[pct-l] 10 top winners

[boundforadventure at gmail.com]

Get in the best physical shape that you can. I'm planning for a thru-hike  
in 2011 and am starting week 4 on P90X.

Lost and Found

Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:53:25 -0700
From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] 10 top winners
To: "Ellen Shopes" <igellen at comcast.net>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <D209F4BC08664566AFB89EE0EBF128D4 at BOB>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

1. Decide on what you expect to get from your trail experience, then plan  
accordingly.

2. Develope a budget and stick to it. Only you know how much you can afford  
to spend. Allow a reserve for the unexpected, as you WILL encounter it.

3. Research the trail for yourself. Don't expect others on the forums and  
Yahoo Groups to just pony up the answers to all your questions. You are  
responsible for your own success or failure; make this YOUR hike.

4. Make a written route plan and calendar. Keep modifying it right up until  
the time you leave. Leave a copy of your plan and calendar with at least  
two different folks at home.

5. BE FLEXIBLE. No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy.  
The Trail Gods will screw with your plan; you can bet on it.

6. Be realistic regarding daily mileages when planning. Start low and work  
up. Just because you can pound out 20+ mile days on the flat parts does not  
mean you can do that in the mountains or on a continuous day-in, day-out  
basis. Fifteen mpd is a fast pace in the Sierra; 10 to 12 mpd is more  
reasonable as there is a huge amount of elevation gain and loss each day.

7. Avoid excess food weight. You won't eat much anyway for the first couple  
of weeks until your body gets used to the routine and the physical stress.  
Have a plan for rehydrating and electrolyte replacement and stick to it.  
Dehydration and/or altitude sickness (brought on in great part by  
dehydration) can ruin your hike fast.

8. You will not use the same gear set continuously from end to end. Factor  
this into your re-supply strategy. Things will wear out, get lost, or just  
plain won't work for you.

9. Plan for lay-over days. You will need them. How often and where is your  
choice. Rule of thumb: hike 6-7 days, rest 1. Lay-overs do not necessarily  
have to be town stops. We took one at Evolution Creek and another at the  
Ida Bell Hot Springs this summer.

10. Don't be reluctant to get off the trail - for just a few days or for  
the rest of the season -if things turn to absolute crap. The trail is not  
going anywhere; it will still be there next year, and you can return  
refreshed, re-equipped, and more knowledgeable.


Wandering Bob





----- Original Message -----
From: Ellen Shopes
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:07 AM
Subject: [pct-l] 10 top winners


To all you experienced thru-folks: as a 2010 wannabe, what would you tell  
me are the 10 most important things to do in the months ahead to ensure a  
successful hike?
Elderly Ellen
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