[pct-l] Contacts vs. Glasses

[enyapjr at comcast.net]

> I have really bad vision but it is corrected by contacts or glasses.  
> i tried the contacts on the AT but forgot about them soon as it was 
> too much hassle taking them in and out all the time and lugging the 
> extra stuff it takes to deal with them, solution etc. glasses aren't 
> really an issue on the AT as you really can do without sunglasses so i 
> wore glasses just about the whole trip. it is quite a different story 
> on the PCT. I was thinking about going and finding a cheap pair of 
> frames and getting some prescription sunglasses made up or better yet, 
> the kind of lenses that darken with light.

In your case, I would suggest prescription sunglasses - but don't get "cheap" 
frames that might not last the entire trek, however...
Transition lenses will not get dark enough unless they are in direct sunlight -
so if you wear a hat with any brim shading the lenses or are facing away from 
the sun for any length of time (i.e., your head shading the lenses), they will not
darken enough to help sufficiently - and you will want DARK lenses in the 'desert',
at high altitude, and most especially in those areas with snow... You'll probably
also want to get add-on side shields for the prescription sunglasses - very
important for those snowy areas... 

I now use 30-day contacts for my distance vision, which works fine for ME - hardly any
problems in the 4 years I've been using them - and reading glasses for maps and such...
When in the backcountry for any length of time, I do carry my prescription glasses as
'back-up', too... I normally use relatively "cheap" wrap-around sunglasses while hiking
- temporarily putting the reading glasses on to look at map, etc., without taking the
sunglasses off... Again, it works for ME...

Hopefully some others will chime in and give their experience and advice, also...
Hope that helps a little! Good luck...

Happy trails!!!
Jim / PITA