[pct-l] Tents

Fri Sep 30 00:26:18 CDT 2011

I would like to know if any hikers have had use of any of these tents and what they think of them on a thru hike north on the PCT; does anyone think one is better than another?  I'm considering golite shangri-la 2, MSR twin sisters, six moon Lunar Duo, Tarp tent Cloudburst 2, or double rainbow. Any thoughts anyone has on any of these tents and how they hold up on the PCT would be helpful.

From: "pct-l-request at backcountry.net" <pct-l-request at backcountry.net>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 10:00 AM
Subject: Pct-L Digest, Vol 45, Issue 29

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Today's Topics:

  1. Re: PCT-L - Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout
      (Meridith Rosendahl)
  2. Re: time/distance (Joseph Anderson)
  3. Re: Reaction to Hikers (Yoshihiro Murakami)
  4. Re: PCT-L - Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout (Nathan Miller)
  5. Re: Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek (Ground Pounder)
  6. Re: time/distance (Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes)
  7. Re: time/distance (Austin Williams)
  8. Re: time/distance (Austin Williams)
  9. Re: Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout (Austin Williams)
  10. Re: Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek (Derek Fohs)
  11. Here It Comes (tom aterno)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:17:18 -0700
From: Meridith Rosendahl <meridith.rosendahl at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT-L - Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <CAEJJFnpJ7h=vdMLWVgQNKQoUtgw_UE-VSS7fiiOaMi7wF4=zkQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

>
>
> That's my girl!  I love that woman.  Maybe I could frame that quote. Hm....
Piper's Mom

>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:48:28 -0700
> From: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT-L - Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout
>

>  I loved every minute. Well, okay, not every minute, but I
> look back on every minute fondly, even the minutes I hated.
>
>  This probably wins the prize for the best hiking quote of
> the year so far!
>
>  Yup!  Way to go Piper!  That one's repeatable.
>  Shroomer
>
>
>

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:47:06 -0700
From: Joseph Anderson <joedaddy44 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] time/distance
To: Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com>
Cc: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID:
    <CA+YaG_EDj4tb_1XD8hKtLxsN5uL1rp1JEQYewPD6v9=afZ5bwQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I totally agree with Shroomer on that. Starting at Kennedy meadows will give
you a gentle entrance to the Sierras at what is arguably the best time of
year to do so. It was July 10th when I headed north from KM this year. We
enjoyed perfect weather and much less snow than a month earlier when the
thru hiker pack was there. You'll have a much more pleasant trip beginning
at KM than you would if you were to start from the border at that time of
year. (IMHO)

  - Joe -

Life is good!

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:15:04 +0900
From: Yoshihiro Murakami <completewalker at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Reaction to Hikers
To: Andrea Dinsmore <andrea at dinsmoreshikerhaven.com>
Cc: Meridith Rosendahl <meridith.rosendahl at gmail.com>,
    pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <CAMCqdRvFBBc6Ltu0r_CAbSeWLG705uEmnB9N-pMm9eYAmkicKQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-2022-JP

I met three men at the Muir Hut this summer. They were very friendly,
but their body odor was too severe. My eyes felt a pain and was not
able to tolerate, even I was a few meters from them.  I ran away from
them immediately. My wife also had the same experience.  They might be
famous professors or attorneys. I don't know.

2011/7/4 Andrea Dinsmore <andrea at dinsmoreshikerhaven.com>:
> Very well said............I tell all my new friends how we fell into the
> hiker family. Jerry called me from Skykomish one day and asked if he could
> bring 4 hikers home. We had never heard of the Pacific Crest Trail. Had no
> idea who, what or where. The stink.....Holy Cow. Couldn't believe a human or
> animal could be so potent. Anyhow, these guys who looked like they'd been
> living under a bridge forever, turned out to be 3 attorneys and a Dr. That's
> when our education started. Don't judge a book by it's cover.....wait until
> they open their mouths. Well, most of the time that works. If you think
> someone is homeless.....you might be able to lend a hand. The dirt washes
> off......the friendship may last forever.
>
> Andrea Dinsmore
> PCT MOM
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Sincerely
--------------- --------------------------------------
Hiro    ( Yoshihiro Murakami  ???? )
Blogs http://completewalker.blogspot.com/
Photo http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/
Backpacking since about 1980 in Japan
2009 JMT, 2009, 2010, 2011(half).
------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:03:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nathan Miller <erccmacfitheal at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT-L - Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout
To: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>,
    Tortoise73 at charter.net, jplynch <jplynch at crosslink.net>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <1317261786.95355.YahooMailClassic at web120411.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

> "I loved every minute. Well, okay,
> not every minute, but I
> look back on every minute fondly, even the minutes I
> hated."
> This probably wins the prize for the best hiking quote of
> the year so far!

