 
thru-hike I would add getting to understand topographic maps in  detail.  
There is a ton of information on each one that, if you are  observant, you can 
extract for your benefit in trying and challenging  times.
 
Greg