[pct-l] Fw: Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.

[Edward Anderson]

Albert,
Seriously, why not consider some combination of your roommate meeting you and 
caching?  While I passed through S. California I was met by my wife four times. 
The last time was at Walker Pass.  I resupplied myself by caching at four other 
locations.  After Walker Pass I had concluded that it was actually simpler, more 
predictable, and less stressful to cache. From Sierra City north all the way to 
Canada I just drove my rig ahead two or three hundred miles each time and 
cached near, but usually from  200' to 300'  from road crossings and trail 
heads. I would then hitch back to where I had left my horse in good care. My 
caching approach can be described both as leapfroging and "leave no trace". I 
always hid my food and my horse's processed feed very well camouflaged so that 
even I sometimes had difficulty finding it a week or more later. This was 
because I would usually consider several possible spots - then,  returning 
later, I sometimes forgot which spot I used. (From now on I will always take a 
picture of the cache location)  After retrieving a cache I would return the spot 
to look as it did before I cached. Of course, when I reached my rig I could 
shower, sleep in a comfortable bed, once again leave Primo in safe care along 
with my saddle and camping supplies  (always prearranged)  Then I would drive 
north, cache, park rig in a safe place near the PCT, and then hitch south to 
Primo and what I would need until the next cache location. This approach worked 
very well for me and didn't require that I would have to rely on someone meeting 
me or myself having to be at a certain place at a scheduled day and time. It 
eliminated the pressure that inevitably results from scheduled rendezvous. By 
being independent I could camp where and when I wanted.

For 2011 I plan to ride the High Sierra, probably southbound, from Sierra City 
to Horseshoe Meadows.  I had trailered around those Sections because of all the 
snow in late June when I arrived at H. Meadow. Too much snow to pass through 
safely with a horse.  I have identified seven resupply locations - will send 
resupply buckets via priority mail to three of them and cache at the other four.

MendoRider



________________________________
From: "albert at survivalcrafters.com" <albert at survivalcrafters.com>
To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
Sent: Sat, October 9, 2010 10:38:53 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Thoughts on having a full time trail angel.



Hi All,



I'm starting preparations for the PCT this April. I have a roommate that
would like to make the trip in an RV and suggested that she could prepare
the food boxes ahead of me and leave them at the drop boxes as I progress up
the trail from Campo. On the one hand I kind of feel like if I'm going to be
that lazy and spoiled I might as well just ride in the RV too. On the other
hand since she's going to be driving around in her RV anyway it would just
be cheaper for me in the long run and I'd have much fresher food boxes
during the trip, and what difference does it make if the post office or
someone else puts the boxes there?



I read here a while back that some people don't carry any form of
communications with them because that kind of builds an obligation and
expectations to people in the outside world during the hike and they don't
want those kinds of pressures during the hike, I guess I'm worried about the
same kind ties to an RV'er. I'm 53 and this will be my first ever long hike
and I'd like to hear any experiences/opinions about this if you have some to
share.



Thanks,

Albert





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