I totally agree!  When I was postholing through the snow on Old Baldy in June, after a couple of hours, I started thinking, "THIS SUCKS!!!!"  Looking back on it, I now think, "You know, it really wasn't THAT bad."

-Nate the Trail Zombie
Newberg, OR

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:45:41 -0700
From: "Ground Pounder" <groundpounderbill22 at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek
To: "'Derek Fohs'" <derekfohs at hotmail.com>,    <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <005801cc7e51$e124fc50$a36ef4f0$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

You only going to eat 3 times?

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Derek Fohs
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 5:26 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek

Hello,
I'm starting my second segment of the PCT next month. I'll start at Scissor
Crossing outside of Julian and end at Hwy 10 outside of Palm Springs. Anyone
have tips or suggestions for this leg? Campsights, sidetrips, etc. My plan
is to forego stove, fuel, and cooking wares and get hot meals and resupply
cold food in Warner Springs, Hwy 74, and Idyllwild. 
Thanks,
Derek                          
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------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:55:09 -0700
From: Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] time/distance
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <2DC210BA-9153-4F39-9AA2-C7A01FFA22D0 at santabarbarahikes.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Trailhacker attempted to hike from Cabazon to Cajon Pass over the 4th  
of July weekend. When we arrived at the Section C trailhead outside  
Cabazon at 8pm it was still 102 degrees (39 Celcius). I hiked with  
him for a while and we slept on the trail near Teutang Canyon. It was  
very hard to sleep when it was too hot to use a sleeping bag. I  
couldn't even stand to have fabric cover my legs, yet big bugs would  
flutter against my legs. After a few hours it cooled off enough to  
drape a bivy sack over part of me. It was nice in the morning. I set  
off back to the car and bid good-bye to Trailhacker who continued on.

I drove home to comfortable Santa Barbara and took a nap. Sometime in  
the afternoon I thought maybe I should check my phone messages just  
in case. There was a message from Trailhacker. He sounded like he was  
in dire straights. He sounded weak and his voice was shaky and  
exhausted. He said he was turning back. It was just too hot. He  
really sounded like he might die. I rushed back to the trail and  
worried that I had been irresponsible enough to let him go and kill  
himself. Santa Barbara is 3.5 hours away from Cabazon.

When I got to Cabazon I got a hotel and turned on the air conditioner  
hoping to create a cool place to take Trailhacker, if I could find  
him. It was 120 degrees. (49 Celcius). It was way too hot for me to  
go out on the trail and look for him.

Long story short (too late, I know) he didn't make it out of there  
until the next morning. It had been 125 degrees (52 C) where he was  
and he recognized that he had symptoms of heat exhaustion so he  
backtracked to Whitewater creek where he set up a sun shade and  
soaked in the creek all day. He waited until morning when it was  
cooler to return to the trailhead.

All this is to say that July is probably not the best time to hike  
the Southern California portion of the trail. There are pieces you  
could do, such as Mt. San Jacinto and the mountains around Big Bear  
and Wrightwood, but these sections are very short. You may get lucky  
and the hottest it will be is 95, or you could have a heat wave like  
Trailhacker got and get 125 degrees. He could have done this hike a  
week earlier or later no problem. He likes it hot. But not THAT hot!

If you really want to start your hike at the Mexican border it's best  
to do it in April or May. It's delightful then. Usually comfortable  
temperatures with warm days and cold nights and pretty flowers even  
in the desert.

On Sep 28, 2011, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm new to the site. I'm planning to start a first leg of the PCT  
> next summer from the Mex border, probably early July and hike  
> through late August. Can anyone tell me how much of the trail I can  
> cover during that time (about 50 days). I'm a relatively  
> experienced hiker, used to steep climbs up the Alps; I live in  
> Grenoble, France.
>
> ?
> Pat

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:42:11 -0700
From: Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] time/distance
To: patrick moreno <patrickfmoreno at yahoo.fr>, pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <CAGOWXFSym68HuoqSGw+RhQD4roLajkv0UY0gZySwacYx7cScbQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

My best guess:  50 days = 860 miles.  In heat like that, though, perhaps 15%
less due to lots of extra "hiding in whatever shade you can find" time.  :)
Sounds like fun.  Bring more water than you think you'll need.

