[pct-l] Advice for PCT Website (Justin Smith)

Tue Dec 8 09:16:45 CST 2009

I have been following PCT digest for a year or so now and I guess it is time for a post.  I am a thru-hiking NOBO in 2010 and in addition to a personal quest, I am hoping to raise awareness and scholarship funds for outdoor education.  

My website is www.inspireout.com and as always feedback is appreciated.  Thank you to all you wise walkers for continuing to share your knowledge.

Enjoy the cool temperatures.

> From: pct-l-request at backcountry.net
> Subject: Pct-l Digest, Vol 24, Issue 38
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 04:50:25 -0600
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. Re: Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my hike.
> (Brett Cosner)
> 2. Re: Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my hike.
> (Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com)
> 3. Re: Cooking Within (addendum) (Gary Schenk)
> 4. Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my hike. (Postholer)
> 5. Re: Water Filters (Josh)
> 6. Re: entering canada (David Thibault)
> 7. canada entry (Bob Vance)
> 8. Re: canada entry (Stephen Adams)
> 9. Re: canada entry (David Ellzey)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:38:49 -0800 (PST)
> From: Brett Cosner <brettcosner at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my
> hike.
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <936010.59685.qm at web63107.mail.re1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Oh I guess the PCT-L does not support hyperlinks.? This is the link to my site 
> http://people.emich.edu/bcosner/
> 
> 
> 
> --- On Mon, 12/7/09, Brett Cosner <brettcosner at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> From: Brett Cosner <brettcosner at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my hike.
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Monday, December 7, 2009, 6:01 PM
> 
> Hello Intrepid Wanderers,
> 
> I'm creating a website for my hike this summer that will link to resources I will be using including a blog site, spot tracker, picture site, youtube, and google earth etc. ? 
> 
> The purpose of my site is for my students to track my progress and communicate with me during the summer and fall.? 
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas that I could incorporate into this project?? I'm actually getting a couple of units towards my masters if I can pull this off successfully.? 
> 
> Any advice you could share that would make my site interesting to 8-12 grade students please share.? Or if you have any examples of sites designed in this way I would appreciate you pointing me in that direction.? 
> 
> Here is an example of my first web page, kind of rough,
> but you get the idea.
> 
> Thanks!
> Brett
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:41:19 -0800
> From: Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
> <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my
> hike.
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
> <35E8BC17-D3E2-4827-BF01-42D5446173D8 at santabarbarahikes.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
> 
> You could include Twitter posts on your site. A hiker whose blog I 
> like to follow does this, although I find it hard to know where she 
> is from her tweets. I think she used a Wordpress plugin. I don't know 
> if you are using Wordpress, but if you aren't Twitter provides code 
> for you for this purpose. that you can use in any web page.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:46:58 -0800
> From: Gary Schenk <gwschenk at socal.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Cooking Within (addendum)
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net, ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
> Message-ID: <200912071846.58527.gwschenk at socal.rr.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> On Sunday 06 December 2009 19:35:18 ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com wrote:
> > Please keep in mind regarding this article that the kind of stoves we use
> > are the commercial variety white gas (Svea, MSR, etc.) or canister
> > (Jetboil, Bluet...) stoves with good bases for predictable stability and
> > valves for flame control. We consider the use of alcohol stoves dangerous
> > for self and environment and not worth the weight savings in the long run.
> > Those who practice with them may have good fortune, but for the novice we
> > do not encourage their use.
> 
> You light a Svea inside your tent?!?!? They don't call those things Swedish 
> hand grenades for nothing, you know.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:55:32 -0800
> From: "Postholer" <public at postholer.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Advice for a PCT website I'm creating for my hike.
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Cc: diane at santabarbarahikes.com
> Message-ID: <06d601ca77b1$e9eb5030$c6aef942 at Snoopy>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
> 
> > You could include Twitter posts on your site. .... although
> > I find it hard to know where she is from her tweets.
