[pct-l] Fw: 5 months ride using part of the PCT

[Edward Anderson]

Hello Dorian,

Unfortunately, most of the "good" parts to ride that you seek would be very 
difficult for you to access without the assistance of someone with a horse 
trailer. The PCT north of Seiad Valley that I have told you about immediately 
came to mind. Not that it will necessarily be easy for the entire distance.  
Down trees will be a reality.  When I passed through Crater Lake N.P. the trail 
had recently been cleared.  When the Fosters went through in 2004 and when Susan 
Bates did in 2010 they describe many, many downed trees. You will need a saw in 
several areas. 


Long Rider Susan Bates might be your best single source of information (she rode 
most of the PCT in 2009 and 2010) because her way of going was very different 
from mine. At HIS insistence, her well-meaning husband followed her and met her 
at many locations. He often picked her up and they stayed at various horse 
facilities. She came to realize that going alone and being more independent, as 
I did, would be simpler and a lot less stressful since staying on schedule can 
be very difficult on the PCT. Read about it on the Postholer forum that I have 
told you about.

Susan had originally decided to bring a pack horse.  Then, following my 
advice, she decided that going with just one horse was a better approach - and 
that's what she did.  Unless you are a very heavy person you will only need one 
horse. It is simpler, safer, and less expensive. 

Susan, being the intrepid rider that she is, is right now riding the New Mexico 
part of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Every day I, and nine others, get 
her GPS location by SPOT satellite. This summer, assuming that the snow melts 
enough, she wants to ride the Sierra that she has missed - as I did. 


Susan has done a lot of research on all kinds of horse facilities near the PCT 
that she and her husband stayed at. Some of these undoubtedly will be willing 
to rent a horse(s) to you to ride parts of the trail. 


Susan and I co-moderate the Stockman Forum on Postholer. She originally created 
it. Be sure to check out her "itinerary".  She didn't follow it herself but it 
includes the results of her extensive research and might be helpful to you. 

Something else for you to consider is the need to purchase saddle (be sure to 
buy a saddle with flexible bars so that it will fit properly on different 
horses), tack, packs, etc that you will need on the trail. If you decide to rent 
a car you would be able to bring them, and also your food and horse feed to 
various places from where you could rent a horse(s) near the PCT. 


When Susan returns from her N.M CDT adventure perhaps you can communicate and 
benefit from the wisdom that she acquired during her PCT rides. I am sending 
this communication to her so you will be able to connect.

Kind Regards, 
MendoRider/Ed Anderson


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Dorian <dorian.bannier at gmail.com>
To: mendoridered at yahoo.com
Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 3:28:06 PM
Subject: 5 months ride using part of the PCT


Hello,

I'm a 26 french guy who is planning a 5 months trail with two horses in 1 month 
and an half.
I'm quite an experienced horse rider, and I would like to know if you would be 
kind enough to point me what part of the PCT is managable on horse? I don't want 
really to do the whole PCT, just use it for the good parts, and avoiding it for 
all the two hard and dangerous parts. Your experience would be very valuable for 
me in order to do that.
Would you accept to take contact with me to discuss these matters?

Thank you.