[pct-l] a pot for two and newbie questions

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Lousia,

I’m a long-time and committed ultra-lite hiker, but I’m about to recommend
that you add a bit of weight to your load.  If you wish, please feel free
to value my advice at exactly what you paid for it.

It can be wonderful to hike with a close friend, but over 4-5 months and
2,663 miles things can change.  Hiking styles are different or they change
during a trip.  Very often hiking partners separate: Maybe sooner, maybe
later, maybe temporarily, maybe forever, but usually while remaining
friends.  In the event of separation what’s to be done about shared gear?

No matter with whom I hike, where, or for however long, I am always totally
self-reliant with my own gear.  If I were to become separated from others,
if I wish to leave town early, or take an extra half-day I can.  If I care
to eat glue-stew for breakfast and oatmeal in the evening, I can.  I don’t
have to worry if someone else wanders off with THE compass and THE maps.

I have no idea how you value self-reliance, but I value it very highly.  A
small amount of extra gear provides options for both partners and can
significantly reduce social stress.

Specifically, I don’t carry either a pot or a stove.  I’ve heard good
things about MicroSpikes but I don’t own them.  For low snow years you
might consider shoe-screws:
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=264768 or, like most hikers, use
nothing at all on the sneakers.

Enjoy your planning and your hike – whatever arrangements you make.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/


On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 4:20 AM, Louisa Fischer <lulu.3 at hotmail.de> wrote:

>
> Hi Everyone,
> I've been lurking the list for a while now and since this years epic
> pct-hike is getting closer, I've finally found some stuff to ask.
> I will be thru-hiking with a close friend, so we are getting gear for two,
> trying to go UL where we can handle it. Not so easy as we are from Europe
> and the common hiking style here is "strong and sturdy"... anyway, we are
> planning to use a self-made alcohol stove (has worked so-so in the past,
> will be improved) and now I'm wondering if anyone knows of a light
> two-person pot? Most people seem to have their kitchen stuff set out for
> one... Would a 1,7L pot be sufficient? The one we've used before was big
> enough (1,7L too i guess) but it didn't have to handle a thru-hikers
> appetite. Also: Concerning fuel efficiency, does a high and narrow pot make
> more sense or a wide one?
>
> Another question: I'm thinking about getting (micro)spikes. There is a LOT
> out there and I can't really figure out what would be overkill or useless
> (yaktrax??). Many seem to have used the kahtoola spikes, but I wonder if
> anyone has tried the screw-on type of spikes like these
> http://keithmichalak.fatcow.com/store/index.html. Maybe I should mention
> that we will be hiking in trail shoes, not boots and with poles.
>
> thanks a lot, looking forward to KO and the CA sunshine,
> Louisa
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