> 
> Yeah, we do that at postholer too. Add your twitter name in 'journal setup' 
> and your last 20 tweets, less than 30 days, old are appended to every 
> journal entry. Also, if you put something like this in your tweet:
> 
> lat=36.6943 lon=-118.373394
> 
> it will appear as a postholer google map link in your journal tweets (trail 
> trace, mileages, elevs, blah). You could tweet your location 20 times a day 
> if you choose, assuming you have cell reception. A poor man's SPOT! :)
> 
> -postholer
> 
> ------------------------------------
> Trail Journals, Google Trail Maps, Forums: http://postholer.com
> Pacific Crest Trail Photo Atlas: http://postholer.com/photoAtlas.php
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 19:56:40 -0800
> From: Josh <559josh at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water Filters
> To: "'Ernie Castillo'" <erniec01 at hotmail.com>,
> <brooklynkayak at gmail.com>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <852C2544A664436BACA254CB837C03E1 at office>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Ernie,
> Cattle are common carriers of Cryptosporidium. That's most likely what you
> caught. Crypto lodges & multiplies in your intestines. Your body attempts
> to FLUSH them out by passing large amounts of waste (which quickly becomes
> diarrhea) to get rid of them. As long as you're healthy this works but the
> process can take up to 3-weeks (more usually, 1 week).
> 
> I use Polar Pure Iodine Crystals which work great for just about everything
> (Keep reading). A couple of bottles (~$15ea) purify enough water for a thru
> hike. UV works against Crypto albeit not 100% of them are killed in the
> typical few seconds that a steripen is used. Boiling is the only SURE way
> to kill Crypto.
> 
> Since 100% of my water is iodized and ~35% of my daily water is boiled, I
> feel confidently safe against waterborne illnesses. I have yet to get sick
> from water in the thousands of gallons of treated water I've taken-in in the
> backcountry over the years.
> 
> I DID get sick once years ago. I believe it to be from untreated water
> because, like you, I thought there was no risk from the "pristine" water and
> so I never treated it.
> 
> I KNOW that there's a million opinions on water...I'll leave others to spend
> the next thousand posts arguing how/why their system is the "Best". I use
> iodine CRYSTALS bcuz:
> 1) I don't mind the taste
> 2) It purifies
> 3) It's simple
> 4) It's LIGHT
> 5) It's fail-proof (no batteries, filters, equipment, etc to
> die/clog/fail/break)
> 6) It's not immediate, but it's fairly quick (30min 'contact' time). I have
> yet to die from dehydration from having to wait 30mins. For that matter, I
> have yet to be majorly inconvenienced from the wait.
> 
> Since I treat at least 1L at a time (sometimes up to 6L) and drink it
> relatively slowly, the iodine's contact time is often HOURS which increases
> the % of Crypto & Giardia CYSTS that it 'kills'. While iodine DOESN'T Kill
> ALL of the cysts even under this set of circumstances, it does kill
> (according to Univ. of Az) 48% to 81% of the cysts when the contact time is
> this high.
> 
> I wonder what percentage of the CYSTS that a steripen 'kills' under typical
> PCT conditions. Hmm..
> 
> Josh
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Ernie Castillo
> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 5:23 PM
> To: brooklynkayak at gmail.com; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water Filters
> 
> 
> One of my regrets from my through hike in 1980: not treating my water.
> 
> It was a combination of feeling invincible, trusting nature, and laziness.
> 
> It caught up to me in Northern California as I was hiking ahead of my group.
> I came across a stream, not moving that fast, but looking clean and
> pristine. So I just dipped my water bottle into the stream.
> 
> Big mistake. I didn't notice the cows grazing by the side of the stream less
> than a 100 yards away.My hiking buddies pointed it out to me once they
> caught up.
> 
> The next day, I was the only having to catch up because I kept having to
> take the proverbial dump in the woods. It got worse. I realized later that I
> may have got a bout of salmonella poisoning, e coli bacteria, or H pylori. I
> was sick for about a week, had trouble keeping food down, had non-stop
> diarrhea, and even thought about leaving the trail to find a doctor. But I
> persevered and learned a valuable lesson.
> 
> If in doubt, boil it out.
> 
> Ernie Castillo
> erniec01 at hotmail.com
> 248 884 5201
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > From: brooklynkayak at gmail.com
> > Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 07:18:01 -0500
> > To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > Subject: Re: [pct-l] Water Filters
> > 
> > I either boil, chemically treat and/or filter all water.
> > 
> > Many people have developed their systems to the point that they can 
> > drink almost anything.
