[pct-l] Probability of Disaster

[Ernie Castillo]

I carried a heavy load when I hiked the PCT in 1980. Some thought I packed a kitchen sink. I didn't. I also didn't pack a scale. But I would venture a guess that en route to Canada the average weight of my pack was around 45 pounds. I carried a 2-person Jansport Wedge tent, sub-zero sleeping bag, Gore-Tex rain gear, running shoes to wear around the camp, a pair of high-top mesh hiking boots that I bought in Oregon and alternated with my heavy (5 pounds?) Vibram-soled leather hiking boots that I wore most days. I carried a lot of food -- my mom and sister who shipped me my CARE packages tended to err on the high side) and enough filled water bottles so I would never go thirsty. Plus 35mm Pentax camera, extra lens, etc. I left Campo with way too much clothing (a spare jacket and jeans) and ice axe that I sent home and had shipped to me went I really needed it. 
 
By comparison to some of the mileage estimates I read about on this discussion thread, my miles were nothing to write home about. My top 2-day distance was 55 pounds, in Northern California when I closed in on Oregon and was trying to catch up to Eli.
 
My philosophy: Everything I needed to survive in the wilderness was either in my Jansport backpack or strapped to it. I would rather be safe, and heavy, than sorry.
 
It was just my philosophy. I never criticized anybody who traveled differently (even George ? whose one-man tent meant he could lie down at night but not sit up in his tent.)
 
It wasn't popular then but I really like the phrase "Hike Your Own Hike."

Ernie Castillo
erniec01 at hotmail.com
248 884 5201



 
> From: diane at santabarbarahikes.com
> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 17:38:53 -0700
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Probability of Disaster
> 
> 
> On Sep 1, 2010, at 4:44 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> 
> > An interesting post with much food for thought.
> >
> > A couple of question:
> > How many PCTers have died from being under-equipped?
> > How many PCTers have died from being over-equipped?
> 
> Probability of success:
> How many PCTers have reached Canada with a pack in the neighborhood 
> of (I'll be generous) 45 or more lbs?
> 
> Just browsing google image search, most people look to be carrying 
> typical thru-hiker gear of sub 20lbs. Little packs go far. 
> Traditional heavy-weight packs do not.
> 
> Ultralight isn't just a fashion. It was born out of the necessity of 
> thru-hikers who want to get to Canada before the snow flies. I would 
> say the typical ultralight hiker standing on the Canadian border has 
> better equipment than the typical, over-loaded, what-iffed to 
> insanity traditional backpacker.
> 
> Ned just wants to scare people into taking his class. He need not do 
> that. He need not gloat every time snow falls somewhere on the trail 
> and start preaching about the need for ice axes in July and -15 
> degree bags in August (Holy cow! How many people can actually sleep 
> with a bag 45 degrees too hot?). Plenty of people would like to learn 
> how to self-arrest and walk on snow safely. They are not interested 
> in how to backpack like the days of yore before silnylon and titanium 
> and they're turned off by someone purposefully confusing a light 
> dusting of snow on the trail for a life-threatening storm requiring 
> Everest expedition equipment.
> 
> Sorry to be so blunt.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/