[pct-l] Planning from overseas

[Marshall Karon]

I think it is more "preparing". Especially your body. If you just start
hiking without any preparation (training, proper equipment, shoes, etc.),
you may just not make it without a lot of pain and difficulty (although it
has been done and everyone learns as you go). So, for most folks who haven't
done a lot of long distance hiking, just getting your gear together can take
months. If you indeed mail yourself food, there is a lot of buying, sorting,
bagging, etc. And you need to walk, walk, walk. Get the guide books,
permits, etc. 

Will it take 6 months? Probably not. On the other hand, you actually have
just started by thinking about it and finding this group - and April is 8
months away.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Jared Bowie
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 11:02 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Planning from overseas

Hi, I'm an American currently residing in Korea.  I plan to return either
this coming March or the following and want to hike the PCT.  This will give
me about a month in the U.S. for planning once i get back.  I think this
will be plenty of time, because i can do most things from here, but I would
like to hear what others think.

Also I've read about people planning for their hike for 6 months.  I
understand that this will be a long and tough journey, but doing a little
research so far I haven't figured out why it would take so long.

I know i need to know how much I'll have to hike each day in order to finish
before the snow comes.  I need to know about what food is available where
and if I need to have things shipped to me and when i'll pick up those
packages.  I need to be aware of water situations on certain parts of the
trail.   I need to get a permit.  Proper gear.

Now I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to these things, I also don't
really wing things either, I'm somewhere in the middle.  But it seems to me
that most of this information is easily available and that I can do a
standard amount of mileage.  So my question is really how this comes out to
6 months of planning?
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