Austin Williams
www.PlanYourHike.com <http://www.planyourhike.com/>
Info on PCT Gear, Resupply Points, Maps, Thru hiking Movies, etc.

On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 10:55 PM, patrick moreno <patrickfmoreno at yahoo.fr>wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm new to the site. I'm planning to start a first leg of the PCT next
> summer from the Mex border, probably early July and hike through late
> August. Can anyone tell me how much of the trail I can cover during that
> time (about 50 days). I'm a relatively experienced hiker, used to steep
> climbs up the Alps; I live in Grenoble, France.
>
>
> Pat
> _______________________________________________
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------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:42:44 -0700
From: Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] time/distance
To: patrick moreno <patrickfmoreno at yahoo.fr>, pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <CAGOWXFTUEBVp_1dvdr9QCJ_xpznYPmJYLxJLTo_7mXHer28qKw at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

You might consider heading southbound if yer starting that late.... that's
what I would do.

Austin Williams

www.PlanYourHike.com <http://www.planyourhike.com/>
Info on PCT Gear, Resupply Points, Maps, Thru hiking Movies, etc.

On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 10:42 PM, Austin Williams <
austinwilliams123 at gmail.com> wrote:

> My best guess:  50 days = 860 miles.  In heat like that, though, perhaps
> 15% less due to lots of extra "hiding in whatever shade you can find"
> time.  :)
> Sounds like fun.  Bring more water than you think you'll need.
>
> Austin Williams
> www.PlanYourHike.com <http://www.planyourhike.com/>
> Info on PCT Gear, Resupply Points, Maps, Thru hiking Movies, etc.
>
>
>
> On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 10:55 PM, patrick moreno <patrickfmoreno at yahoo.fr>wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I'm new to the site. I'm planning to start a first leg of the PCT next
>> summer from the Mex border, probably early July and hike through late
>> August. Can anyone tell me how much of the trail I can cover during that
>> time (about 50 days). I'm a relatively experienced hiker, used to steep
>> climbs up the Alps; I live in Grenoble, France.
>>
>>
>> Pat
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/
>> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
>> Reproduction is is prohibited without express permission.
>>
>
>

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:52:42 -0700
From: Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Most Common Causes of Thru-Dropout
To: Jeff Judd <frotiss_lupus at yahoo.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
    <CAGOWXFR4GG7oHacGhAkKKDUuUYOhLzY1v9S=TfPmH8vBriRr7A at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'd like to add: take zero days even if you don't think you need them.  I
did 1600 miles with only 3 zero days and (though I didn't realize it at the
time) that really, really affected my attitude and spirit in a negative
way.  I was literally overworked and didn't know it.  Looking back I can see
the signs, but at the time I was blind to them.

If yer feeling aggro and irritable and like yer not having fun... that's a
sure sign that you need a zero day or two.
I also agree with the previous poster that hiking (especially solo) can be a
very emotional experience.  I remember crying a few times on the trail.  The
first time was when I injured my ankle.  I didn't cry because of the pain...
I cried (sobbed like a little baby) because I thought it meant my trip was
going to be over.  That all that planning and dreaming, and preparing, and
anticipation was all for naught.  That was a very hard day.  (I spent half a
day with my ankle soaking in a cold creek before finally hobbling on.  It
actually healed rather quickly.)

The loneliness of a solo hike hit me at the strangest time.  I actual didn't
*feel* alone *most* of the time.  I am a very independent person and usually
prefer to be by myself than around others.  It wasn't until I either (a)
had a near death experience, or (b) was taking in a breathtaking view, that
I felt alone.  During the near death experiences (almost sliding off a cliff
(x6), sliding downhill towards a freezing lake, having half my body fall
into a crevasse, falling down a waterfall when lost several miles off trail,
yada yada yada) I became instantly and vividly aware that I was alone, and
that only I could save myself.  (A very sobering thought).  Looking back,
these were some of my favorite moments.  I wouldn't want to repeat *any* of
them, but they really let me "test my metal".

