[pct-l] Post

[gwschenk at socal.rr.com]

> -----Original message-----
> From: Joe Roth <jroth2353 at gmail.com>
> To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tue, Jun 14, 2011 15:49:00 GMT+00:00
> Subject: [pct-l] Post
> 
> jroth2353 at gmail.com.  My wife and I plan to hike entire pct in 3 years after  
> I retire. any advise?

Take a 3 or 4 day snow climbing course in the Cascades. You'll have a great time, and even better learn a LOT! You'll learn to climb snow in balance, which is a skill more crucial than self-arrest. You'll learn how to camp on snow, too.

Buy a good compass, A Silva Ranger, for example. Learn to use it. Learn to read a topo map. If you are in an area with that has a Sierra Club chapter with an active outings section, you might be able to learn land navigation through them. I learned from the Sierra Club's Land Navigation Handbook, a great manual, not sure if it is still in print.

Learn the skills you need to hike the trail, then you won't have to rely on the kindness of strangers.

Gary