[pct-l] Ride to the ADZPCTKO from the trail.

[Lisa Freathy]

Hi Joyce,

I would love to hear more about the Snow Skills course if you have time to 
share!!

I am going next month and have no idea what to expect. They say you can "test 
run" all of your PCT gear but most of my PCT gear is intended for spring/summer 
hiking/camping, not winter! For example, I'll be using mesh covered trail 
runners on the PCT, would you suggest these at the snow skills course? I don't 
want to have to buy special waterproof shoes just for this course so my only 
other option would be to use my snowboarding boots which are bulky and not great 
for hiking. I used these trail runners while snowshoeing last month but that was 
a quick day trip without much elevation gain. My feet got wet but stayed warm 
w/wool socks so it was no biggie. Not sure which option would be best, the trail 
runners or waterproof snowboarding boots. Also, I imagine I will want some 
additional warm layers in early March that I don't necessarily plan on using 
while on the PCT. Did you pack as you plan to on your thru hike or did you 
prepare for this course differently? 


What did you find most challenging? Was it the distance hiked in snow, the 
elevation, the conditions that particular weekend, a combo or something else 
entirely?

Thanks for sharing if you can!
 Lisa 


"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb 
a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."
~ John Muir 




________________________________
From: J M <evilempress2003 at yahoo.com>
To: Amanda L Silvestri <aslive at sbcglobal.net>; pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Wed, February 9, 2011 12:48:06 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Ride to the ADZPCTKO from the trail.

Shepherd, 

Thank you so much for your reply. I feel confident enough with the response to 
reserve my space at the Kick Off. I was in Ned's Snow Skills class this weekend 
and he asked me if I was going to kick off. I told him that I wasn't planning on 

it because I might be too far to get a ride. He told me to get on the PCT-L list 

to find out about getting a ride to and from. The community around this list is 
great!  

As for my hiking speed - I'm planning on slow and easy to start. I pushed myself 

to almost failing this weekend during the the Snow Skills class. Granted, I was 
hiking at over 8000 feet with a full pack on snow shoes but it definitely let me 

know my current physical limitations. I'm not running a race. I'm excited to be 
outside and on the trail, whatever that ends up meaning to me. I'm very grateful 

to Mountain Education for allowing me an opportunity to get my eyes opened prior 

to starting. Apparently I have some training to do - LOL. 

Joyce

"Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning." 
www.explorationmonkey.blogspot.com