But it was when I had all that beauty and wonder and magic all around me --
as far as the eye can see and as deep as the heart can feel -- that's when I
really felt the most alone.  I was so sad that I had no one present to share
it with (a rare feeling for me).  Pictures do no justice.  I would have
given anything to share those moments with my wife, or friends, or
siblings.... anyone.  It's a very strange feeling being in awe of the beauty
and wonder that our wilderness inspires -- feeling as though you are right
in the middle of the most perfect place in the most perfect time that has
ever existed-- and at the same time feeling like you are the only person
that is left on the planet.  Entirely alone.  Those moments are mine, and
I'll never forget them.  But it would have been nice to share a few of them
with loved ones.

yeah, I cried...  like a little baby...

where was I going with this?  Oh, right.  Why people leave the trail....  I
think sometimes one's emotions can weigh more than their gear.

Yet another reason: sometimes people get "their fill" of whatever it is they
are looking for (adventure, solitude, distance from modern society,
exercise, the wilderness experience, bragging rights, simplicity, etc)
before they reach their original destination.  I hiked from Canada to
Kennedy Meadows, and I took one look at the last leg of the SoBo hike (the
desert) and thought "nah...".  I was uninspired (the desert in September is
not nearly as awesome as it is in April, let me tell you....).

Just remember, it's easy to get so blinded by the goal that you forget why
you set it.  If you do some soul searching you'll probably find that real
purpose of the thru hike isn't simply to get from Mexico to Canada (if
that's all it was you'd just take a bus, right?).  I like to think of the
thru hike as a *means* rather than an *end*.  Our origin is our present
self.  Our destination is our future, stronger, wiser, more courageous and
confident self.  The PCT is the path from origin to destination.

Hakuna Matata,

Austin Williams

www.PlanYourHike.com <http://www.planyourhike.com/>
Info on PCT Gear, Resupply Points, Maps, Thru hiking Movies, etc.

On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 11:02 AM, Jeff Judd <frotiss_lupus at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I just want to give a gargantuan thank you to everyone who responded to
> this inquiry both on and off list.  You've all given me a wealth of
> different angles from which to consider this undertaking.  Your personal
> experiences will be very helpful in examining my psyche on trail I think.
> It all comes down to the individual it seems like.  By which I mean both
> individual fitness and proneness to injury, and the mindset one has both
> going into it and on trail.  All we can ever do is plan and prepare to the
> fullest extent possible, then understand that the best laid schemes of mice
> and men oft go awry.
>
> With that being said I think my wife and I definitely need to get some
> additional experience on snow travel and stream crossings.  We don't get the
> chance to practice that much here in San Diego.  Also, whoever it was that
> gave me the advice to train as much as possible on long, uneven terrain to
> help my joints and ligaments become more resistant to repetitive motion
> injuries, that was a gem.
>
> Much love,
>
> Jeff
>  _______________________________________________
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------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:07:14 +0000
From: Derek Fohs <derekfohs at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek
To: <groundpounderbill22 at verizon.net>, <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <BAY155-W41CE158FAA089A6404F013A0F60 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Maybe if I was going to sprint the whole way. Only three hot meals where I can get them. The rest of the menu will be salami, cheese, cliff bars, avos, hardboiled eggs, trailmix, beef jerkey, chocolate, etc.

> From: groundpounderbill22 at verizon.net
> To: derekfohs at hotmail.com; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek
> Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:45:41 -0700
> 
> You only going to eat 3 times?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Derek Fohs
> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 5:26 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Scissor Crossing to Snow Creek
> 
> 
> Hello,
> I'm starting my second segment of the PCT next month. I'll start at Scissor
> Crossing outside of Julian and end at Hwy 10 outside of Palm Springs. Anyone
> have tips or suggestions for this leg? Campsights, sidetrips, etc. My plan
> is to forego stove, fuel, and cooking wares and get hot meals and resupply
> cold food in Warner Springs, Hwy 74, and Idyllwild. 
> Thanks,
> Derek 
> _______________________________________________
> 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:
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> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors. 
> Reproduction is is prohibited without express permission.
> 

------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:35:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: tom aterno <nitnoid1 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Here It Comes
To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID:
    <1317296124.88850.YahooMailNeo at web160704.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

For all you JMT and?northern?PCT backpackers, winter will potentially will?arrive early next week.
?
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=vef&wwa=special weather statement
?
As Ground Pounder Bill says, "Be Prepared." 
?
Have fun in the snow.? It's just rain, rain and more rain?on the east coast.
?
?
?
The Incredible Bulk

------------------------------

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End of Pct-L Digest, Vol 45, Issue 29
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