[pct-l] G'day and some questions.

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Caroline,


Snake gaiters are useful when walking off-trail in brushy areas, but on
trails – with reasonable attention – they aren’t necessary.  Last year I
spent the better part of an afternoon sharing a patch of the very limited
shade in Mission Creek Canyon with what turned out to be a Speckled
Rattlesnake. http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=446530


<http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=446530>

It was sort of a laissez-faire arrangement wherein if we stayed about 5 feet
apart we both felt reasonably secure.  I glanced its way occasionally, and
it regularly flicked its tongue at me, but that was all that happened.



Enjoy your planning,



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

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

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 11:40 PM, Caroline <
parablesfromthe_electrichorseman at yahoo.com.au> wrote:

> Firstly I'd like to say G'day to all on this list and introduce myself :D
> I've been a lurker on here on and off for a while over this past yr and have
> to admit I've found this an excellent source of info and occasional source
> of humour! My name is Caroline and my aim is to thru hike the PCT with the
> 2010 hikers. Obviously I'm also an aussie.
>
> I still have a few questions I was hoping I might find some answers on.
>
> My first is to do with sleeping bags. I'm currently looking at bringing my
> Roman sleeping bag which is rated to 5 degrees celcius. So that'd be around
> 40 fahrenheit if I'm correct. I'm a little confused on this though. Most of
> the posts I've read on here seem to indicate a bag rated at 20 so I'm
> assuming 20fahrenheit? That's minus temps in celcius. That seems awefully
> extreme for most of the trek so I'm just trying to clarify and get an idea
> on whether mine is actually warm enough or not.
>
> I have been lucky enough to sleep outside on a sidewalk in LA twice for
> extended periods of time (legally, I wasn't homeless LOL-I swear!)  and I'll
> admit to being caught out with the cold the first trip over. I found I was
> much better prepared the 2nd time and think the bag would definitely handle
> it. I also think it'd be fine in the Sierras from May onwards based on a
> previous travel there. But I thought it might be far too hot in the desert
> based on previous travel thru Death Valley during the summer. I found the
> nights there to be much like our aussie summer nights and quite pleasant. It
> obviously cooled down a ton from day temps but was still bearable. So this
> doesn't help my confusion any. Am I better off with a slightly warmer bag
> right thru or should I be changing bags along the way? Can anyone shed some
> light on the temps I'm likely to encounter compared to somewhere I do know
> like LA or Death Valley at night?
>
> My next question is to do with Gaitors. I wear them in Australia without
> fail when I hike. I wear high gaitors (just below the knees) partly to keep
> the crap out of my boots and socks but also for snakes. I tend to walk a lot
> off trail and bush whack around the local area so it's far safer for me to
> be wearing them than not. I noticed in the US though you have specific
> gaitors for rattlesnakes? Apparently they'll bite straight through mine.
> While I don't see it being a huge issue and I don't PLAN on getting bitten,
> what are your thoughts on rattlesnake gaitors? Has anyone worn them? How
> comfortable are they?
> I'd still like to be wearing some type of gaitor just to keep debris out of
> my shoes and for water crossings but was just curious.
>
> I was also hoping to find someone willing to hike the first few days with
> me at least. In the hiking I have done in the US I've never encountered a
> rattlesnake, so I'll admit to being a little cautious and would love someone
> to take pity on me and hike with me till I do get past my first encounter
> LOL. I won't be the fastest person starting out on trail but I'd rather
> start slower and build to 20+ mile days than drop out in the first month.
> Any takers?
>
> That's all for now I think. I'm bound to have forgotten something but hope
> you can help :D
>
> Caroline
>
>
>
>
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