[pct-l] The Desert

Tue Jan 11 15:51:59 CST 2011

as an addendum to this,  ido was a veteran of the isreal national trail where 
the only water you have is from milk jugs burried in the sand.

it's all about perspective. i know my wife and her family are all form iceland 
and even the mild temps of socal in 2010 were nearly overwhelming for her.
~Paul

________________________________
From: jason moores <jmmoores at hotmail.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Sat, January 8, 2011 1:47:14 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] The Desert

Piper,

This was an excellent addition to the desert thread. I agree wholeheartedly with 
your points about salty foods and over-hydrating.

I also agree that it seems almost silly to call the trail route a "desert" hike. 
The majority of the time the trail stays above 4,000 feet and in the mountains, 
which is what we would normally call high desert. As I am sure that you know 
(but for the benefit of those who don't), the term desert does not equate to the 
mental image that most picture when they hear the term-endless sand dunes. 
Desert refers to the amount of precipitation that falls in the region. I have no 
idea whether or not So.Cal is officially a desert, but it sure as hell is hot 
and dry. 

In '09 I hiked with an Israeli named Ido who could often could be heard 
scoffing,"desert? You Americans have no idea what a desert is really like". Ido 
probably had a point.

Jackass

> From: diane at santabarbarahikes.com
> Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 15:26:11 -0800
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] The Desert
> 
> Jackass,
> Good info you have shared!
> 
> I have lived in So Cal all my life so most of my hiking experience  
> has been in the so-called "desert". I happen to not believe most of  
> what people hike through on the PCT in So Cal is desert, but then  
> hardly anybody will agree with me so I don't bother trying to  
> convince anybody anymore.
> 
> Anyway, one thing I notice is that a lot of people get hyponatremia,  
> which is when they drink too much water and get their electrolytes  
> all out of whack. Then they start powering down cliff bars because  
> they feel a lack of energy. Then drink more water because they are so  
> thirsty and it's hot. They spiral out of control and get real sick  
> and have to leave the trail.
> 
> My advice is to carry salty food. Don't eat cliff bars when you feel  
> a lack of energy. Eat some Fritos or salty nuts or something. The  
> nice thing about salty food is you have a built-in ability to self- 
> regulate your salt content eating salty food (as opposed to taking  
> supplements.) If you've had enough, you won't eat any more.
> 
> So bring the high-tech supplements and drinks if you want, but also  
> tuck in some ordinary salty snacks. They will help a lot.
> 
> And on the topic of blisters. Don't feel too bad if you get blisters.  
> I trained. I am used to the environment. I don't get a lot of  
> blisters normally. I hit the trail in good shape. I got terrible  
> blisters. Took me 700 miles before they finally went away. I don't  
> know what is different about the PCT vs say the Sespe or San Rafael  
> Wilderness, but something must be. I'm pretty sure part of what is  
> different is the level grade and smooth tread of the PCT. It's a  
> repetitive motion injury machine.
> 
> I've written about this before. What happens is you get a little  
> blister or hot spot or something and so unconsciously you favor the  
> hurt side. The trail will make you walk for 10 miles in a row on one  
> side of a mountain with the trail leaning outward to one side. For 10  
> miles. Then switch to the other side for 10 more miles. If ever there  
> was a tool to give someone massive blisters on their little toes,  
> this is it.
> 
> Now you've got these massive blisters, you are favoring one side of  
> your body a little bit, and the level trail goes on and on  
> relentlessly, pounding it into you until the next thing you know,  
> your knees are killing you. Or maybe your hip or your back. It has  
> nothing to do with your knees, your hip or back, it has to do with  
> the slight limp you developed from something in your feet. Pretty  
> soon you are nursing some serious shin splints or some other painful  
> problem and are thinking about getting off the trail.
> 
> Take care of those foot problems as soon as you can. If you get other  
> problems further up your body, take some time to care for your feet.  
> Slow down if you have to. Change your shoes around. Carry spare shoes  
> if you have to so you can have a change during the day. I hiked  
> wearing Crocs and Flip-flops sometimes. The trail is actually not so  
> rugged this can't be done.
> 
> Good luck everybody. You will find many things to like about the  
> "desert" if you keep an open mind. No mosquitoes is one of them!
> 
> Diane
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