[pct-l] Yogi's PCT Handbook Update

bighummel at aol.com bighummel at aol.com
Thu Apr 8 10:16:17 CDT 2010


Yogi,


Cool CDT bandanna design.  "Embrace the Brutality" is a great slogan.  Next year, "Get swept up in the SWEET!"


Greg Hummel "Strider"


" Travel light, carry little, keep it simple."



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-request at backcountry.net
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Thu, Apr 8, 2010 7:48 am
Subject: Pct-l Digest, Vol 28, Issue 37


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Today's Topics:

   1. PCT Hiking in '65 (CHUCK CHELIN)
   2. Ride offered for thru-hikers: Thursday April 22,  San Diego
      Airport to    Lake Morena/Campo (Jackie McDonnell)
   3. Re: PCT Hiking in '65 (Scott Williams)
   4. Re: the challenges of an earlier-than-average departure
      (Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com)
   5. Pack advice (Hillary Schwirtlich)
   6. boiling water for protein shakes (Dan Africk)
   7. Yogi's PCT Handbook Update file..........has been updated!
      (Jackie McDonnell)
   8. Re: Pack advice (Jim & Jane Moody)
   9. Re: Pack advice (Junaid Dawud)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 12:21:42 -0700
From: CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>
Subject: [pct-l] PCT Hiking in '65
To: Pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <t2ldb9154d1004071221re757384bgd00e79758e7e1c21 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

Good afternoon, all,



Recently it?s been cool, damp, and windy here in the Pacific NW, and I?ve
been pouting because I?m not attending the Kick-Off, so to take my mind off
the gloom I revisited some of my older PCT reference books.  One that I
hadn?t thought about in years is, *Home In Your Pack*, by Bradford Angier
circa 1965.  From the ?50s on I?ve enjoyed Angier?s books on self-reliant
wilderness living and survival, but this was his first book on backpacking.
 I was impressed with this book in ?65 ? that also the year I became serious
about hiking -- so I thought I?d see how well some of his ideas hold up
today.



His focus at the time was on hiking four significant trails:  The Long
Trail, California Riding and Hiking Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and
Pacific Crest Trail; particularly the two big ones.  The PCT didn?t yet
exist as a ?National Scenic Trail?, but it certainly existed as a hiking
trail system.  The book says the PCT ? at the time -- was 2,156 miles long,
and the minimal map included shows the old routing from the area of Mt.
Shasta straight north to the S. end of the Cascades rather than the current
zig west through the Marbles, etc. and back east again near Ashland.  In
this there were no surprises considering the era.



Angier discusses a variety of options in hiking gear and methods --
including many of the traditional, old-time methods -- but there were a few
surprising comments that predate the lite-weight hiking craze that
supposedly began 30 years later in the mid?90s.  For example, quoting
Angier:



?*Hiking in Canvas Sneakers*  -  Ordinary rubber-soled sneakers and
basketball shoes are popular along fairly smooth wilderness ways, such as
the Appalachian Trail and in comparatively dry country such as that found
along stretches of the Sierra Trail?. The chief advantage afforded by such
footwear is that of lightness, which is a joy?. They are not durable.  A
hundred miles over tough terrain is about the limit for most. But they are
comparatively cheap.  Sneakers soon wet through in the rain, even in the
morning dew.  But this makes no particular difference, for they dry out
quickly and without becoming stiff.?



Those statements above are understandable considering running shoes, as we
know them today, had not yet become commonly available.



?*The Eiderdown Jacket*  -- A light eiderdown jacket is one of the most
comfortable garments I know to put on when you stop ?. for the night.  These
are even handy on the desert, as most desert country gets surprisingly cold
as soon as the sun sinks.?



*?You Don?t Always Need a Tent*?. Tentless camping, particularly if you
include some provision for emergency shelter in your outfit, is also
practical?. And no wilderness nights are more memorable, in good weather,
than those spent entirely in the open.?



And now for the most interesting comment; and remember this was published in
?65:



?*Appropriate Backpack Weights*?.  For backpacking, everything should be cut
down in weight and bulk to the absolute essentials?. Briefly, the total
weight of the backpack for mountain travel should not exceed about
thirty-five pounds?. As for proportions, the equipment proper in the largest
pack should not weigh over fifteen pounds ? thus allowing a food load of at
least twenty pounds.?



