[pct-l] Trout Lake and Mt. Adams

montypct montypct at gmail.com
Sat Feb 21 10:06:24 CST 2009 

Sure
I love funny PCT stories


Lightweight Backpacking
The fun goes up when the weight goes down
-Warner Springs Monty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
To: "montypct" <montypct at gmail.com>; <whcrs4543 at aol.com>
Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 10:52 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trout Lake and Mt. Adams


> Monte,
>
> We could be at this all night!  Listen, if you want to hear another funny 
> story about my thru experiences with Trout Lake, the Forest Service,  Mt. 
> Adams, and Midway Guard Station, let me know! It's another typical 
> thru-adventure...
>
> Ned
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "montypct" <montypct at gmail.com>
> To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>; <whcrs4543 at aol.com>
> Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 10:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] The peanut butter & tortilla diet
>
>
>> In 2007 I think Dozen told me he was eating nothing but peanut butter and 
>> tortillas when I ran into him near Trout Lake in Washington.
>> He was picking wild huckleberries and smashing them into his peanut 
>> butter.
>>
>> I think this was just a temporary condition though.
>>
>>
>> Lightweight Backpacking
>> The fun goes up when the weight goes down
>> -Warner Springs Monty
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
>> To: <whcrs4543 at aol.com>
>> Cc: "PCT MailingList" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 10:15 PM
>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] The peanut butter & tortilla diet
>>
>>
>>> Hi, Don!
>>>
>>> We're all novices just feeling our way up the trail!  I'm putting my 
>>> reply out to the L so that someone might remember the vein that talked 
>>> about eating nothing but peanut butter and tortillas. I believe it was 
>>> actually done.
>>>
>>> Anybody recall this topic?
>>>
>>> Mtnned
>>>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>  From: whcrs4543 at aol.com
>>>  To: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
>>>  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:44 PM
>>>  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Foot stretch or not?
>>>
>>>
>>>  Hi Monte,
>>>
>>>
>>>  I'm a total novice compared to all you guys! I'm learning so much just 
>>> following the chatter.
>>>
>>>
>>>  Have you actually talked to someone who ate nothing but peanut butter 
>>> on trail ? Sounds possible....for short periods, anyway.
>>>
>>>
>>>  You going to the big KO in 8 weeks?
>>>
>>>
>>>  Don
>>>
>>>
>>>  -----Original Message-----
>>>  From: ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
>>>  To: montypct <montypct at gmail.com>; Ikem Freeman 
>>> <ikem.freeman at gmail.com>; pct-l at backcountry.net
>>>  Sent: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 9:40 pm
>>>  Subject: Re: [pct-l] Foot stretch or not?
>>>
>>>
>>> Monte,
>>>
>>> I routinely carry about 65 pounds over a two week stretch. I walk fast 
>>> and
>>> relaxed and pound down the trail (gear down for the uphills!). My feet 
>>> have
>>> never spread. Is it genetic? As you guessed, I use the heaviest leather
>>> stompers I can find. Mine have lasted me 25 years and are still going
>>> great-replace the Vibram soles once in a while....
>>>
>>> I have tried trail runners. I used to use them every day about town and 
>>> on
>>> trail. Then one day I totally twisted my ankle to where it was black and
>>> blue because my ankles were no longer supported and I never went back.
>>>
>>> One of the most important activities an aspiring hiker can do to prepare 
>>> for
>>> their thru hike is to personally test for themselves all the advise and
>>> current notions offered in hiking circles. As others have said, what 
>>> works
>>> for one may not work for you. You need to find out by trial and error 
>>> what
>>> works for you, whether it be no stove, only eating peanut butter, trail
>>> runners, a tarp, or going off the trail to town for resupplies every 3 
>>> to 6
>>> days. You've got to know why you're out there, your motivations and
>>> aspirations, or you may not be out there for long.
>>>
>>> The trail can be a trial where everyone comes out the other end a little
>>> differently than they went in!
>>>
>>> Mtnned
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "montypct" <montypct at gmail.com>
>>> To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>; "Ikem Freeman"
>>> <ikem.freeman at gmail.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:09 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes
>>>
>>>
>>>>> So is it the advise that leads to the purchase of runners too big 
>>>>> which
>>>>> allows the feet to spread both ways?
>>>>
>>>> Hi Ned
>>>>
>>>> To keep it simple?
>>>> I'm pretty sure it's the weight of the body over a long hiking day that
>>>> spreads the feet out.
>>>>
>>>> That would be some heavy advise otherwise if it could change the shape 
>>>> of
>>>> feet..
>>>>
>>>> I take it you aren't going to give trail runners a try.  :)
>>>> A lot of us have tried both.
>>>>
>>>> monty
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Lightweight Backpacking
>>>> The fun goes up when the weight goes down
>>>> -Warner Springs Monty
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>
>>>> To: "Ikem Freeman" <ikem.freeman at gmail.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>>> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:52 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Sofar,
>>>>>
>>>>> Now there's another concept that doesn't fit with my experiences along
>>>>> the
>>>>> Crest and Divide and 45 years of carrying a heavy pack,
>>>>> my feet haven't changed a half-size in all those years! But, then, I
>>>>> chose
>>>>> not to hike in 'runners.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Mtnned
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Ikem Freeman" <ikem.freeman at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:28 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Running Shoes