> > 
> > Maybe some day I'll work on that, but for now I don't want to take any
> chances.
> > 
> > 
> > On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 7:09 AM, Michael Peterson <depthhappens at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > Thanks Steve. Did you ever not treat the water?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 8:35 PM, Steve McAllister 
> > > <brooklynkayak at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Filters can make nasty water taste better. Water from forest fire 
> > >> areas, water with lots of tannin or other nasty stuff in it can be 
> > >> turned into god tasting water.
> > >>
> > >> Pre-filtering is very important. You can plug up a filter very 
> > >> quickly if the water has a lot of suspended particles.
> > >>
> > >> I have totally plugged up a prefilter from filtering just 2 liters 
> > >> from a clear flowing stream in the fall. Turns out there was a lot 
> > >> of particles from fallen leaves in the water.
> > >>
> > >> I use Aqua Mira drops, but will also filter with a very light 
> > >> "Frontier Pro2" if the water is nasty.
> > >>
> > >> On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 11:17 PM, Michael Peterson 
> > >> <wordgrouper at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >> > What's the wisdom from the trail regarding water filters?
> > >> >
> > >> > M
> > >> >
> > >> > --
> > >> >
> > >> > "A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
> > >> > Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
> > >> > There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
> > >> > And drinking largely sobers us again." - A.Pope
> > >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> > Pct-l mailing list
> > >> > Pct-l at backcountry.net
> > >> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> ... when your feeling blue, and you've lost all your dreams, 
> > >> there's nothing like a campfire and a can of beans!
> > >> -- Tom Waits
> > >>
> > >> http://kayakbrooklyn.blogspot.com
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > "A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
> > > Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
> > > There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
> > > And drinking largely sobers us again." - A.Pope
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --
> > ... when your feeling blue, and you've lost all your dreams, there's 
> > nothing like a campfire and a can of beans!
> > -- Tom Waits
> > 
> > http://kayakbrooklyn.blogspot.com
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-l mailing list
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
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> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 23:30:23 -0700
> From: David Thibault <dthibaul07 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] entering canada
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
> <4a220df0912072230k653f4d54p2925c45158590650 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> Odds are no one will check you going in to Canada. I would just get the
> entry permit as it is free and very nice of the Canadians to issue these!
> The US is not as nice.
> 
> On the other hand - if I was pretty sure I was going to be rejected for a
> permit - I would not apply for one and just enter anyway. That way I could
> at least claim ignorance. If you have been rejected for an entry permit it
> is hard to claim ignorance.
> 
> It appears if you have an arrest in your background the Canadians will not
> issue you a permit.
> 
> YMMV
> 
> Day-Late
> 
> 
> 
> >
> > Bob Wrote
> >
> 
> 
> > ive been wondering.,after i cross into canada is there anyone to check in
> > with?im just planning on getting on the bus and self deporting back across
> > the border.i guess what im really asking is if i don`t preregister my
> > crossing will i have a problem?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-l mailing list
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> >
> >
> > End of Pct-l Digest, Vol 24, Issue 36
> > *************************************
> >
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 23:15:02 -0800 (PST)
> From: Bob Vance <hikerbob62 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] canada entry
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <149737.37157.qm at web114012.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> On the other hand - if I was pretty sure I was going to be rejected for a
> permit - I would not apply for one and just enter anyway. That way I could
> at least claim ignorance. If you have been rejected for an entry permit it
> is hard to claim ignorance.
> 
> you've hit the nail on the head here.just to let others know about Canadian regulations let me tell you my situation. i don't have a prayer of getting an entry permit. among other things i got a d.u.i. 22 years ago(don`t drink and drive kiddies!).in the past it was easy to enter. you just lied"convicted of a crime?no not me" its different now. Canada is now connected into the U.S. NCIC. they don't care if you got a d.u.i. in your model t on the way to Coolidge's inaugural.you are forever barred from entering Canada ,unless you pay a butt load of money for a certificate of rehabilitation. i don't have that kind of money and from what Ive heard they have no problem turning people away.my plan is to enter with a prepaid bus ticket to Vancouver ,a pre paid train ticket to Seattle,then arrive at the last minute.i really don`t want to screw up people who come after me and piss off the Canadians,but this is the situation I'm in.I'm doing this hike.any
> alternative plans would be welcome.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 8
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 23:22:49 -0800
> From: Stephen Adams <reddirt2 at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] canada entry
> To: Bob Vance <hikerbob62 at yahoo.com>
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <5ABE8478-33A1-49BD-BAAD-0A109A2E7588 at earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> I don't know the particulars or the terrain at the border, but is it possible to bring extra supplies and once at the border backtrack and head home from somewhere inside the U.S.? In other words, can you arrange to hike back to the last resupply and get out there, or something like that. I think you should at least look at options like these and have a contingency plan. If I were in the area I'd pick you up myself, but it's a little far to drive in an old beat up VW bus from San Pedro. 