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT ? 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 14:41:30 -0500
From: Jackie McDonnell <yogihikes at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Ride offered for thru-hikers: Thursday April 22,   San
    Diego Airport to    Lake Morena/Campo
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <p2ve4dd60311004071241vfa8109a9p5053de1b3bc75e12 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I now have a larger vehicle, so I can add two more hikers/packs for the
drive from the airport on Thursday.  This offer is for 2010 thru-hikers
only.  Please see details here:

http://www.swdocs.com/adz/rides_offered.php

yogi
www.pcthandbook.com


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 14:48:36 -0700
From: Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT Hiking in '65
To: CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>
Cc: Pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <k2hcaf61cde1004071448y697b81e0w8a8c9f49f2904b22 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

Wow,

He was way ahead of most of us at that time.  As a teenager in 1965, my pack
was an old wooden framed, canvas army surplus rook sack, that weighed a
ton.  And to get away from canvas pup tents, we sewed long narrow single
person tents out of 3 sections of old war surplus silk parachutes, and
wrapped the whole thing in a painter's drop cloth if it was going to rain,
holding it all together with clothespins.  The silk guy lines were still
attached and were used to stake it all out.  That tent was "ultra light" at
the time, cheap and worked really well, and was probably my first piece of
"geeky" gear, as it looked like no one else's tent back then.  I used that
sucker in deep snow over Emigrant Pass into Yosemite, and to keep from going
snow blind, made Eskimo goggles out of bits of card board as none of us had
sunglasses.  (Actually I made those for a group of already snow blind guys
who got caught at the top of Forest Pass a few years ago late in the season
in a big dump with no sunglasses.)But with steel pots and mess kits, heavy
rain gear, cotton and wool, the whole lot weighed over 60 lbs.  Oh, and the
boots that only got comfortable after walking wet for days so they could
eventually mold themselves to your foot.  Before that, it was just plain
painful to walk in them.  I sure felt prepared for the big bad wilderness
with all that stuff.  But at that age, I still fell in love with the
experience and the places.  I guess it's worth going out with whatever you
have, just so long as you do go out.

I wish I'd had that book back then however.  Then again, it might have just
seemed crazy, and down right dangerous.  I was probably to young to listen
to anything as radical as that.  We really thought we needed all that gear.


Great quotes.  Thanks for a trip back.

Scott



On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 12:21 PM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:

> Good afternoon, all,
>
>
>
> Recently it?s been cool, damp, and windy here in the Pacific NW, and I?ve
> been pouting because I?m not attending the Kick-Off, so to take my mind off
> the gloom I revisited some of my older PCT reference books.  One that I
> hadn?t thought about in years is, *Home In Your Pack*, by Bradford Angier
> circa 1965.  From the ?50s on I?ve enjoyed Angier?s books on self-reliant
> wilderness living and survival, but this was his first book on backpacking.
>  I was impressed with this book in ?65 ? that also the year I became
> serious
> about hiking -- so I thought I?d see how well some of his ideas hold up
> today.
>
>
>
> His focus at the time was on hiking four significant trails:  The Long
> Trail, California Riding and Hiking Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and
> Pacific Crest Trail; particularly the two big ones.  The PCT didn?t yet
> exist as a ?National Scenic Trail?, but it certainly existed as a hiking
> trail system.  The book says the PCT ? at the time -- was 2,156 miles long,
> and the minimal map included shows the old routing from the area of Mt.
> Shasta straight north to the S. end of the Cascades rather than the current
> zig west through the Marbles, etc. and back east again near Ashland.  In
> this there were no surprises considering the era.
>
>
>
> Angier discusses a variety of options in hiking gear and methods --
> including many of the traditional, old-time methods -- but there were a few
> surprising comments that predate the lite-weight hiking craze that
> supposedly began 30 years later in the mid?90s.  For example, quoting
> Angier:
>
>
>
> ?*Hiking in Canvas Sneakers*  -  Ordinary rubber-soled sneakers and
> basketball shoes are popular along fairly smooth wilderness ways, such as
> the Appalachian Trail and in comparatively dry country such as that found
> along stretches of the Sierra Trail?. The chief advantage afforded by such
> footwear is that of lightness, which is a joy?. They are not durable.  A
> hundred miles over tough terrain is about the limit for most. But they are
> comparatively cheap.  Sneakers soon wet through in the rain, even in the
> morning dew.  But this makes no particular difference, for they dry out
> quickly and without becoming stiff.?
>
>
>
> Those statements above are understandable considering running shoes, as we
> know them today, had not yet become commonly available.
>
>
>
> ?*The Eiderdown Jacket*  -- A light eiderdown jacket is one of the most
> comfortable garments I know to put on when you stop ?. for the night.
>  These
> are even handy on the desert, as most desert country gets surprisingly cold
> as soon as the sun sinks.?
>
>
>
> *?You Don?t Always Need a Tent*?. Tentless camping, particularly if you
> include some provision for emergency shelter in your outfit, is also
> practical?. And no wilderness nights are more memorable, in good weather,
> than those spent entirely in the open.?
>
>
>
> And now for the most interesting comment; and remember this was published
> in
> ?65:
>
>
>
> ?*Appropriate Backpack Weights*?.  For backpacking, everything should be
> cut
> down in weight and bulk to the absolute essentials?. Briefly, the total
> weight of the backpack for mountain travel should not exceed about
> thirty-five pounds?. As for proportions, the equipment proper in the
> largest
> pack should not weigh over fifteen pounds ? thus allowing a food load of at
> least twenty pounds.?
>
>
>
> Steel-Eye
>
> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT ? 1965
>
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>