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Great re-cap, Brian.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One more very important point ... plan on the size of your foot to 
>>>>>> get
>>>>>> wider
>>>>>> and longer as you go.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Before I started my 08 hike, I wore size 10.5 USA. My first pair of
>>>>>> Montrails were size 11.5, and my second were size 13 ( I got them at 
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> 1,000 mile mark, near Bridgeport, CA.) and they fit really good.
>>>>>> O. Ikem Sofar
>>>>>> On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 8:20 PM, Brian Lewis <brianle8 at gmail.com> 
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As a side note, all of this stuff gets talked about again and again,
>>>>>>> here, and on various forums, such as 
>>>>>>> http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum,
>>>>>>> or http://www.backcountryforum.com/ or
>>>>>>> http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/ 
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> As another side note, the only way to decide what's right for you is
>>>>>>> to try out most likely solutions; I don't propose what works for me
>>>>>>> personally as the one, true and universal solution, and suggest that
>>>>>>> you be skeptical of anyone that does.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The issue of goretex shoes is one that like so many things is a 
>>>>>>> matter
>>>>>>> of personal preference (and opinion ...).  The anti-goretex camp 
>>>>>>> says
>>>>>>> that they take longer to dry out, and in stream crossings, wet snow,
>>>>>>> or continuous rain, they *will* get wet.   I'm in this camp, and per
>>>>>>> previous, use goretex socks if I want the benefits of goretex.   I 
>>>>>>> had
>>>>>>> a pair of goretex shoes once that fairly quickly developed holes,
>>>>>>> which IMO made them a bit like having a screen door on a submarine 
>>>>>>> ...
>>>>>>> water gets in, but has a harder time getting back out.    Of course
>>>>>>> not everyone agrees with this viewpoint.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ken Powers already gave IMO a great response to the long list 'o
>>>>>>> things-that-are-to-feared about trail runners.  My take:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Slip and Falls - no
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Frostbite - not even close. Trail runners worked better in snow than 
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> had expected, you get used to it
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> too many rocks in the shoes - depends on the shoe (or boot), and
>>>>>>> whether you use gaiters, and whether your shoes develop holes ...
>>>>>>> bottom line, not a big issue for me, and my shoes develop holes 
>>>>>>> faster
>>>>>>> than most.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Plantar Fasciitis - I did have a mild case of this before starting 
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> the trail, but got custom orthodics.  Yes, a shoe with a firmer sole
>>>>>>> might help here (?), but didn't turn out to be a problem for me.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Achilles Tendonitis - no
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ripped or torn uppers- somewhat, but so what?  I used the infamous
>>>>>>> Golite shoes, and they developed holes along the way, but I still 
>>>>>>> got
>>>>>>> 500+ miles per pair.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> sole separations/delaminations - Never had this, but I don't try to
>>>>>>> get thousands of miles on a single pair (as some people do try to)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sprained/Strained Ankles/Tendons - no.  Some people feel that boots
>>>>>>> are important to support the ankle, some (Jardine) feel that boots
>>>>>>> enable a person to keep hiking despite weak ankles. Dunno, I guess 
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> ankles are fairly strong, never an issue for me.  As Ken said, keep
>>>>>>> your base weight within reason, plus you will indeed really 
>>>>>>> strengthen
>>>>>>> all the associated muscles, etc over time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> jammed toes from soft uppers - no.  Note that thru-hikers tend to 
>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>> shoes one or more sizes too big; with so much leeway, it's not 
>>>>>>> likely
>>>>>>> a problem, unless you're fearing something falling on top of the toe
>>>>>>> area (?).  I never had a problem with that either.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> numerous blisters from too roomy a shoe - No.  Like many people 
>>>>>>> (boots
>>>>>>> or shoes), I had some blisters early on, and as someone else pointed
>>>>>>> out, your feet toughen up as you walk.  At some point it feels like
>>>>>>> you have hooves rather than feet, nothing seems to bother them.
>>>>>>> I'm of the opinion that non-waterproof shoes, ones that breathe very
>>>>>>> well (quick to get wet, but quick also to dry out) are ideal, less
>>>>>>> prone to blisters than boots that create a closed-in moist
>>>>>>> environment.  Of course, sandal advocates likely look at my shoes in
>>>>>>> the same way that I look at boots!  :-)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bottom line is --- try it.   Find some local snow if you can, bring
>>>>>>> spare socks, find some reasonably challenging terrain. Decide for
>>>>>>> yourself if the lower weight and/or better ventilation make shoes 
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> right approach for you.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Brian Lewis / Gadget '08
>>>>>>> http://postholer.com/brianle
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>  Pct-l mailing list
>>>>>>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
>>>>>>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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