[pct-l] The cost of hiking

[Ken Powers]

A couple of comments regarding our hike expenses:

Thanks, Halfmile, but it was less than 2 times the length of the PCT for 2 
people. That was far enough.

If you look at the webpage it includes $3386 of equipment replacement 
(during a long hike) and $263 of transportation to one end of the hike. No, 
Donna, we didn't include our mortgage payments (or other home expenses) and 
since we're retired there was no lost income. I was surprised at the cost of 
equipment replacement.

The major expenses were Dining/Food and Motels. On that hike we hiked thru 7 
(at least) metropolitan areas where we could not camp for one or more 
nights. The metropolitan motels tended to be much more expensive than those 
along the PCT.

My first thought is that you could hike the PCT for less than the $1.75 per 
person per mile. As stated before watch your spending in towns. If you can 
go into town, resupply and get back onto the trail in the same day you will 
save lots of money.

Ken


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna "L-Rod" Saufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: "Halfmile" <halfmile at pctmap.net>; "William A. Chavez" 
<wctrekker at dslextreme.com>
Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] The cost of hiking


Did they count the cost of their mortgage or other bills in the cost of 
their hike?  It's obviously cheaper for someone who puts their belongings in 
storage somewhere, as opposed to someone who is maintaining a household to 
return to upon completion of their hike; the savings required are greater if 
you want to keep things in the black and maintain a household while you're 
away.

I've heard costs ranging from about $2,500 and up to however much you have 
or want to spend for "on trail" expenses.  A lot of that depends on what you 
do in towns -- eating, drinking, or lodging.  If you share rooms or camp on 
town outskirts, don't indulge on restaurant meals and alcohol, you'll spend 
less.

I just love the fact that there's no need for money while you're on the 
trail.  It's one of the best things about the experience for me.  I guess 
you could do online shopping if you have a handheld device that accesses the 
internet . . .

-----Original Message-----
>From: Halfmile <halfmile at pctmap.net>
>Sent: Nov 27, 2008 10:27 AM
>To: "William A. Chavez" <wctrekker at dslextreme.com>
>Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] The cost of hiking
>
>Bill,
>
>The $17,162 is for two people hiking 2.5 times the length of the PCT,
>so while it seems like a big number, it's a big hike too.
>
>At $1.75 per mile a PCT hike would be about $4,600 which I am sure
>some (maybe even many) hikers spend that on the PCT. After all, $4,600
>works out to $230 a week for five months.
>
>-Halfmile
>
>
>On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 9:52 AM, William A. Chavez
><wctrekker at dslextreme.com> wrote:
>> Yikes.  I didn't look at the "bottom line" for "Gottawalk."  $17,162
>> for 8 months on the ADT.  But they say it worked out to $1.75/ mile.
>> Never mind there are probably better estimates for the PCT else where.
>>
>> Bill
>> a little red in the face
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