------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 15:51:23 -0700
From: Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com
    <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] the challenges of an earlier-than-average
    departure
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <08D4543D-2BE0-4B89-9F91-A3093F25ADA4 at santabarbarahikes.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Wow that guy is certainly experiencing some heavy trail magic.  
Awesome read.

Diane

On Apr 7, 2010, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

>
> Wow, perhaps the greatest detail for me, a fan of 60s garage punk
> rock'n'roll, was meeting the guy from the Shadows of Knight. I love  
> those
> chance meetings on long trails.
>
> One of the best journal entries I've read in a long while - and  
> scary as
> hell.
>
> On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 1:40 PM, Len Glassner <len5742 at gmail.com>  
> wrote:
>
>> Heading toward Idyllwild:
>>
>> http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=303568
>>
>> You might want to read the just-prior entry where he comments about a
>> guy self-arresting with a knife.

Books I've written:
~ Piper's Flight
~ Adventure and Magic
~ Santa Barbara Hikes



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 21:11:55 -0700
From: Hillary Schwirtlich <hillary.schwirtlich at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Pack advice
To: Pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <x2lc70cbf981004072111kdbb411c6k3aa11689970866fc at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hey everyone, I'm new! I'm jealous of all your trail names, but I guess I'll
just have to wait. I'm getting an early start on (hopefully) thru-hiking
next year (oh please please please).

I'm looking for packs. Last night I may have fallen in love with a pack (ULA
Ohm). But I don't want to make a quick decision, and I'd like to hear
others' opinions. My friend just bought the Gossamer Gear G4 for his
thru-hike. That looks pretty good too, and (maybe slightly) lighter and
(quite a bit) cheaper. I don't know why, but I'm still leaning towards the
Ohm.

Does anyone have any experience with these packs? I have been a lightweight
backpacker for a few years, but am looking to go ultralight for the PCT (as
far as it works for me), so I have no experience with either brand. Any
advice is welcome.


------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 01:36:46 -0300
From: Dan Africk <danstheman at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] boiling water for protein shakes
To: martin hatton <martin at carpow.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <r2o1b15d4fc1004072136ud57e04dag5e14e6005d7f23e6 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Martin, you don't need to boil water for protein shakes if its already been
filtered or treated. My comment was referring to using a 'water straw' or
straw-type filter. If that is your means of treating water, then you can't
filter water into a container to mix it with anything(since you suck the
water directly into your mouth), so you would need to boil water first in
order to avoid the risk of pathogens. Sorry for the confusion, and the delay
in responding. I'm working through a  backlog of emails, so I'm not sure if
someone else responded to this already.