> On Dec 7, 2009, at 11:15 PM, Bob Vance wrote:
> 
> > On the other hand - if I was pretty sure I was going to be rejected for a
> > permit - I would not apply for one and just enter anyway. That way I could
> > at least claim ignorance. If you have been rejected for an entry permit it
> > is hard to claim ignorance.
> > 
> > you've hit the nail on the head here.just to let others know about Canadian regulations let me tell you my situation. i don't have a prayer of getting an entry permit. among other things i got a d.u.i. 22 years ago(don`t drink and drive kiddies!).in the past it was easy to enter. you just lied"convicted of a crime?no not me" its different now. Canada is now connected into the U.S. NCIC. they don't care if you got a d.u.i. in your model t on the way to Coolidge's inaugural.you are forever barred from entering Canada ,unless you pay a butt load of money for a certificate of rehabilitation. i don't have that kind of money and from what Ive heard they have no problem turning people away.my plan is to enter with a prepaid bus ticket to Vancouver ,a pre paid train ticket to Seattle,then arrive at the last minute.i really don`t want to screw up people who come after me and piss off the Canadians,but this is the situation I'm in.I'm doing this hike.any
> > alternative plans would be welcome.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-l mailing list
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 9
> Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 04:50:18 -0600
> From: David Ellzey <david at xpletive.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] canada entry
> To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID:
> <3CF44C7E5B716541B6A0A9AF694AC66330DD51F49C at AUSP01VMBX02.collaborationhost.net>
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Or send a resupply to Manning Park which should not be a problem to get to. I think the biggest issue is traveling back across the border crossing south of Vancouver without the right documentation. If you resupply at Manning Park and head back to Stehekin you not only get to finish the full PCT but get those last special bonus miles as a parting gift!
> 
> BigToe
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Stephen Adams
> Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 11:23 PM
> To: Bob Vance
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] canada entry
> 
> I don't know the particulars or the terrain at the border, but is it possible to bring extra supplies and once at the border backtrack and head home from somewhere inside the U.S.? In other words, can you arrange to hike back to the last resupply and get out there, or something like that. I think you should at least look at options like these and have a contingency plan. If I were in the area I'd pick you up myself, but it's a little far to drive in an old beat up VW bus from San Pedro. 
> On Dec 7, 2009, at 11:15 PM, Bob Vance wrote:
> 
> > On the other hand - if I was pretty sure I was going to be rejected for a
> > permit - I would not apply for one and just enter anyway. That way I could
> > at least claim ignorance. If you have been rejected for an entry permit it
> > is hard to claim ignorance.
> > 
> > you've hit the nail on the head here.just to let others know about Canadian regulations let me tell you my situation. i don't have a prayer of getting an entry permit. among other things i got a d.u.i. 22 years ago(don`t drink and drive kiddies!).in the past it was easy to enter. you just lied"convicted of a crime?no not me" its different now. Canada is now connected into the U.S. NCIC. they don't care if you got a d.u.i. in your model t on the way to Coolidge's inaugural.you are forever barred from entering Canada ,unless you pay a butt load of money for a certificate of rehabilitation. i don't have that kind of money and from what Ive heard they have no problem turning people away.my plan is to enter with a prepaid bus ticket to Vancouver ,a pre paid train ticket to Seattle,then arrive at the last minute.i really don`t want to screw up people who come after me and piss off the Canadians,but this is the situation I'm in.I'm doing this hike.any
> > alternative plans would be welcome.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pct-l mailing list
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> 
> End of Pct-l Digest, Vol 24, Issue 38
> *************************************

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