[pct-l] Sandals in the Sierra, Ursacks in SoCal?

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

On Feb 27, 2009, at 5:33 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>  I was considering carrying gaiters and
> Gore-Tex trail runners for the passes and lightweight Tevas for the
> crossings. Is that crazy? Would I be spending all of my time  
> changing shoes?

Yes, you'll be spending all your time changing shoes. Just wear  
lightweight, mesh trail runners and when you cross a creek the water  
will spill right out. No sloshing noises. You're feet will be wet,  
but it won't matter. You'll have hooves by then that can handle  
everything.

You don't get wet just by crossing streams. You get wet walking on  
snow, in puddles on the trail, on marshy grass. The whole trail is a  
creek sometimes. Your feet are not going to stay dry and it really  
seems pointless to try. Pointless not because it is futile so much as  
because it just isn't important.
>


About ursacks, I carried one throughout the entire hike, hoping that  
if some squirrel tried to get my food, it would help. I never had  
anything try to get my food. I think I will leave the ursack home  
this year. It just wasn't big enough for my food anyway. It was  
neither good nor bad. Just did not seem necessary. Bring one, though,  
if you want. It won't hurt you.