-- 
www.hikefor.com/haiti-2010-Dan


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 02:01:47 -0500
From: Jackie McDonnell <yogihikes at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Yogi's PCT Handbook Update file..........has been
    updated!
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <k2ue4dd60311004080001l790c4d83ge71c5e5fd0e4a589 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

The PCT Update is now in pdf format................and there have been some
additions in the last 24 hours.  So, if you looked at it yesterday, you
should probably check it out again today.

Go to www.pcthandbook.com
Choose the "details" section for the PCT Handbook.
The pdf file is right there at the top.  Click and print!

yogi


------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 12:23:29 +0000 (UTC)
From: Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Pack advice
To: Hillary Schwirtlich <hillary.schwirtlich at gmail.com>
Cc: Pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <527328423.9755291270729409423.JavaMail.root at sz0094a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
    
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8



Hi, Hillary, 

You'll hear this a lot - buy your pack last.? Settle on the rest of your gear, 
then take it to the outfitter and see how it fits inside, how heavy it feels 
loaded, etc.? If you can borrow a pack of the kind you're looking at and take it 
to the field for a test, that's even better.? 



Don't forget that you'll be carrying extra water in places and a bear can in the 
Sierra.? 



God luck, 

Mango 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hillary Schwirtlich" <hillary.schwirtlich at gmail.com> 
To: Pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Thursday, April 8, 2010 12:11:55 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [pct-l] Pack advice 

Hey everyone, I'm new! I'm jealous of all your trail names, but I guess I'll 
just have to wait. I'm getting an early start on (hopefully) thru-hiking 
next year (oh please please please). 

I'm looking for packs. Last night I may have fallen in love with a pack (ULA 
Ohm). But I don't want to make a quick decision, and I'd like to hear 
others' opinions. My friend just bought the Gossamer Gear G4 for his 
thru-hike. That looks pretty good too, and (maybe slightly) lighter and 
(quite a bit) cheaper. I don't know why, but I'm still leaning towards the 
Ohm. 

Does anyone have any experience with these packs? I have been a lightweight 
backpacker for a few years, but am looking to go ultralight for the PCT (as 
far as it works for me), so I have no experience with either brand. Any 
advice is welcome. 
_______________________________________________ 
Pct-l mailing list 
Pct-l at backcountry.net 
To unsubcribe, or change options visit: 
http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l 

List Archives: 
http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/ 


------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 08:43:15 -0600
From: Junaid Dawud <jdawud at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Pack advice
To: Hillary Schwirtlich <hillary.schwirtlich at gmail.com>
Cc: "Pct-l at backcountry.net" <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <CA77DC6D-1C06-40EA-9F2F-E5714D974582 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset=us-ascii;   format=flowed;  delsp=yes

ULA packs are great. I can't comment specifically on the Ohm, but in  
2006 I hiked Mex-> snoqualmie pass with my catalyst and I loved it.  
Afterwards it had a few areas that needed a little repair, so they  
fixed it up for me (even gave me new shoulder straps).  I then used it  
to finish the PCT, and for lots of hikes and backpack trips in Hawaii.  
Unfortunately it got stolen on Maui a couple of years ago. I recently  
bought the circuit, and though it's only been out for a few testers,  
it's riding beautifully with no movement or squeaking.

I personally feel ULA is a first rate company and has fantastic packs.  
Call them and talk about your options, it may help you make the  
decision.

Junaid

On Apr 7, 2010, at 10:11 PM, Hillary Schwirtlich <hillary.schwirtlich at gmail.com 
 > wrote:

> Hey everyone, I'm new! I'm jealous of all your trail names, but I  
> guess I'll
> just have to wait. I'm getting an early start on (hopefully) thru- 
> hiking
> next year (oh please please please).
>
> I'm looking for packs. Last night I may have fallen in love with a  
> pack (ULA
> Ohm). But I don't want to make a quick decision, and I'd like to hear
> others' opinions. My friend just bought the Gossamer Gear G4 for his
> thru-hike. That looks pretty good too, and (maybe slightly) lighter  
> and
> (quite a bit) cheaper. I don't know why, but I'm still leaning  
> towards the
> Ohm.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with these packs? I have been a  
> lightweight
> backpacker for a few years, but am looking to go ultralight for the  
> PCT (as
> far as it works for me), so I have no experience with either brand.  
> Any
> advice is welcome.
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-l mailing list
> Pct-l at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/


------------------------------

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