[pct-l] Will we really do anything?

[RJ Lewis]

Indeed Diane!!
  Getting used to one's packweight is indeed key here. I haul around a 
daypack that I increase the weight of bit by bit until I'm hauling 
around the same weight as my regular hiking pack. Seems to work for me. 
Around here in North Dakota, folks stare a bit, but eh, who cares? I 
patiently explain to them what I'm doing, and they get all interested in 
my goal next year! They find it utterly fascinating that I'm going to be 
making this longggg trek. We do have the North Trail up here, but it's 
still something "new' here so it will take awhile yet before folks are 
used to long distance hiking up in this neck of the woods (North Dakota).
   I spent 2 years in the high, deep deserts of Arizona and Nevada, and 
learned alot, both on my own, and from others who had spent lifetimes 
there. I paid attention and listened to their words of wisdom. The 
desert isn't a scary place but it is a place where one cannot afford to 
make mistakes, especially where ones water supply is concerned.  One 
must respect ALL areas of the trail, as Mother Nature always wins. The 
only thing I can recall that really bothered me in the desert was the 
absolutely incredible glare, compared to the greener areas of other 
areas. Snow doesn't bother me in the least, coming from the northern 
plains states. I respect it, but I don't fear it.
  Traveling as we do for work so often, I've had the opportunity to see 
much of the US, and I've managed to find beauty in every area I've seen, 
yes, including the deep deserts. Everything has a spectacular beauty of 
its own, you just have to learn to find it.  Open your minds and hearts- 
our world is a spectacular place, and so is our place within it.

Peace!
RJ


Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes wrote:
> I've been thinking about the recent topic regarding how people behave  
> on the trail. A few things have been sort of bothering me.
>
> One is this notion that hikers will "do anything" to lighten their  
> pack weight, including dumping excess weight on the trail.
>
> I have lightened my pack weight but I have done it prior to leaving  
> home. I've been hiking every other day or so on steep trails with my  
> full pack with food enough for a week and at least 2.5 liters of  
> water in order to really shake out my pack weight issues. My pack has  
> lightened some because I replaced some of the heavier items, but also  
> getting in shape has made my pack weight something that I can manage.  
> I don't foresee tossing anything anywhere except in my bounce box at  
> the next stop.
>
> Embarking on 2700 miles of hiking without training and evaluating  
> your load in advance isn't really "doing anything". It's a half-measure.
>
> Another thing bothering me is the toilet paper issue. Hundreds of  
> millions of people on this planet don't use it. Don't be afraid to  
> wash your bum with water and possibly a little soap. And ladies, you  
> don't need TP to go number one. Just bring a little squirt bottle and  
> hose off.
>
> The last thing bothering me is this fear of the desert. I imagine we  
> all fear what we're not used to. I fear the snow and raging rivers  
> myself. However, this dread of the "desert" section, as if it's an  
> ugly hell on earth one has to endure to get to the good stuff, kind  
> of baffles me. The desert is beautiful. I'm sure you'll see more  
> variety of life there than anywhere else.
>
> Most of this so-called "desert" people are dreading isn't desert at  
> all. Chaparral isn't desert. It's an elfin forest. I promise if you  
> go in to the desert -- even the real desert -- with an attitude of  
> gratitude you'll see the beauty.
>
> And if it is heat you're fearing, you can survive the heat. 100  
> degrees really isn't that bad when you are in good physical shape.
>
> I sometimes hike in hot, waterless conditions and the key (for me) is  
> not to stop too much -- especially not in the sun, to sip (not chug)  
> water all the time so I don't dehydrate (at least not too much),  
> protect myself from the sun, and take advantage of any breeze and any  
> shade. The reason I don't stop very much is because sometimes it  
> feels hotter to stop than to keep going if there's no breeze. But  
> when I do take a break it's somewhere breezy and shady if at all  
> possible.
>
> Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
>
> Diane
>
>
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